Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Report rude families’
Trust upset as picnickers invade author’s birthplace
A CLOSED National Trust venue has warned people to stay away after “alarming reports” of “rude” families trespassing on the grounds.
The house and garden at JM Barrie’s Birthplace is currently closed, but that has failed to stop people scrambling over the estate’s boundary and leaving picnic rubbish behind.
The team which runs the Kirriemuir tourist attraction has issued an appeal urging locals to report future incidents to police.
A statement read: “Unfortunately we have had some alarming reports of families climbing over the wall into the garden and having picnics, as well as being rude to the surrounding residents.
“Can we ask that everyone respects the property signage and especially the local residents.”
It continued: “Thank you goes out from us to those residents who contacted us today and who also cleaned up all the rubbish left behind by the picnickers.
“If anyone witnesses anything like this going forward please contact us as well as contacting the police on 101”.
The venue had previously been scheduled to reopen on July 6 as lockdown eased, but that plan was scrapped.
While some National Trust venues have opened up again to members of the public, JM Barrie’s Birthplace, on Brechin Road, will remain closed until next year.
A spokeswoman for the National Trust for Scotland said: “We appreciate that people want to visit our places as lockdown continues to ease. However, we would please ask that where places remain closed, people observe this and do not risk their safety or potentially damaging our places by attempting to access them.
“We are checking on our closed properties regularly.
“Due to coronavirus, JM Barrie’s Birthplace is now planned to reopen in spring 2021.”
She added: “In Angus, the grounds at the House of Dun and at Barry Mill both provide lovely picnic spots.”