Projects

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The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group continues to work with residents, businesses, local authorities and the Scottish Government to embrace the positives and tackle the negatives of environmental change in our area. We are committed to making the Carse of more sustainable place to live, work and play!



Events 2017:
  • 9th May 2018 AGM and Open Meeting: Dr Victoria Hodgson, Stirling 
  • 22nd May 2018: Carse Community Trust Project Meeting, Inchture Hotel at 7pm
  • 11th, 18th & 25th July 2018 Errol Park House & Gardens Open Gardens, Errol - group fundraiser

Projects 2016-2017
  • Patrick Matthew Orchard
  • Carse Community Trust
  • E:mobility Community Transport Project.
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Past Projects:
Carse Community Sustainability e:Survey & 5 Year Community Action Plan 2016. The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group have taken 2 years to develop this e:survey which asks residents, landowners and businesses how we can increase sustainability, which protecting our environment.  We  received a development grant from the Scottish Climate Challenge Fund to host a series of focus groups and future planning sessions to build the survey results into a 5 Year Community Sustainability Action Plan.
Patrick Matthew Memorial Project: 2015-2017. Heritage and our area's continued relationship with fruit growing and orchards is of keen interest for our Group. esepcially our Junior Division - the Junior Carsonians. In the 18th Century, Matthew was a prolific landowner, orchard farmer (one orchard was 10,000 trees strong) here in the Carse of Gowrie.  He contributed to understanding of horticulture, agriculture, social anthropology and published the basic concept of evolution 25 years before Darwin.  Whilst Preston Watson, who arguably had the first test flight at Errol airfield before the Wright Brothers, has a street named after him Matthew is relatively unkown and unrecognised. The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group is working with leading experts like Dr Mike Sutton of Trent Nottingham University, local orchard consultant Dr Crispin Hayes and Matthew's descendants to create lasting legacy to this local legend and are seeking Heritage Lottery Funding.
Community Mapping Project 2013:
An exciting hands-on introduction to the cutting edge technology of community mapping  enabled Carse residents to map their landscape and communities from Tay to Braes - funded by the Scottish Government and Perth and Kinross Council. Budget £30k. The work continues via the Community Mapping Work Group.
Carse Swift Conservation Project 2012-2014:
The Carse of Gowrie Swift Conservation Project Perth raise awareness, swift boxes being installed and volunteer training for ‘swift surveyors’ and was funded by SITA Biodiversity Action Fund for £10k over 3 years.  For more information: http://www.perthshirewildlife.co.uk
Chair of the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group Fiona Ross says ‘our Group was proud to support this project as swifts are in decline in Scotland by over 60% in the last decade.  Here in the Carse it's a different story though, as love our large old houses, churches, farm buildings and community halls are perfect for nesting.  This project helped make a difference.' 
Zero Waste Campaign 2013:
In February and March in 2013, we collaborated with PKC to host a Carse-wide Zero Waste Campaign to raise awareness and reduce our collective landfill contribution.  The Group worked closely with our junior division, the Junior Carsonians, and over the fortnight campaign we reduced landfill by 16%.