Environment & Sustainability
Protecting our futures, caring for greenspaces
The natural environment and beauty of the surrounding area is what our residents value most about Pitlochry. So, it make sense to protect our greenspaces and enhance the sustainability of daily life and activity in the town.
Some fantastic examples of low carbon initiatives already exist in the town such as the Pitlochry and District Climate Café, Handam Refill Shop, the weekly Neighbourfood online Market and the Atholl Centre Community Larder.
The Trust will continue to support these innovative ventures and encourage similar greener approaches to life across the local economy and environment.
Main Priorities
- Green Low Carbon Initiatives
- Support and develop community growing
- Environmental improvements and greenspaces
- Community renewable energy schemes
Priorities and Actions
Green low carbon initiatives
It was great to see the set up of the local Men’s Shed premises, closely followed by funding for the Tool Library. These initiatives means tools do not need to be purchased or hired for one-off jobs and like the Repair Café, there is a tremendous benefit to people’s social lives.
We are also committed to greener transport and investigating E-bike hire, improved public transport and electric car charging point infrastructure.
Join today! To volunteer or join, see Get Involved. We also put all donations to good use, to contribute please see our Donate page.
Community Growing
The Community Woodlands Group is up-and-running and looking for ground around Pitlochry for a community woodland or nature reserve, similarly Pitlochry Garden Share is also actively looking for suitable sites for allotments. Other projects in the pipeline include growing schemes, orchards and produce-sharing, as well as wildflower meadows and mini-rewilding programmes.
Got green fingers? Volunteer and help us secure more greenspaces for the community. For more information, see our Get Involved page.
Environmental improvements and greenspaces
The Trust is keen to see our greenspaces maintained and improved for the benefit of the whole community. Flower gardens, seating and picnic tables, adequate provision of bins, as well as better lighting occasional litter picks can ensure spaces remain well-used and popular with local residents.
A ‘Friends of Delta Park’ initiative has seen a new boundary hedge planted to encourage wildlife and biodiversity and, in support of the Community Garden Share, a small fruit orchard has been planted in the park. There have also been some fantastic improvements to the Ben y Vrackie footpath undertaken by the Pitlochry Path Group.
We also couldn’t forget to mention our friends at Pitlochry in Bloom who have been doing a fantastic job looking after plants, gardens and flower displays in the town since 1993.
Community renewable energy schemes
Our Energy Advice Event was so well attended that it is likely to become an annual fixture in our calendar. As well as offering information on renewable energy installations, it also provided energy saving strategies, which are particularly important given current energy prices and the need to reduce our use of fossil fuels generally.
On a grander scale, community hydro schemes will be explored given our wealth of hydro resources. Other opportunities as part of a zero waste strategy would include the installation of a bio-generator to run from local food waste.
Got ideas? Volunteer or get in touch at info@pitlochryaction.org.uk. For more information, see our Get Involved page.
Partners, friends and community colleagues
We couldn’t begin to address all the goals in our Environment and Sustainability action plan without the help of the community.
Special shout-outs go to: The Community Eco Hub, The Enchanted Forest, The Energy Saving Trust, The Heat Project, Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership, Home Energy Scotland, Local Energy Scotland, Perth & Kinross Community Greenspace, Perth & Kinross Council, Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust, Pitlochry & District Climate Café, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry in Bloom, Pitlochry Litter Action Group, Pitlochry Men’s Shed, Pitlochry Paths Group and Sprout.
