Below are the draft Minutes of Ardentinny Hall Association held on 24 May, 2022 and Final Accounts 2021-22.
Ardentinny Village Hall Assoc. AGM Minutes & Accounts 2021-22
Singing and dancing in the rain
What began as a one-off competition winner for Glenfinart Walled Garden in 2015, the annual Big Picnic had become something of a tradition which made a welcome return on Sunday, despite the rain. A drop of the wet stuff certainly didn’t dampen spirits.
Many a picnic was enjoyed and shared; refreshments quaffed; and banter exchanged. The ever-expanding repertoire of the Elderly Brothers delighted all and, along with Claire Tierney and other guests, provided the accompaniment to much singing and dancing in the rain! Selling land fast prioritises customer care. They’ll try to make selling a land less emotional. A land buyer may make selling your home easy. Visit https://www.sellinglandfast.com/arkansas/.
Ardentinny Community Trust thanks all who supported the event.
Thanks to Brian Kerr for the photographs.
The BIG Picnic is back!
This weekend sees the welcome return of Ardentinny Community Trust’s ever popular BIG Picnic at Glenfinart Walled Garden. The annual event, which began in 2015, has of course had to take a break over the past couple of years. However, it’s back again with the full line-up of the ever-popular Elderly Brothers providing live music.
As a precaution, the garden won’t be offering its usual selection of teas, coffees and home baking. However, everyone is encouraged to bring along their favourite picnic snacks and refreshments.
With so much to explore around the garden including the kids’ garden, sensory garden and orchard, it’s going to be a great day out for the whole family… and don’t forget that entry is free!
Fareweel to a Force
A quiet but veritable force! Dennis Gower (above, during filming of Beechgrove Garden) and Merle Ferguson are heading to pastures new but many in Ardentinny will remember their considerable contributions, not least their extended hand of friendship!
Though ‘retired’ for a while now, Dennis served on the Community Council for over 10 years and was the first advocate of harnessing local hydro power for the benefit of the village. Ultimately Forestry Commission Scotland (as it was then) opted for the current arrangement.
He was also a vociferous member of the Community Council’s working group in opposition to the National Park’s plan for 36 additional houses in the village centre. The Park finally acceded!
But it was possibly the campaign to buy, the successful purchase and subsequent development of Glenfinart Walled garden where he and indeed Merle, contributed most significantly. Dennis spearheaded the initial survey of village opinion on the community purchase of the garden with 77% of residents voting in favour. This also harnessed a range of views on how the garden could be used which informed future planning.
Ardentinny Community Trust (ACT), was then revived to purchase and manage this community asset and after an arduous fundraising & fact finding campaign, ACT received the title deeds to the garden in 2012. Dennis didn’t stop there. Until recently he continued to work tirelessly on the project achieving recognition for the garden and its contribution to the wider community.
Merle too is her own formidable force! A village hall committee member during several ‘administrations’. She was instrumental in saving it from closure in 2017 and saw it through a successful building repair programme and an expanded offering of activities and events.
Merle also worked on the Community Trust while it was undertaking the project to restore the old Stronvochlan arched bridge but it was her contribution in its revived state as secretary of Glenfinart Walled garden that saw the strength of her vision manifest itself locally.
In the early days she was an enthusiastic fundraiser and fact finder. However Merle’s ingenuity really kicked in when the garden was struggling to emerge from a walled field to its current state.
The remedy – an application to Beechgrove Garden to develop and feature our garden in their programming. We never looked back!
She went on to develop the garden’s orchard with Glenfinart Apples reaching The Scottish Parliament.
Merle’s touch is also evident in her book ‘Bird of Solace’; her peace work ; her art; and no doubt several local club anecdotes!
It is therefore with warm good wishes and enormous thanks that we say ‘awrabest’ to them both.
Walled garden improves accessibility with successful funding bid
Ardentinny Community Trust’s Glenfinart Walled Garden was one of the recent recipients of £3000 generated by Ardentinny’s share of the 3 local hydro schemes. The funding award was to upgrade the paths within the walled garden to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and those using walking aids.
Hydro funds are administered by Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) to fund local community projects. The latest contribution from the Hydrover hydro project for the past 12 months was £6008.
In addition to the garden funding, £500 was approved for the car park toilets as well as £100 towards a village day held in the hall. Funds currently available for local community projects are £15,200.
Ardentinny Renewable Trust welcomes requests for funding for any project which will benefit the community. Membership of the Trust is free and any member can submit a funding application.
Ardentinny Renewables Trust – End of 2021 Newsletter.
