Central Scotland Branch AGM, 2018

Key highlights of the year from the Acting Chairwoman, now re-elected, Kate Armstrong.

The branch website set up by Malcolm at the end of last year has resulted in a higher profile for the branch and almost all inquiries about training courses as well as queries about work to be done and information about costs of professional walling now come this way.  Although not continuing on the committee Malcolm will remained involved as webmaster.

We had a visit from one of DSWA’s bursary trainees to one of our projects and he joined us on another.  With luck he will, by next summer, have passed his intermediate level 2 test and maybe his instructors training, which could be beneficial for the branch.

Two surveys on 2 training courses were run and every category on the latest course was either ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Ian Dewar’s long service award from DSWA was celebrated at a coffee morning.  Tributes came from all over Scotland and one from the USA. Without his and others’ hard work fifty years ago there might not have been a branch at all.  See News section for a full report and photos of this event.

We have been approached by Countryside Learning Scotland, a new body aiming to set up a resource centre in Central Scotland for all users of the countryside.  This is a feasibility study and Richard Love and Kate went to a meeting with them to express a provisional interest.  We should know more by the end of the year.

We also have run a training course with Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, another connection to foster.  See news blog.

A nice prospect for 2019 is possibly working with the Murton Trust.  Murton Nature Reserve near Forfar is looking for some practical involvement with adults and teenagers interested in dry stone walling.

At the end of her report Kate presented the loyalty award to Bob Pawson.