Author Archives: Jeffrey Banks

Wednesday, 8th January 2025,

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“Landscape Scale Nature Recovery”

David Tollick, Conservation Officer, Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust

David is mainly focussed on Highland Perthshire, co-ordinating nature restoration parnerships.

After graduating in Ecological Studies from Edinburgh University, he worked as a countryside ranger developing and delivering environmental awareness activities for community and educational groups. He led a ground breaking course for a rural skills award for environmental vocations in Barony College, near Dumfries.

A spell in local government followed in Dumfries, then Falkirk supporting project development and delivery. This was followed by a move to Angus to develope, co-ordinate and deliver a £2,000,000 grants programme of the European Rural Development Programme, before coming to Perth.

2019 November Talk

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“Black Devon Wetlands, RSPB Reserve,” Alison Leonard, RSPB

A introduction to the development of this site and the variety of wildlife to found. A visit to view the site was promptly arranged, but failed to take place, a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

1875 Mountain Club founded

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With the object of exploring the Perthshire hills, and climbing to a summit every year, the group were active until the beginning of the First World War, and appear to have fallen into abeyance thereafter. Amongst the office bearers of the club were the Cairn Master, the Quaich Bearer and the Geometer. The Club was open to members who had ascended to 3000ft, so it was a custom that new members were initiated into the club on a summit where the quaich would be used for the toasts and libations.  The quaich carries the name, ‘Perthshire Mountain Club” and the motto, “Salix Herbacea Floreat” (“Let the Least Willow Flourish”) around the rim. The Geometer is inscribed “PSNS (Mountain Club) PERTH.” Would it be used to measure the mountain, or, possibly, to record the pressure to relate to the weather, and also for recording the altitude for specimens found?