Gillies Hill buyout group in funds plea
Campaign seeking donations of £60,000
With only weeks to go to meet a fundraising shortfall, the campaign to raise the final £60,000 for the purchase of Cambusbarron’s Gillies Hill continues.
Cambusbarron Community Development Trust (CCDT) need to raise the cash following the Scottish Land Fund’s award of £425,000 towards the purchase and management of around 160 acres of woodland on Gillies Hill which has links to the Battle of Bannockburn.
In recent weeks the group has been holding a Crowdfunding campaign in a bid to raise the outstanding £60,000.
CCDT chairperson Richard Norman said yesterday (Wed): “From the amount of donations received so far we can see that a significant amount of people want to buy the woodland. We have received many small donations, which are a lot of money for donors. We appreciate their generosity. However, there is still a significant shortfall.
“We’re halfway through the Crowdfunder and we need to raise a lot more.
“There may be other potential sources of money, but we can’t take that for granted, so we’re appealing for any financial help we can get from the Crowdfunder. We’re in a bit of a bind.”
Gillies Hill was where Robert the Bruce placed his gillies, or followers, prior to the 1314 battle and before he went to Cambusbarron Chapel to pray and take water from the well to pour on the battlefield.
CCDT’s plans include a red squirrel trail and all-terrain paths for walkers and mountain bikers.
Mr Norman added: “If we had just £1 from every resident of Stirling we would be able to create a great new inspiring community asset for local people and the thousands of visitors tour our area around Bannockburn battlefield.
“Over the next few weeks we need everyone who is interested to become one of the thousands who will support the campaign (#buygillieshill).”
The £425,000 grant will support the project up to March 2020 and covers both capital and operating costs.
For more information go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ buying-gillies-hill