Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) will hold its AGM on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 7pm in the Assembly Hall at the Scottish Outdoor Education Centre’s Belmont Camp. 

The AGM has been rescheduled after it was postponed due to bad weather and flooding in the area last month. 

Following the formal business, which will include reports by MACDT’s chair and treasurer, there will be an opportunity to chat with MACDT trustees, see the new community shed and the new community website, and share ideas and suggestions. 

MACDT works with local people, community groups, businesses, the local authority and other stakeholders to help support the communities of Meigle and Ardler to thrive and flourish by leading and coordinating projects identified as priorities in the Meigle and Ardler Community Action Plan (CAP).

The AGM is open to members of the public (although only members of the Trust can vote on any decisions), ensuring that anyone who wishes to find out more about the work of the Trust has the opportunity to do so. 

Membership of the Trust is free. Application forms will be available on the evening of the AGM. 

The Trust is currently looking for new Trustees to support its work and help make a positive difference in the east Perthshire villages. 

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the role, or the AGM should email comms@meigleardler.com in the first instance.

Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) will hold its AGM on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 at 7pm at the Belmont Centre. 

This will be the community development trust’s sixth AGM since forming in 2020 and will look back on what has been a busy 12 months for the volunteer-led organisation. 

Following the formal business, which will include reports by MACDT’s chairperson and treasurer, there will also be an opportunity to meet the MACDT trustees, see the new community shed, view the new community website, and share ideas and suggestions. 

Chair of MACDT Ali Napier is looking forward to the meeting. He said: “Over the last year, we have made great progress in working towards facilitating some of the aspirations highlighted by local residents in the Meigle and Ardler Community Action Plan. 

“The Meigle and Ardler Community Shed is now up and running, work to restore the historic Pavilion building at Meigle Bowling Green is almost complete, and the Resilience Team is going from strength to strength. 

“We’ve worked hard to grow the Trust and share its purpose with the community - thank you to everyone who has been part of this - and we’re looking forward to more collaboration in 2026! 

“As well as providing a snapshot of what we have been doing in the last 12 months, the AGM also offers local residents an opportunity to meet the MACDT trustees - who are all volunteers and who give up much of their time to make a positive difference in our community.  

“Everyone is welcome to come along and find out more - we’ll keep the formalities brief and there will be an opportunity to chat over refreshments. You can become a member of MACDT on the night - membership is free and helps to further progress the aspirations identified in the community action plan for our area.”

The AGM is open to members of the public (although only members of the Trust can vote on any decisions), ensuring that anyone who wishes to find out more about the work of the Trust has the opportunity to do so. 

Membership of the Trust is free. Application forms will be available on the evening of the AGM. 

Refreshments will be available after the AGM and there will be time to meet and talk to the Trustees. 

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the AGM should contact the Trust by emailing comms@meigleardler.com 

Volunteers behind the new Meigle and Ardler Community Shed were delighted to welcome Tim Green from the Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) to the Belmont facility recently. 

Tim is the SMSA’s development officer for the area and enjoyed his visit to the Meigle and Ardler Community Shed, which opened its doors to the community this summer. 

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, is run by volunteers from Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) and developed from an idea that first came about during the COVID lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. 

Chair of MACDT, Ali Napier, is the Trust’s project lead for the Community Shed. 

He said: “We were delighted to welcome Tim to our Community Shed recently, it was great to see him here in Meigle and Ardler and to have the opportunity to share the thinking behind the development of the community shed and the process behind getting it up and running. 

“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. 

“It was good to be able to show Tim the facilities and equipment we have here at the Community Shed and chat about our ideas for running the project going forward. 

“It was also good to hear more about the Perth and Kinross Shed Association network and we’re looking forward to hosting one of their get togethers here in Meigle and Adler in the future.”

Tim commented: “Well done to everyone involved in the Meigle and Ardler Community Shed. It’s a great facility and it was good to see it in person and discuss ideas on how we can work together. “

Ali added: “The Community Shed is all about providing a space where people can get together and share ideas, knowledge, stories and skills with the aim of reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing. 

“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 at the Shed, and because it is community-led, whatever we do is up to those who get involved.”

For further information on Meigle and Ardler Community Shed, see online at www.meigleardler.com/macdt/our-work/community-shed

Alternatively, email shed@meigleardler.com

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. 

There was a good turnout at a showcase event for volunteer-led community groups and projects in Meigle and Ardler on Saturday, March 29th.

Around 70 people attended the event which took place in Kinloch Memorial Hall on the Dundee Road in the east Perthshire village and which was organised by Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT).

Those at the event were able to chat to groups, event organisers and associations and find out more about the work they are doing – and even get involved with some of the projects and initiatives themselves if they wished to. 

As well as MACDT, there were representatives from Meigle and Ardler Community Council, Pride in Meigle 2015, Meigle Primary School Parent Council, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres (SOEC), Meigle Community Trust, and Meigle History Society at the free event. 

Chair of MACDT, Ali Napier, was pleased with the success of the event. 

He said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the community open event on Saturday, there was a real buzz in the hall with some good conversations taking place, and it was great to be able to chat to volunteers from other local groups about the wonderful work they are doing in our communities.

“It was also a great opportunity for us to talk to local residents about the Trust and some of the projects we’re working on.

“Initial feedback from the other groups in attendance is that they felt the same, which is what it was all about for us. 

“This was definitely an event that we think we can build on and would be keen to host again, so watch this space!

“In the meantime, thank you to Meigle and Ardler Community Council, Meigle Primary School Parent Council, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres, Pride in Meigle 2015, Meigle Community Trust and Meigle History Society for coming along. Thanks also to the Kinloch Memorial Hall, and to Ava Barton for the delicious tray bakes!”

Local councillor for Strathmore, Colin Stewart, was at the event. He said: “It was really fantastic to see the range of community groups working to bring people together in Meigle and Ardler - the diversity of projects and the enthusiasm of volunteers is impressive.

“Well done to MACDT for hosting this event, and I’m looking forward to the opening of the community shed – which has been partly funded by the Community Investment Fund – in the very near future.”

Stephen Bailey from Meigle and Ardler Community Council added: “It was a great event, and it was good to bring people together – there are lots of volunteers doing so many wonderful things in the villages of Meigle and Ardler, and the great thing about this event was that it gave everyone an opportunity to find out what everyone else is doing."

Pauline Brogan from Meigle Primary School Parent Council agreed, commenting: “It was good to engage with other community groups and meet other volunteers, which is something we don’t often get a chance to do. The event was well attended which was great to see – and the cakes were amazing!”

A showcase event highlighting some of the volunteer-led community groups and projects in Meigle and Ardler takes place this Saturday, March 29th, from 10am to noon. 

The event in Kinloch Memorial Hall on the Dundee Road in the east Perthshire village is being organised by Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) and offers community groups, event organisers and associations an opportunity to highlight the work they are doing.

It will also provide local residents with an opportunity to get involved with some of the initiatives and projects carried out by the groups.

As well as MACDT, there will be representatives from Meigle and Ardler Community Council, Pride in Meigle, Meigle Primary School Parent Council, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres (SOEC), Meigle Community Trust, and Meigle History Society at the event. 

Chair of MACDT, Ali Napier, encouraged people to attend, commenting: “One of the key areas I want to focus on as chair of Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust is building relationships and working in partnership with other groups and organisations in our communities to make a positive difference locally, and this event is one of the first steps towards that goal.

“The event, which is free to attend, aims to provide a showcase for community organisations in the village to talk about the great work they are doing locally, and, just as importantly, it will give local residents an opportunity to find out more about what is going on in the villages and how they can get involved if they are interested in doing so. 

“Whether you’re just interested in finding out what’s going on, or in getting involved with the Resilience Team, helping to support the restoration of the Pavilion at the old Bowling Club here in Meigle, having your say on how Ardler Village Green is developed or catching up on progress with the Community Shed and the MAC Trail, come along and have a chat with us. 

“You will also be able to chat to some of your community councillors, as well as representatives from Meigle and Ardler Community Council, Pride in Meigle, Meigle Primary School Parent Council, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres, Meigle Community Trust, and Meigle History Society.

“We’ve been really pleased by the positive response from other local groups to this event, which is the first of its kind in Meigle and Ardler, and we hope that the community will make the most of this opportunity to speak to lots of community groups and organisations at the same time, find out more about the work that the many hardworking volunteers in the village do, and how to get involved with some of the initiatives and projects carried out by the groups.

“We look forward to seeing you!”

As well as the information stalls, refreshments and art activities for children will also be available.

Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) has announced the appointment of a new chair. 

Ali Napier, who joined the board of trustees in 2022, was unanimously elected as chair at the organisation’s AGM which took place earlier this year and took over with immediate effect from previous chair Bob Ellis.

Ali has lived in Meigle with his family since 2003 and, along with his wife, has always been a keen participant in community activity. He works as a technologist at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at Dundee University, and spends his spare time playing music and indulging in his passion of astrophotography.

Commenting on his appointment as chair, Ali said: “This is a very exciting time for Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust with some projects that we have been working on for a few years finally coming to fruition and good progress being made on others. 

“The community action plan for Meigle and Ardler informs everything we do, and one of the key areas I want to focus on is building relationships and working in partnership with other groups and organisations in our communities to make a positive difference locally.

“Through working together and listening to others, we hope to overcome some of the obstacles currently facing Meigle and Ardler, and I’m looking forward to some busy and productive times ahead.” 

In his final report as chair, Mr Ellis thanked his fellow trustees for their support during his tenure. 

He commented: “Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust is a small trust but one which works well together and is tackling some big issues. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the trustees for all their hard work and support during my time as chair. All of the team bring their own skills and enthusiasm to the table which is invaluable and which I have been very grateful for. 

“I would also like to wish Ali the very best for his tenure as chair of MACDT - his enthusiasm for all of the projects that he is involved in is infectious and I know he will make a great chair of this organisation and continue efforts to have a positive impact in our communities.”

Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust is committed to developing a sustainable community where people will want to stay, work and play, now and in the future.  

Its main areas of focus are the Meigle and Ardler Community Flooding Resilience Project, development of a Community Shed, the Meigle and Ardler Community Trail, Meigle Bowling Green, and the Ardler Village Hall site. 

MACDT is pleased to announced that it has successfully secured funding from the National Centre for Resilience, based at the University of Glasgow, for a unique flood resilience project in Meigle and Ardler.

The project aims to develop short-term responses to strengthen the Resilience Team's effectiveness through improved training, communications and equipment.

It also aims to look at how to support households, landowners and businesses with improved flood resilience measures, giving them the tools and knowledge needed to strengthen their own resilience to events, and to consider sustainable, nature-based solutions to flood resilience throughout communities and the local environment.

The project will run for the next nine months and will see volunteers with the Trust work with experts in flood resilience, capture local experience and knowledge in Meigle and Ardler, and collaborate with local landowners and developers to ensure that a diverse range of knowledge and skills contributes to the delivery of the project.

MACDT Trustee and Resilence Project lead, Paul Soppit, commented: "We are very grateful to receive this funding as it will assist us in helping our community to become sustainable when it comes to flood management, with expert advice to get us on the right track in combating the ever-changing circumstances which we face every year."

If you are interested in finding out more about the project or in becoming a resilience volunteer, please email: resilience@meigleardler.com 

Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust (MACDT) is delighted to announce funding of £16,000 for its Community Shed project.

The project is being supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, the Perth and Kinross Council Community Investment Fund and the Ardler Tavern.

MACDT Trustee Ali Napier is leading the development of the project. 

He said: "We first started talking about this around three years ago during the COVID lockdowns and we have spent some time getting funding in place and finding suitable premises to house the project.

"We're delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement with SOEC Belmont to use one of the huts at the Belmont Centre as home for our Community Shed. It's a great location - set in the heart of Belmont Woods right in between our two communities of Meigle and Ardler and easily accessible on foot, by bike or by car.

"We are also hugely grateful to have secured grants and donations totalling more than £16,000 in support of the project.

"The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland very kindly awarded us £10,000 towards refurbishment costs and equipment and we would like to say a great big thank you to players of the National Lottery, without whom awards like this just wouldn't exist.

"Perth and Kinross Council Community Investment Fund awarded us £6000 towards equipment - it's fantastic to have this level of support from our local authority.

"We also received an incredibly kind donation of £600 from the proceeds of a raffle held by The Ardle Tavern - this wonderful gesture means so much and we'll be sure to let everyone know how the money is used. Thank you!"

Ali continued: "The Shed is inspired by the Men's Shed movement, which has already been replicated in over 200 locations in Scotland alone.

"The Trust has long believed that we should have something similar in our community - although not limited to men!

"Work will be commencing very soon to transform the hut into our creative home, and we'd welcome any help that local people could offer in this process.

"At the same time, we'll be engaging with the people of Ardler, Meigle and the surrounding areas to find out more about the kinds of activities they'd like access to in the Shed."

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust survey about Meigle Pavilion and Bowling Green - there was a great response from people both online and filling in the printed surveys. 

MACDT also spent a day with the children and staff at Meigle Primary School, playing bowls on the bowling green, learning about the history of bowling, and talking about and drawing what the children would like to see the space used for.

The responses will inform ideas for the building and grounds, and is just the first phase of community engagement - there will be further opportunities to share thoughts and ideas. 

In the meantime, thank you to Flour Coffee Shop and Deli, The Joinery and the Kinloch Arms Hotel for their support of this round of engagement.

The Pavilion at Meigle Bowling Green is both culturally and architecturally significant to the community of Meigle. 

Lawn bowls has a long and distinguished history in Scotland, with the earliest reference to the game in Scotland appearing in 1469, when James IV played a variation of the game referred to as 'lang bowlis' at St Andrews in Fife.

Meigle Bowling Club was founded in 1896 and the Pavilion, which overlooks the bowling green in the centre of the village, dates from 1897. 

It is a rare example of a decorative timber bowling pavilion with little external or internal alteration. 

The decorative round-arched windows and the red ridge tiles add to the character of the building and internally the building is mostly original, with a timber lining and traditional benches and storage racks.

Meigle Bowling Club was a very successful bowling club in the Scottish leagues and the Pavilion was at the heart of the local community. However, as rural economies declined and people moved away from villages, membership of the club declined, the building began to fall into disrepair and eventually the once thriving club folded in 2014. 

Both the Pavilion and the Bowling Green site continue to be cherished by the local community and in 2023, Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust took ownership of both with the goal of restoring the building and repurposing the whole site to become once again become a hub for community use. 

A group of hardy volunteers braved the cold this week to plant hedges and fruit trees at Ardler Village Green.

Following the community consultation in 2023, one of the first pieces of work Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust did was to remove the rusting posts and wire fence at the front boundary of the site. 

Funding from The Mushroom Trust has now allowed the Trust to plant a wildlife hedge in its place, which will provide shelter and food for insects, mammals and birds, and help improve biodiversity in the area. The hedge is mainly made up of hawthorn, mixed with dog rose, guelder rose, hazel, holly and crab apple.

Volunteers also planted seven fruit trees - a mix of native apple, plum and pear - which will be a community orchard. 

On a beautiful late summer day, a group of walkers walked along the Meigle and Ardler Community Trail! One set of walkers started at the Meigle end of the trail, while another group began at the Ardler end, with both groups meeting in the middle for chat and refreshments. 

MACDT Chair, Bob Ellis, unveiled the new trail way-marker logo, which has been designed and created by trustee Ali Napier and which combines the Pictish traditions of Meigle with the more recent railway history of Ardler.

Thanks to the Scottish Outdoor Education Centre Belmont for allowing us to use their archery field, and to Meigle and Ardler Community Council for the use of their gazebo.

Thanks also to volunteers Lindsay and Andrei for all their hard work installing the branded MAC Trail way-markers!

The first of installation on the Meigle and Ardler Community (MAC) Trail was launched on August 30, 2023, with pupils from Meigle Primary School. 

The children were delighted to see the tree in Belmont Woods where the faeries have made their home and to hear a poem about the faeries written and read by children's writer and poet Kerry Fleming from Jagged Roots.

Kerry was commissioned by Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust to design, build and install a bespoke faerie community on an old, gnarled yew tree in the woods, along with an accompanying poem. 

The faerie furniture, which includes doors, windows, and swings made from natural materials foraged in the woods, has been sympathetically installed on the tree at the back of Belmont Camp. The poem is the first to be commissioned for the MAC Trail, and Kerry recorded it at the tree. 

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £4,000 by The Mushroom Trust to go towards work to rejuvenate the Ardler Village Hall site.

The Mushroom Trust is a Scottish charitable trust which donates funds to local organisations for the improvement of green spaces. This generous award will fund the planting of new trees and hedges at the site, along with other outdoor facilities to benefit the local community.