Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) is delighted to announce that it has secured funding to restore the historic Pavilion at the east Perthshire village’s former bowling club. 

Thanks to generous support from Fife Environment Trust, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and The Levenseat Trust, MACDT has raised more than £70,000 towards the first phase of a project to create a space that can be enjoyed by the local community and future generations.  

Coupar Angus-based contractor DG Ritchie has been appointed to carry out the restoration work, which is due to get under way during the week commencing September 15th, 2025. The work is expected to be completed by the end of November. 

Dating from 1897, Meigle Bowling Club was one of the oldest in Scotland and was once at the centre of the community life in the village. The Pavilion itself is a rare example of a decorative timber bowling pavilion that has seen few alterations. 

Restoration of the Pavilion and development of the former bowling green as a vibrant creative and cultural hub facilitating community connections was identified as a priority in the Meigle and Ardler Community Action Plan 2021-2026.

As part of efforts to realise that aspiration, MACDT took ownership of the B-Listed building – which is currently on the Heritage At Risk Register - and the green on behalf of the community in 2023.

Since then, the team at MACDT has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the funding is place to conserve and repair the 19th century building and create a community gathering space that will also link with some of the Trust’s other projects such as its heritage and poetry trails.

As well as securing the funding required, MACDT has also obtained listed building consent from Perth and Kinross Council for the first phase of the work and a viability survey into the work required and potential future uses for the Pavilion was carried out last year.

Chair of MACDT, Ali Napier, welcomed the funding awards. He said: “We are hugely grateful to Fife Environment Trust, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and The Levenseat Trust for their support of this historically significant project and absolutely delighted that the restoration work can now get under way. 

“As a charity, MACDT’s focus is on driving rural regeneration, enriching cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and providing recreational opportunities in Meigle and Ardler.

“This project will enable us to showcase our area's historical significance, offer educational and skills sharing opportunities and provide opportunities for volunteering, improving quality of life for residents, and promoting mental well-being and community cohesion.

“The revitalised and repurposed Pavilion and greenspace will also enhance the local tourism offering, attracting visitors and boosting local businesses such as cafes, accommodation providers and shops and we’re very much looking forward to progressing this project further.” 

The first phase of the project will see repairs to the roof, external cladding, windows and doors and internal fittings carried out, as well as improved drainage around the building and the reinstatement of historical timber benches at the front of the Pavilion. 

Ali said: “The old adage is that the hard work starts now and that is certainly true in this case. As well as completing the restoration work to the Pavilion, we’re now looking to progress plans for repurposing the building. 

“Community engagement carried out so far as part of this project has highlighted some exciting ideas that we are keen to explore, and we’ll be carrying out further community engagement in the coming weeks and months to shape a collective vision for the build and then put those plans into place. 

“Whatever the future looks like for this building, it will be determined by the community it serves.”

A new Community Shed is opening its doors this weekend at a special drop-in event on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025. 

The Community Shed, which is based in one of the buildings at the Scottish Outdoor Education Centres’ Belmont Centre between the villages of Meigle and Ardler, will be open from 11am until 3pm.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the new facility, which is being run by volunteers from Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT), is invited to come along. 

The idea for a Community Shed in the east Perthshire village first came about during the COVID lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. 

Chair of MACDT, Ali Napier, explained: “During the COVID lockdowns, a need for a space where people could get together and share ideas, knowledge, stories and skills – reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing – was identified. 

“We were therefore delighted to be able to secure the use of one of the buildings at Belmont for a Community Shed following discussions with Scottish Outdoor Education Centres. 

“It’s been a long time pulling the project together, with a few hurdles to overcome, but we’re so happy to finally be opening the doors.

“Our volunteers and supporters have put a huge amount of time and effort into transforming this building into a warm and welcoming creative space where people can come together to meet and socialise. 

“The Community Shed is based on the Men’s Shed model, and we’re a member of the Scottish Men’s Shed Association. We have a well-equipped wood workshop where you can make anything from bird boxes to benches, repair cherished items that just need a bit of TLC, or repurpose items and give them a whole new lease of life.

“And because this project is community-led, whatever we do is up to those who get involved. Thanks to our funders, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, Perth and Kinross Council, The Ardler Tavern and others, we have funding to run a variety of events, workshops and classes in the shed, so just get in touch and tell us what you’d like to try.”

Ali continued: “As a charity, our main focus is on driving rural regeneration, enriching cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and providing recreational opportunities in Meigle and Ardler.

“For us, it is all about fostering connections, conversations and creativity, and the Community Shed provides an opportunity to get together to make, repair and repurpose items, support projects in the local community, and boost the health and wellbeing of our community. 

“We’re therefore really excited to be able to open the doors to the Community Shed this weekend and are looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible through the doors to see what’s on offer!”

The Community Shed at Belmont will be open from 11am until 3pm on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Everyone is welcome to attend and teas and coffees will be available. For further information please email macdt.shed@gmail.com

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Clare McMicking on macdt.comms@gmail.com or 07514 343042

Businesses, home owners and landowners in the Meigle and Ardler area are being urged to attend a public meeting on flood resilience this Friday, June 13th, 2025 in the Kinloch Memorial Hall. 

There will be presentations from members of the Meigle Resilience Team and environmental consultants SWECO detailing the results of the Meigle Community Flood Resilience Project (CFRP) which was carried out last year. 

Supported by funding from the National Centre for Resilience, which was secured for the community by Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT), the project involved collaborative engagement with local residents, landowners and government to co-design a comprehensive strategy for flood reduction and enhanced resilience in the area.

That strategy – including bespoke ‘toolkits’ that aim to equip home owners, land owners and businesses with essential information about flooding and mitigating the impact of flooding events – is now ready to be shared with the local and wider community. 

Meigle’s Resilience Team was set up in 2022, supported by a grant from SSEN that allowed those involved to buy equipment such as flood gates and generators. As well as dealing with several flooding incidents, volunteers also attended training sessions and community events to raise awareness of the Resilience Team and encourage more people to get involved.  

The Community Flood Resilience Project came about following the impact of Storm Babet in 2023 when flooding was caused by surface run-off and a local burn over-topping, affecting a number of homes and businesses in the village, and the Resilience Team was stretched to capacity.

MACDT Trustee Paul Soppit heads up the Resilience Team. 

He explained: “We wanted to understand how we could work at a local level to strengthen resilience in a sustainable way and improve the community’s response to increasingly frequent severe weather events that are damaging property and threatening the safety and livelihoods of our community. 

“It’s become clear that proactive solutions are essential to mitigate future risks, particularly as we are a small community and our Resilience Team has limited resources. 

“We wanted to work with our community as well as leading environmental professionals and researchers to create solutions that not only address immediate concerns locally but also build long-term sustainable resilience against flooding and climate impacts.

“Empowering residents and businesses with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to protect their homes and properties is crucial to fostering a sense of security and readiness for severe weather events.

“The idea is that by bolstering community strength, we can weather any storm and thrive in adverse situations. 

“We are therefore very grateful to the National Centre for Resilience for funding the Community Flood Resilience Project, and to partners SWECO for helping us deliver the project, and would urge as many people as possible to join us on Friday evening to find out what steps we can take to make a positive difference.” 

The meeting takes place at 6.30pm on Friday, June 13th, in the Kinloch Memorial Hall, Dundee Road, Meigle. Everyone is welcome to attend and teas and coffees will be available.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Clare McMicking on macdt.comms@gmail.com or 07514 343042

Notes to Editors

·       Meigle and Ardler Development Trust is a charity. Its main focus is on driving rural regeneration, enriching cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and providing recreational opportunities in Meigle and Ardler.

·       The National Centre for Resilience is a research and knowledge exchange centre focused on natural hazards and their impact on our environment, people and communities. The cross-sector partnership spanning Scottish universities, government and practitioners is committed to improving country-wide resilience to natural hazards.

·       SWECO is Europe’s leading design, engineering, environment and regulatory consultancy and works towards co-creating solutions that make societies more sustainable.