October 18, 2011
Birse on the right path
Aberdeenshire based Birse Community Trust is often promoted as a model development trust. Enterprising, innovative, focused on its natural resources and fully committed to keeping all its residents engaged and informed about its work. For many years BCT has been developing a complex forestry-based business plan which it believes is vital to the long term sustainability of the community. But as well as the ‘big picture’ stuff, this Trust knows the importance of small scale improvements
An off-road path for walkers and cyclists linking key parts of the scattered community of Finzean was opened on Saturday.
The new 2.5km long track, created by Birse Community Trust, provides a safe route from Finzean village to the primary school via Birse and Feughside Parish Church, the school wood, and the Finzean Farm Shop.
Trust chairman Charles Insch welcomed more than 120 Finzean folk to the opening celebrations, then paid tribute to and thanked all those who had helped to make the project happen.
Path user, five-year-old Catriona Chapman, cut the ribbon to mark the opening and everyone walked and cycled the path up to the church for refreshments. Five local pipers stationed along the route provided a musical accompaniment.
At the church, Leanne Buchan, Climate Challenge Fund project officer, concluded the celebrations by cutting a gigantic decorated cake.
John Forster a project officer for Birse Community Trust, said nearly half the pupils of Finzean School were making their daily journey to and from school by cycle or foot instead of using a car or bus.
He said this switch saved carbon dioxide emissions and money and had great health benefits. He said the path provided a safe route from the school to the wood and that the total benefit to Finzean from the project was immense.