Trustees and sub-group participants needed:
Our constitution has a wide theme
4.1.1 Promotion of the green agenda within the Kemnay area
4.1.2 Supporting access to the local path network
4.1.3 Sustainable energy and development
4.1.4 Supporting local growing opportunities and promoting community composting schemes.
4.1.5 Any other action deemed appropriate to meet these aims
We were formed twelve years ago. The Greener Kemnay Trustees meet the 1st Tuesday of each month; meetings are held at either in the Golf Club bar or at Village Hall from 7 to about 9pm and our subgroups tend to also meet on Tuesdays.
If you are interested please contact Richard Lamplugh 07967439109 or lamplugh@btinternet.com
Energy Group πβπ¦οΈβοΈ
Please look out for the article in the Kemnay Newsletter; we are looking for responses on the process for engaging with Home Energy Scotland. The retrofit experience can be very bumpy for those living in this part of the world.
Community Garden ππΌπΏπ±
May Event: We were once again very lucky to have some lovely weather (after all those months of rainy days) for our Open Event, which attracted about 70 visitors and some for the first time.
They had the opportunity; to listen to Kemnay Ukulele orchestra, have a boule lesson from Kemnayβs Scotland player, Graham was giving rides in Kemnayβs own Trishaw, they were able to find out about some lovely honey produced in Kemnay, also there was Aberdeenshire Rangers with fun activity for the family, you could have learnt how thing fly and enjoyed the garden which was looking its best (thanks a lot to the hard work that everyone put in, especially Sue).
Thank you to all those who help us run the event, it could not happen without you and it makes a very enjoyable occasion.
Activity day: We are meeting on Saturday 9h June from 10am to 2, please give us as much time as you can spare, we are hoping to tackle the weeds, paint and sort out the mint beds, one has been overtaken by nettles the other by bishop weed
Birley Bush Community Garden Biodiversity πΏπ₯πΊπ«πΈππ€π¦π¦ββ¬π·οΈπͺ³πͺ°πππ¦ππ¦ πͺ±πππͺ²
The diversity on the site continues with an increase in the variety of birds heard using the woodland and feeders. The MERLIN App allows the different songs to be recorded and analysed – on 9th May I heard blackbirds, bluetits, chaffinch, robin, song thrush, siskin, great tit, wood pigeon, rook, gold finch and starlings. It is now a little quieter as the youngsters are being taught to forage for themselves and the woodpecker seems to have moved from the beech tree at the lane gate.
Weeding out of nettles in a well-rotted log pile next to the fruit path was interrupted by a toad and then last week by a slim very athletic frog, weeding in the gated section was interrupted by a large pale green frog. A breather from work around the lane gate had a rabbit bound in to munch by the blue cabin.
Aquilegia arrived on site as a couple of purple and a fancy double pink and white plant in 2021, no doubt folk, the wind and clothing have spread a few seeds since. We now have singles, doubles and frilly versions in white, cream, pale blue, dark blue purple and multi and the same amount of variation can be seen in the lupins. The various bee varieties, large and small, are enjoying the blossom.
Last autumn Lorna was imitating traditional stomping dances with yellow rattle seeds underfoot. Yellow rattle will take nutrients from the grasses suppressing growth but we hope will not affect the fruit bushes. The grasses with attendant nettles and bishop weed grow profusely around the gooseberry and red and black currant bushes impeding picking and made work for the strimmer and mower. For best germination bare earth is needed but we now have a patch growing well and hopefully over the next couple of years low growing wildflowers will establish in the fruit area. There are quite enough nettles, bishop weed, creeping buttercup and sticky willy on site for biodiversity!