Big Tree Country Awards 2007

Long Leet
An initial 21 businesses, organisations and schools were included on a long leet, before being whittled down to a shortlist for each category - the winner for each to be announced at Gleneagles and presented their award by well-known broadcaster and journalist Lesley Riddoch.
Councillor Bob Ellis, PKCT Chairman and a member of the judging panel said: “We were overwhelmed by the standard of entries. It’s a pity we couldn’t give everyone an award but in the end, the panel reached a unanimous decision on the winner for each category. We hope the awards will be an annual event and would encourage all of those who entered to keep up the good work and enter again next year.”
Paul McLennan, PKCT Manager said: “We, at the Trust, are proud of the environment in which we work and actively support others that share our aims in any way we can. The awards are our way of drawing attention to the excellent work of all who are helping enhance the Big Tree Country experience for locals and visitors alike.”
The award was designed by Perth High School pupil, Rachael Lennon – winner of the Big Tree Country Awards Schools’ Competition – as part of her standard grade Graphic Communication class. Each award was then hand carved from a single piece of oak heartwood by traditional woodturner Robin Wood.
A musical welcome will be provided by piper Fergus Cook – Perth’s Greenspace ranger – who also works with the Trust on its outdoor education programme.

Shortlist

The shortlist for the awards (in alphabetical order per category):
Business Development:

Comrie Croft; Greenacres B&B, Logiealmond; Highland Adventure Safaris
Community:

Comrie Millennium Footpath Association Ltd; Dunning Community Trust; North Perth Community School
Education:

Atholl Palace Hotel; Crieff High School; Kenmore Primary School; Longforgan Primary School

Winners
Comrie Croft was the first to receive a Big Tree Country award in the Business Development category. Their ongoing work to improve access to the surrounding countryside impressed the judges, including a self guided nature trail, mountain bike trails developed with the help of local youths and adults, and 200 metres of new paths constructed by friends and family as part of a 30th birthday celebration.

In the Community category, North Perth Community School walked away with the prize. Their programme of events to encourage children and adults out into Big Tree Country featured activities such as pond dipping, hunter gatherer cooking, walking and orienteering on Kinnoull Hill; water-based environmental art and stream guddling at Quarrymill Woodland Park; and a family cycle around Perth preceded by brunch at the school and cycle games in the playground.

The final category winner, Education, was won by the Crieff High School ‘Gardening Gang’. The gang of S1 to S5 pupils developed two gardens – a quiet garden and a new Mediterranean garden – providing quiet, safe and enjoyable areas for pupils and staff during the day, and providing the local community with somewhere to hold events outside of school hours. The gardens were designed to be environmentally friendly – using natural products and developing a haven for wildlife.

In her introduction, Lesley Riddoch talked about the impressiveness of Big Tree Country and said that all those involved in promoting, improving and enhancing the area should be supported and encouraged as much as possible.

PKCT Manager, Paul McLennan said: “We were tremendously encouraged by the high standards of entrants for our first Big Tree Country Awards. It’s great to know that there are so many people, of all ages, working so hard and creatively to improve access and increase the enjoyment for everyone.”