Dunblane botanical garden bid
Water features are planned
A family are hoping to create a public parkland with water features in the centre of Dunblane.
Water Gems have been asked by William Carman and his family - the driving force behind the charity BC Sport, Education and Conservation - to create a botanical parkland on land at Holmehill north and east of the Braeport Centre.
Two applications have been submitted to Stirling Council planners - the first for the parkland containing new water features, an ornamental pond, wheelchair-friendly allweather pathways, seating and new plants.
The second is a listed building application seeking permission to remove around 66 metres of stone boundary wall behind the centre.
Holmehill is a 13-acre greenspace east of the River Allan, and overlooking Dunblane Cathedral,
Between 2005 and 2018, the site was the centre of a community campaign to preserve and possibly purchase the land to keep it in its natural condition as a public open space for all to enjoy.
In 2018 Holmehill was bought by local charitable trust, the Carman Family Foundation, and the
A site that enhances, evolves and adds to the broader setting of Dunblane Site agents
campaign was drawn to a close, with the Friends of Holmehill formed.
In their submission, agents for the applicants said: “The features will be set amongst a ‘botanical’ style of planting containing ornamental trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
“The planting is to enhance the biodiversity of the site and create yearround interest that the local community of Dunblane can use.
“Additionally the design proposal for Holmehill is to provide an area of green space that will frame the backdrop to the Dunblane Cathedral precinct taking into account the conservation area that it sits within .... it is an important cultural and environmental asset to the community.”
They add: “The goal of the design scheme is to take an already well loved, central greenspace in the heart of Dunblane and better connect it to the local community through the addition of water features, new plantings and access pathways.
“The design aims to make the space a focal point that the residents of Dunblane will feel a strong attachment to and that they will see as an asset for the future.”
The agents said by opening up the rear area of the Braeport Centre to the site by lowering part of the wall in the centre and removing two sections completely, the two sites would connect better and allow for greater use of the area for the wider community.
The best of the stone would be reused on site, with as little as possible of the material being taken off site.
They added: “As part of the carbon zero goals of the Scottish Government as well as the charity behind this development, the park is trying to be as carbon efficient and sustainable as possible.
“To this end an electrical engineer has been consulted to provide a solar power option for supplying the power needs for the pumps required on site for the water features. Any excess electricity can then be fed into the community centre.
“Overall the design proposal is to create a site that enhances, evolves, adds to the broader setting of Dunblane and is sustainable in all aspects.”