Nature Enhancement Plan; 2024 - 

We have completed Phase 1 and 2 of our long-term plan for the site now, with a couple of tweaks along the way. We have now established a lot of tree copses / seed islands that will greatly benefit not just nature but all the people that are now using the site for biking on the trails of Glassie Bike Park and the dog walkers / walkers, which all benefits the local communities shops / restaurants etc. Hopefully a WIN / WIN situation for Aberfeldy.

Have planned to plant some flowers that are Bat friendly, along with a wider selection of meadow flower seeds to be planted direct into position and to sow some in the polytunnel to be planted out in the spring. 

Thank you to Perth and Kinross Nature Restoration Fund for the support over those two phases, very much appreciated, shame about 2024. 

Pictures below are of frogs moving from wetland ponds and scrapes to find partners, a great sound when they are all croaking away as your sitting there listening to them with the Skylark singing its heart out above you out of site and the warm sunrays encouraging spring flowers on the side of the burns.

Farm Regeneration Plan

Meadow Creation; 

Between the mosaic of tree planting we are keeping the meadow habitats, these will be left alone to encourage voles and mice, which will in turn encourage kestrels and Barn / Tawny Owls along with other raptors such as Sparrow Hawks, Common Buzzard and Hen Harriers. This young barn owl picture below was taken (2000) when one of the young was seen testing his flying for the first time, he survived along with another from that same brood.

This year we will be introducing some Yellow Rattle to give variation in grass density which wildlife and certain plants require to thrive. 

Farm Regeneration Plan

Bench Seating and Sit Spot introduction;    

We are now planning to put in some hardcore / slab bases under the 3 main seating areas along the Core Path route to prevent the areas becoming to wet and muddy. We are also introducing "Sit Spots" to the site so you can just relax and loose yourself in the surrounding landscape with nature.

Farm Regeneration Plan

Leaky Dams and wetland creation; Aim 1 for 2024 

We established a few leaky dams on the burns as the 1st picture below shows the team at work. This was done in conjunction with Mossy Earth, these first ones were washed away with the excessively heavy rainfall we had here in Oct 23.  A bit of redesigning is required, but we will try to do it again in the spring (June 24), but better of course. The middle picture did have two dams in it.

The picture on the right below is of the burn that we have left to its own devices. We have left fallen trees in it and its looking great by creating varied habitats down its course. Better than the straight fast flow as pictured in the centre. Shingle banks and pools of slower moving water, so happy.

Farm Regeneration Plan

Orchard Development
Heritage Apple Orchard Development

We are currently in the process of planting a variety of apple trees across a 3 acre plot on the farm. The end goal is to start making apple juice and sell some of the apples, also to pass the surplus apples on to Wasted Degree's Brewery so that they can make a cider from locally sourced fruits.

We have planted these old apple varieties so far, 2 tree's of each, unless stated otherwise;

Winter 2021 - 2022;
Bloody Ploughman / Stirling Castle / Lass O`Gowrie / Tower of Glamis / Hood`s Supreme / Lord Roseberry / Cambusnethan Pippin / Ribston Pippin.

Winter 2022 - 2023;
Thorle Pippin / Midlothian Blush / Lady Sudeley / Stobo Castle / Coul Blush / Sunset / Beauty of Moray / White Melrose / Cutler Grieve / Worcester Pearmain / Arbroath Oslin / Port Allen Russet / McIntosh Red (4) / Katy (4) / James Grieve (1) / Fiesta (1).

Plums; This year we also planted x3 Early Rivers Plum trees, as a start to the plum collection.

Winter 2023 - 2024;
Galloway Pippin / Scots Bridget / Scots Dumpling / Red James Grieve.

Plums; 3 more plum varieties planted; Damson Merry Weather and 2 others . 

Filbert and Cob Nuts; I am also starting to develop a small copse of these nuts.

Last Heritage Apples on list to get:

Hawthornden / Lady of the Lake / Lady of Wemyss / Siddington Russet / Tam Montgomery 

Nuts; Sweet Chestnuts and more Cobs and Filberts.

Orchard Development