Updated Community Action Plan for Alyth

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Alyth’s current Community Action Plan has helped to enable and deliver a wide range of new projects and initiatives led by volunteers over the past four years, and will need to be revisited at the end of 2026. To this end, Alyth Development Trust have begun working in partnership with Alyth Community Council to make preparations for a refresh and update of this important document.  Part of this work is to integrate our Community Action Plan into the Local Place Planning for Alyth with PKC.

Through survey and consultation activities, the Community Action Plan process highlights what is most important to Alyth’s residents: it provides a direction of travel for coming years, giving organisations such as the Development Trust, Community Council and other community and voluntary groups a clear focus.

We will be recruiting an external consultant to coordinate this work and help us formulate the best possible outcomes for our town and its residents.  To submit an Expression of Interest for this opportunity please email, by end of August 2026, secretary@lovealyth.org.uk outlining any relevant experience in this type of work.

To find out more about the Alyth Community Action Plan, visit: https://alyth.online/cap/

July board meeting minutes now online

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The minutes of our board meeting on 6 July are now available to read online: https://lovealyth.org.uk/about-alyth-development-trust/board-minutes/

Have a look and see what we’re currently up to. Our next meeting will be in person on Monday 3 August at a venue to be confirmed. You are more than welcome to come along – just get in touch or check our Facebook page for more information on the venue when it’s confirmed.

Alyth Arches guided tours starting this summer

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The many stories surrounding the famous Alyth Arches will be told in a new series of guided tours starting this summer.

Local stone carver and storyteller Neil Paterson (pictured) is to offer monthly tours around the historic monument, which is normally padlocked and only accessible on request.

Thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund, Neil’s tours will be free to all – Alyth residents and visitors alike.

The tours will be once a month on Saturdays at 14:00 starting on August 8.  Neil will be concentrating on the history of the site and the stories of the characters who are buried in the graveyard including James Sandy, the famous Alyth Genius.

“I’ve met many people who live in the town who’ve told me they either didn’t know where the Arches was or how to access it. I’m also hopeful that these tours will attract more visitors to the town to enjoy the local cafes, pubs, shops and walks, planning their day out around a free tour and the wonderful views from the graveyard!”

Asides from the regular monthly tours Neil is also more than happy to provide free tours by arrangement for any interested groups or organisations that would like to visit the site or the town.

There is a Facebook page where you can stay updated: Alyth Arches Tours – and there will be a QR code for the site on flyers and posters.

Please get in touch with Neil if you’d like to host flyers or posters for the tours:  pater5365@yahoo.co.uk or scan the QR code for the Facebook page (attached)

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

May board minutes now online

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The minutes of our May board meeting are now available to read online: https://lovealyth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4.5.26.-Minutes.pdf Have a browse through and let us know what you think! The next meeting will be on Monday 1 June, on Zoom. If you’d like to join, please get in touch via the Contact page or email alythdevelopmenttrust@gmail.com and we’ll send you the login details.

April minutes now available online

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The minutes of our April board meeting are now available to read online: https://lovealyth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2.4.2026-minutes.pdf. Have a look and see what we’re currently up to, and if you’d like to join our next meeting, scheduled for 4 May on Zoom, get in touch and we’ll send you the login details when they’re ready.

ADT fund helps Alyth Scouts go global

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Alyth’s Scouts will be representing the town to the world this summer, with the help of Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.

Three Explorer Scouts from Alyth will travel to Iceland for the Icelandic Scout Association’s National Jamboree in late July.  They will join up to 3,000 other scouts from all over the world for a week of adventure near Reykjavik, .

Around the same time, three more Explorer Scouts will join the 40th International Patrol Jamborette at Blair Atholl, where they will camp alongside 500 other Scottish scouts and dozens more from around the world.  An intensive 10-day programme of sports and adventure and creative activities will keep them all busy and entertained, working in patrols comprising scouts from different countries.

Ron Kirkpatrick of the Alyth Scouts said:  “The Scouts attending are very enthusiastic individuals who attend their weekly meetings, and also help as Young Leaders in other sections. I am sure they will be worthy ambassador of our community.  Their involvement in these events will be a broadening experience for them as individuals and it will also promote our community as they will be meeting many others in this experience.”

Getting ready for the April Bookfest to raise funds for their international trips: (front left-right): Natasha Cameron and Amelia Milton; (back left-right): Struan Robb, Edward Worrall and Oren Worrall.

The Scouts have been hard at work raising funds for the trips, including the regular BookFests run by the group; another one is scheduled for 4-18 April.

“The Scouts going overseas have been very active and committed in fund-raising for these trips,” added Ron.  “The trips will develop their personal skills in an encouraging environment, and I am sure they will have many experiences that stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

Alyth Pipe Band aims high with help from ADT community fund

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Professional tutor Jim Semple (far left) oversees piping practice led by Pipe Major Charlie Munro (right)

Alyth Pipe Band is getting ready to compete at national and maybe even international level, thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.  The fund is contributing £2000 to help the band hire specialist tuition from leading experts within the Scottish piping and drumming communities.  

Founded in 2006, Alyth Pipe Band has long been a focal point of the town’s social and cultural life.  They play at major events such as the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On ceremony, and also lead the town’s participation in national occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.  

They are also a familiar sight at charity events and fundraising events for the town, where their presence boosts residents’ sense of pride and engagement in the community, as well as contributing to the preservation and promotion of Scottish heritage, arts and music which helps strengthen the town’s visual identity.

Pipe Major Charlie Munro of the band explained:  “The grant has allowed us immediately to start structured tuition for our existing members and, we hope, attract new members keen to learn piping or drumming.  As our pipers and drummers learn new skills and confidence, we plan to enter into national and perhaps even international competitions as ambassadors representing the Alyth district. 

“Tuition and support from leading experts will encourage new and existing members to gain new skills and become confident enough to compete with other bands.  It will also help younger or junior members to work towards achievements in music and pipe band studies.  We’ll be able to offer specialised or one-to-one support for these requiring more enhanced learning environments that may not be possible in bigger bands or at school bands.

“The plan is for us to increase our membership and reach competition standard within six months to a year.  It’s ambitious, but we’re determined to get there!”

The grant funding will allow the band to set up workshops and focus groups to help young and upcoming players or help existing players to enhance their skill set.  Alyth Pipe Band already provides members with free tuition from the current pipe major but the enhanced tuition enabled by the grant will allow the band to provide a higher standard of tuition to a larger skill base from absolute beginner to academic level.

The grant has already enabled the band to retain the services of piping expert Jim Semple, who is a professional bagpipe tutor, examiner and adjudicator.  Jim was a member of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band for 22 years and won the world pipe band championships twice while there.  He also played for the Vale of Atholl grade 1 band and was Pipe Major of Linlithgow and District Pipe Band.

ADT’s community projects fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

RAFT urgently seeking new members

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Our local volunteer flood defence team, RAFT (Resilient Alyth Flood Team), is looking for a new leader and communication officer, as well as more volunteers to help the community be more aware of and prepared for future flood events.

As reported in the February issue of the Alyth Voice, team leader Grant Train and communications officer Laura Rodger have stepped down from their posts after several years during which they and the rest of the team have established RAFT as a model of local flood defence volunteering in Scotland.

RAFT was in 2022 as Scotland’s first volunteer team in Scotland to pioneer a proactive training and drilling approach to addressing flooding risk within our community. The team works with the community and other bodies to help local people be prepared for the impact of flooding, and during extreme weather events they are always on hand to defend against floodwaters.  

RAFT has a detailed flood plan for Alyth and is trained and equipped to provide advice and assistance to property owners whose homes and businesses lie in the path of rising waters.  The plan includes emergency protocols and systems which ensure that help such as first-aid, water safety advice and rescue procedures can be delivered quickly and efficiently.  It was developed with advice from and in partnership with the Scottish Flood Forum and is shared with other agencies such as Scottish Fire & Rescue and Perth & Kinross Council.

See the RAFT website for the full job descriptions, the Alyth Flood Plan, and more information.

ADT funds help target damaging invasive plant in Alyth countryside

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Funding from Alyth Development Trust is set to boost volunteer work this summer to tackle a non-native plant threatening waterways and ecosystems around Alyth.

ADT’s Community Projects Fund is giving £2000 to help Bamff Wildland recruit a coordinator to manage a team of local volunteers to remove Himalayan balsam from along the Auchrannie Burn, which runs from Bamff down to the River Isla at Airlie Castle, crossing several farms along the way.

Himalayan balsam is classed by NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s nature agency, as a “priority invasive non-native species”, meaning it can be a serious threat to native species and ecosystems.  The plant tends to grow by waterways and has spread considerably in recent years around the local area, meaning there is an urgent need to take action to prevent further spread. 

Sophie Ramsay of Bamff Wildland explained:  “Himalayan balsam is a tall annual plant, which produces large pink flowers and lots of seeds in mid to late summer.  It attracts bees and other pollinators away from smaller, native flowers and tends to crowd out other plants wherever it grows. And recent studies from Stirling University show that when it dies back in the autumn it leaves few plant-roots to hold the soil together, which exacerbates riverbank erosion.

“The good news is that Himalayan balsam can be controlled using no chemicals and no specialist technical skills. But it is time consuming, and better done in groups. It is an ideal job for a local volunteer group,” she added.

The volunteer coordinator post is a part-time, fixed-term paid contract running from May until the end of August 2026.  It would suit an outdoor and nature enthusiast, with good knowledge of plants, and excellent people skills, who can coordinate a team of local volunteers to pull balsam from late June to August – after the plant has emerged, and before it produces seeds. 

Bamff plans to have the coordinator in post by May to begin planning and recruiting volunteers, and then do a survey in early June to identify target locations.  The volunteer team will then do a series of two-hour sessions from late June to late August along as much of the Auchrannie Burn as possible.

Sophie added:  “If we can, we’d love to keep the group going as long as possible so that we can remove more Himalayan balsam from the same area and beyond in the coming years, working from the top to bottom of streams across the Isla catchment.”

For more information and to apply for the post, visit:  https://bamff.land/jobs/

More information on the Community Projects Fund is at:  https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/

New exhibition shows success of forest-bathing project

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A new exhibition in Alyth Library from this Saturday (20th March) showcases the outcomes of the successful “Attuned With Earth” (A.W.E.) project, part-funded by Alyth Development Trust, that has been running in the Den of Alyth over the past 10 months.

From last June until this month, the A.W.E. project has transformed the Den into a welcoming space for wellbeing, connection and community. Facilitated by Dorota Kiedrowska from Nature Minds and Kelly McIntyre from Present Focus CIC, this innovative programme has opened the woodland to diverse groups, enabling nearly 100 people to experience the restorative benefits of nature, regardless of age, gender, background or ability. Free transport was provided for organised groups to remove barriers to participation. Individuals and groups traveled from near and far: Alyth, Blairgowrie and Rattray, Coupar Angus, Meigle, Kirriemuir, Forfar and Arbroath, but also Dundee, Crieff, Perth, Glasgow, Edinburgh and even the Isle of Skye for this experience.

Participants came from a wide range of backgrounds, including asylum seekers, refugees, ESOL learners and those facing health challenges like mobility issues or cancer diagnoses. Nationalities represented included Scottish, Irish, English, Polish, Ukrainian, Yemeni, Eritrean, Afghan, Sudanese, Botswanan, Egyptian, Algerian, Syrian, Pakistani, Bulgarian and Latin American. Their ages ranged from 16 to over 60. Despite their differences, everyone shared a desire for calm, rest, connection and a sense of belonging.

The photo exhibition in Alyth Library showcases participants’ mindful photography and reflections, celebrating creative attention to nature, its seasonal shifts, reciprocal connection and those fleeting moments of awe and joy that the woodland so generously offers. The exhibition runs until Friday 10th April before travelling to other local venues. Organisations, care homes, schools, libraries, churches or cafés interested in hosting it can email dorota@natureminds.co.uk.

A.W.E. offered inclusive, sensory-rich, guided activities designed to nurture mental and physical health such as silent walking, hammocking, mindful photography, journaling, shared reflections, tree-assisted movement and shared time for tasting wild tea and healthy treats, often sparking renewed creativity and a deeper appreciation for the natural environment. Many reported immediate benefits – feeling calmer, more grounded and experiencing a “magical” sense of quieting the mind. 

Beyond individual wellbeing, A.W.E. strengthened community cohesion. Sessions helped people build confidence and familiarity with the Den of Alyth, encouraging repeat visits and long-term stewardship. Couples, newcomers, visitors, returners and long-term residents came together, sharing experiences and forming new friendships.

Another key legacy of A.W.E. is a free Forest Bathing Pocket Guide available in English, Polish, and Ukrainian. This simple resource encourages solo, family and group exploration, extending the programme’s impact beyond guided sessions.

Supported by Scottish Forestry and Alyth Development Trust, the A.W.E. project has fostered a shared love for the Den of Alyth – a space for everyone to breathe, rest and reconnect, remembering that nature is always there for us, supports us unconditionally, and that we are part of it. As one participant reflected: “This is amazing. We’re shocked! We’re so busy that we don’t ever do this, but we could bring our children and have a picnic and play in the woods together.”

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