New community group will preserve famous Perthshire beauty spot

Residents in bid to safeguard Birks attraction

A new community group has been formed to safeguard a world famous Perthshire beauty spot.

The Birks of Aberfeldy, which rose to prominence thanks to Robert Burns, was gifted to the community 50 years ago.

Residents are getting together to become more involved in the management of the much-loved site and its spectacular waterfall.

It follows the controversial felling of mature beech trees by Perth and Kinross Council earlier this year.

John Macnaughton, chairman of the Birks of Aberfeldy Community Group, said: “We intend to take an active role in safeguarding this resource for the community by co-ordinating volunteer support, fundraising for improvements and consulting closely with the council on future management plans.”

The Lower and Upper Birks, together with the Moness burn, was gifted in 1968 to the community by Millicent Frances Haggart.

The woodland was entrusted to the “Burgh of Aberfeldy and successors” to be maintained as “a public park to be used as a pleasure ground or place of public resort or recreation.”

Mr Macnaughton said: “Today the Birks remains incredibly popular with walkers, cyclists and is an important draw for tourists to the area.

“Our first project is to raise money to reopen the mid-falls view point that in recent years has been closed after falling into disrepair.”

The group has been formed in close consultation with Perth and Kinross Council. Countryside ranger Jeannie Grant will be leading an open tour around the Birks to identify management issues on Sunday.

Residents raised concern when trees were felled at the site in July.

The council stressed the operation was not about the removal of large mature specimens, but was focused on The Birks of Aberfeldy is one of Highland Perthshire’s most photographed sites.

It is also one of the area’s most popular walking routes, offering a twoand-a-half mile circuit through lush woodlands, following the Moness Burn.

Robert Burns immortalised the beauty spot in his 1787 song. The Birks getting rid of small regenerating beech and sycamore seedlings and saplings.

A spokeswoman said: “The works carried out are in accordance with Perth and Kinross Forest Plan 2015-2035, which covers all the woodlands and forests for which the council are responsible.

“Consultations have been undertaken with the public, key stakeholders and statutory bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage.”

We intend to take an active role in safeguarding this resource

of the title refers to the old Scottish word for birch trees.

Burns was touring the area with his friend William Nicol.

The Birks is now one of the sites included in the Perthshire Big Tree Country Heritage and Access project, which celebrates the area’s spectacular natural heritage.