New book puts Ochil Hills in the spotlight
New work penned
A Stirling man has written a book examining the hills on the city’s doorstep.
Drew Jamieson, who grew up in Tullibody, spent around five years researching and writing The Ochil Hills, A Special Place.
The 77-year-old has pulled together different areas of research into one volume.
He pointed out that the Ochils are distinct due to their dominance in the landscape, their accessibility and significance to those who live in their shadow .
He said: “They have great significance for Scottish history and culture. The landscape and biodiversity is much denuded but there are big opportunities for improvement.
“The most interesting aspect of their geography is their scale, both in area and in elevation plus their close location in relation to centres of population.”
Drew also wrote the book as he was concerned about environmental issues affecting the Ochil landscape including footpath erosion, litter, the loss of trees as well as the Beauly to Denny power line and wind farms.
A member of the charity committed to the conservation of the hills, Friends of the Ochils (FtO), Drew said: “When I returned to Stirling in 2000 after living in Edinburgh for many years I was concerned about a number of environmental issues.
“And there is an absence of any overall vision for the Ochil Hills.
“There are three local authorities, Perth and Kinross, Clackmannanshire and Stirling, 17 community councils and private landowners.
“There are many different strategies, but no overall coordination.
“Friends of the Ochils had campaigned about these issues for years – so my book is an attempt to help them raise awareness, among policymakers, of the value and problems of the Ochils.”