Chairman's Report, 1999

In retrospect it is now clear that these last few years have all been following a similar pattern: on the one hand our early attempts at member involvement, such as the Ochils Award, have given way to more of a committee-driven pattern. On the other hand our attempts to keep abreast of changes in the Ochils by means of close monitoring of the planning applications in all the local authority areas have likewise given way to a realisation that changes are happening in the hills anyway, in spite of our efforts. The fact is that our small efforts count for very little in an area which straddles four local authority boundaries and in which there are many dozens of organisations each working to their own agenda.

Against this background of increased wisdom and more sober thinking, we have come to the conclusion that a small voluntary organisation such as ours is just not going to influence major developments unless we can enlist the help of, or otherwise engage with, these larger, more influential organisations which do have the necessary 'locus'.

The decision is a stark one and the committee has "peered into the abyss", so to speak, and has seen the prospect of continued ineffectiveness, decline and eventual demise. Our response to that vision is the major initiative represented by the Ochils Seminar at our AGM on 18 November.

The theme is "Towards a strategy for the Ochils" and we have summoned all those organisations which seem to us to have a stake in the future of the hills, or which have relevant experience:

• from the four Ochils local authorities, planners, elected councillors, staff and countryside rangers
• all the community councils around the Ochils
• Holyrood MPs and Westminster MPs from Ochils constituencies
• the three local enterprise companies
• Scottish Natural Heritage, Paths for All Partnership, Scottish Rights of Way Society, Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Environmental Education Council, East of Scotland Water, Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link, Worldwide Fund for Nature
• Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust, Scottish Tourist Board and its area representatives
• Forth Estuary Forum, Friends of Rural Kinross-shire, Dunning and Dunblane historical societies, Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society, Dollar Museum, civic trusts, a Campsies campaigner
• Ochils landowners and residents, Scottish National Farmers' Union, Scottish Landowners' Federation
• Ochils Mountaineering Club, Ochils Mountain Rescue Team, recreational interests
• local and national press

The keynote address will be given by Duncan Menteith, chief ranger with the Pentlands Park Authority, who will provide the basis for the discussion to follow.

The committee is unanimous that definition of an Ochils Strategy is the only way ahead.

Alistair Lawson

Honorary Treasurer and Membership Secretary's Report for year to 21 Sept 1999

As the accounts below show, the year ended with a small surplus of £32. This was due to projects taking longer to materialise than expected. However nearly £200 of expenditure was committed at the end of the financial year, particularly for the final Native Woodlands Project payment.

Income from subscriptions, donations and interest was similar to 1997/98. Membership was fairly stable (see table). More effort needs to be put into recruiting new members, not least to expand the pool from which the executive committee can be drawn.

* assuming Family = 2 people
** last year's report erroneously gave this as 152

A special arrangement with Harveys the mapmakers of Doune enabled us to offer members their Ochils map at a discount. 49 maps were ordered and we made a small profit of £20. We are grateful to Harveys for making this possible.

Expenditure increased by nearly £100. Expenditure on general administration continued to be very low and expenditure on newsletter printing and distribution and on hire of halls was also reduced. Expenditure on projects more than doubled, with a major initiative to develop a well informed Native Woodland Strategy and Action Plan. Our financial situation remains healthy, but I have reviewed the subscription level for Life Membership. This was prompted by falling interest rates and I also looked at the ratio between individual and life subscription rates of comparable organisations. I will be recommending to the AGM that the Life Membership subscription be increased fiom £75 to £100.

Accounts for the year ended 21 September 1999 (1)

David S Gordon, Honorary Treasurer
Dunblane: 21 October 1999

Examined and found in accordance with the Treasurer's books and records.
A Wright
Dunblane: 21 October 1999

Notes to accounts

1. Accounts are prepared to show actual income received and payments made during the year to 21 September. At 21 September there were no outstanding bills but commitments totalling nearly £200 had been made in respect of Projects (Native Woodlands £120), hire of halls (for AGM £25), Newsletter printing (c £30) and printing of planning discussion paper (c £10).
2. Project expenditure: Native Woodlands Project £360.00; Footpaths (insurance) £50.00; Planning £18.02.

David S Gordon

Forestry Subcommittee: Native Woodland Project

Fortunately there were few planting proposals for the Ochils in 1998/99. This has enabled the subcommittee to focus its energies on gathering the materials to enable us to put into place a Native Woodlands Strategy and Action Plan.

Our vision is of a series of healthy, diverse and well-managed gorge woodlands in all the Ochil glens, leading up the burnsides into the hills. These would link to larger areas of wooded ground on the lower slopes and on some parts of the southern scarp. This would build upon what remains of the native woodlands of the Ochils, to create a striking landscape of open high ground rising above richly wooded lower slopes and glens, valuable for wildlife and for people.

An ecological site classification of the Ochils was commissioned from Forestry Research. This provides a broad classification of the types of native woodlands that would be sustainable in different parts of the Ochils, taking into account factors such as windiness, soil moisture, and existing vegetation.

We have followed this up by commissioning Heritage Woodlands to undertake an assessment of landowner interest, to identify and to cost specific sites. A final report on this phase is imminent. A number of sites have been identified but most will need funding over and above that available through the Woodland Grants Scheme. Most of the sites are expensive because of the need for relatively long stock fencing to enclose relatively small - long and thin - areas.

In the coming year we will build upon this work, prioritising one or two key sites, seeking to devise ways of overcoming any funding shortfall. (It must be emphasised that the Friends of the Ochilsis promoting and facilitating the retention and expansion of native woodlands but will not own, manage or fund woodlands.) This would be an ideal area of activity for a formal Ochils partnership, with the capacity to attract and to manage major project funding over a long time scale.

The Native Woodland Project is supported financially by Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Cathy Tilbrook

Corporate supporters 1998-99

The Friends of the Ochils would like to thank the following businesses and organisations for their continuing support:

Blackford Community Council
Dollar Civic Trust
Dunblane Civic Society
Dunfermline Press Group
Logie Community Council
Menstrie Community Council
Tillicoultry Community Council

The Friends gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Mr and Mrs Frank Halkett, of the Royal Arms, Tillicoultry, in allowing use of the lounge for meetings.

Friends of the Ochils committee 1999-2000

President -
Dr Rennie McOwan,
7 Williamfield Ave, Stirling, FK7 9AH