NEWS. August 2004:

John Lyne has resigned as Project Officer.

NEWS. September 2003:

Dave McWilliam has had to give up the chairmanship due to lack of time. Priscilla Gordon-Duff will take over as Temporary Chairman until a replacement is found.

NEWS. July 2003:

After 3 years as Chairman of Drummuir 21, Priscilla Gordon-Duff is stepping down and Dave McWilliam from Towiemore is taking up the reins. Other new office bearers who will be continuing the work of Drummuir 21 are John Lyne, who is taking over the work of Project Officer from Ian Dempster, and Gillian Brown who is taking over the role of Treasurer from Gordon Stuart.

Drummuir-21 History: The Drummuir-21 organisation started in 1996 as part of Drummuir Community Association when it was realised that a number of local developments, such as the inauguration of the Keith & Dufftown Railway, the lease of the Castle to J& B (now Diageo), the setting up of the REAP office in Keith and the fact that the Estate was changing its work practices, created needs and opportunities that didn't fit easily within the constitution of the Association. In February 1998 the Drummuir Community Association held an Open Day in the Hall to which all local businesses, organisations and interested parties where invited to attend and take stalls to publicise their interests. Then in 1999 Moray Council asked for help with developing public access to the countryside and in June 1999 another Open Meeting was held, resulting in involvement in the Moray Access Network Initiative.

But Drummuir 21 is about more than just access to the countryside. According to its constitution a major objective is 'to integrate the activities of groups and initiatives in the Drummuir area that have an interest in sustainable development'.

Its achievements to date include: An All-Abilities Footpath that links Drummuir Station, Botriphnie Kirk and the Walled Garden, a Sculpture trail, Annual Community Days in Botriphnie School, a replacement bridge at Drummuir Station, a walks trail and leaflet and this website. Around £45,000 of grant aid has been brought into the area through the work of the volunteers involved. Representatives of Drummuir-21also sit on the Drummuir Windfarm Stakeholder Committee.

Woodland Walk Paths now reopened: The damage caused to the paths by last November's floods has now been made good and the paths reopened. The bridge across the stream on the All Abilities footpath near Kirkton House was destroyed in the floods and the pictures below show the final stages of its replacement. Repair work to the damaged footpath has also been carried out. Our thanks go to Scottish National Heritage for the funding and to Mark Hedderwick and his team who did the rebuilding work.

Placing the new bridge on its supporting piers: The participants, left to right, are John Hope, Dave McGimpsey and digger driver Richie Denoon.

Testing, testing!: Left to right, are John Hope, Dave McGimpsey and digger driver Richie Denoon.