Author: Rick Dekker

Some of you will have been on a safari holiday, maybe to Kenya and its famous Masai Mara National Reserve. But you will perhaps be surprised to learn that the maps and guides currently used in the “Mara” originate in Scotland, and specifically with David and Rosemary Watson, who last June moved into a flat at Cardross House. The story is unusual. Both are Geography graduates, who met as postgraduate students in Uganda, over 50 years ago. On their return to Scotland, David became an orienteer, in the Scottish team, and during his 20s and 30s an avid orienteering-map-maker.

Fast-forward 30 or 40 years to 1999, and the Watsons were in Kenya’s Masai Mara, where, despite David’s “super-navigator” orienteering experience, they managed to get lost. And naturally, David blamed the inadequate maps. On returning to Nairobi, the following week, David visited the Kenya Wildlife Service, offering to help upgrade the survey of their reserves, and to his great surprise, was offered 5 national parks to map. Undaunted, and with virtually no resources, he set to, starting with nearby Nairobi National Park and the rest, as they say, is history.

17 years on, and David has mapped numerous national parks, in Kenya and Tanzania, and has written a range of travel books and guides. For some years, he was the East African writer for Thomas Cook. Now he concentrates on the Masai Mara, one of the world’s most iconic wildlife areas, especially famous for its annual migrations of wildebeest. He and Rosemary combine as a team, David – the map-surveys, the writing and much of the photography, with Rosemary – graphics and design, and some photography, especially of birds. In the Masai Mara, their publishing company, Photoprint Scotland, produces an atlas of the ecosystem, conventional maps and an official guide. Currently they are working on a new official guide to the Masai Mara National Reserve, to be published at the end of 2017.

Which goes to show, getting lost can turn out to be one of life’s most positive experiences.

David Watson

I hope we all know that Kippen is a special place to live. We are surrounded by breathtaking scenery and wrapped in a blanket of “community” not always found elsewhere. Kippen is however more than pretty houses and scenery, its special identity also comes from the legacy of those who lived here before us – we are temporary residents only. That legacy must be preserved and remain available to the generations who come after us and that is Kippen Heritage’s prime objective.

Kippen Heritage has developed from an original idea by Winnie Dunlop, not born and bred in Kippen but the next best thing – she married a “Kippenite”.

Over many years, from her keen interest in Kippen past and present, and her hard work, she has gathered a huge archive of materials charting the history of those who lived and those who still live in Kippen.

As Honorary President, she leads Kippen Heritage in its endeavour to preserve and disseminate that knowledge. To date, much of that archive has been successfully digitalised and in future this will be enlarged to be incorporated into a Kippen Heritage website available to all.

In addition, in the last year Kippen Heritage has worked successfully with the National Trust for Scotland to restore and reopen the unique Kippen Smiddy. The Smiddy is opening in 2017 on the following dates: Street Fayre day 10 June, Flower Show Weekend 19/ 20 August, Stirling Doors Open Weekend 16/ 17 September

We have a new Kippen postcard and a new mug designed by Margaret Oswald available for sale in local shops plus a Heritage Trail is being developed for 2017.

Margaret Diamond, Chairman Kippen Herritage

After many years of lying derelict, the 200-year-old Kippen Smiddy will open again to the public this summer.

Due to the efforts of Kippen Heritage, the National Trust for Scotland (who own it) were persuaded to carry out some repairs and maintenance to improve the conditions to allow access to visitors.

In the centre of the village near the Cross, the Smiddy sits at the top of Rennie’s Loan. This narrow-cobbled street was once Kippen’ s main road between Stirling and Dumbarton, which makes perfect sense for the site of a blacksmith’s workshop. The Smiddy was at the heart of village life and was owned by the Rennie family for at least six generations. Andrew Rennie, the last of that long line of smiths, was apprenticed to his father at the age of fourteen and he worked there until he donated it to the National Trust for Scotland in 1985, when he was in his 90’s.

In an interview, he recalled that there used to be a queue of horses outside the Smiddy every day waiting to be shod. Farming life relied on the Blacksmith also for ploughs and general agricultural tools. A few yards down the road sits the Black Bull House, originally the village inn built in 1729. Travellers would stop there for refreshment and have their horses shod at the Smiddy.

Stepping through the door of the Smiddy is like a step back in time. The old stone walls and floor still carry the traces of soot from the great double forge, while the large leather bellows sit either side of it, waiting to blow life into the fire. The double anvils in front of the hearth, tools still hanging around the walls and a turning lathe driven by a foot pedal all speak of days long gone.

A photograph of the hearth has kindly been supplied by Andrew Tweedie of National Trust for Scotland.

Kippen Heritage, acting as volunteers, hope to open the Smiddy again to the public next summer, so that people can once again step into this precious time capsule of a by-gone age.

Margaret Oswald, Kippen Heritage

The ringing calls of geese have been a constant feature in Kippen this winter as large skeins fly over the village to feed in nearby fields. But would you be able to tell what type of geese they are?_

Truth be told, it can be quite difficult, unless you’re good at identifying calls. Often you only see them when they’re flying, or when they’re a bit of a distance away on the ground. Get too close, and they’ll rise up en mass in a whirl of dark wings._

But there are really only five species of geese that commonly winter in Scotland, and only four that you stand a chance of seeing in this area._

Overwhelmingly, the huge flocks on the Carse of Stirling are pink-footed geese. These are medium-sized geese that make a high-pitched ‘wink-wink’ call, and migrate here all the way from Iceland and Greenland._

Mixed in with them, you can sometimes see just one or two barnacle geese. These are smaller birds which are a distinctive black, white and grey, and have a rather yappy call. Much bigger flocks of barnacle geese can be found on the Solway and the Inner Hebrides._

Further to the west, you might also see some greylag geese, the largest wild goose in Scotland. These are lighter in colour than the pink-foots, with an orange bill and quite a harsh, squeaky call.

But over into the National Park, you might be lucky enough to see some of our rarer local geese, the Greenland white-front, so named because of a white patch around its beak. These have suffered a real fall in numbers in recent years, and in fact, they’re now a red-listed bird, which means they’re a species of conservation concern._

Jenny Tweedie

Walk, cycle or drive two miles up the Fintry Road and just before the Firs plantation you come face to face with one of the most idyllic sights in the district – Loch Laggan.

Nestling in a shallow basin and surrounded on three sides by established conifers, Loch Laggan, which formerly supplied water power to the Broich Mill, now has a purely recreational function, and is the base for Loch Laggan Fly Fishing Club.

Part of Garden Estate, the fishing’s were first leased from Martimas 1974 and stocked with 200 Rainbow trout in the spring of 1975, of which 150 had been accounted for when the first AGM was held in the Fintry Inn on 7th October 1975, and in the presence of 20 members, Mr. Ian Cooper was elected as the first President.

In subsequent years a mixture of Rainbow and Brown trout were stocked to join a resident population of perch; the latter being kept in check by intermittent trapping or fishing. The practice of mixing Rainbow and Brown Trout in the same loch was deemed to be disadvantageous and for a period only Brown Trout were stocked, 500 in 1978 plus 20,000 snails to provide feeding; an exercise not repeated since the loch was operated on a put and take basis and the residence time of the fish was relatively short.

In 1980 membership was increased to 50, and 1,000 Rainbow trout were stocked in a phased manner to even out catch records over the season.

During the 1980s, the club tended to be based in Kippen with a good number of Kippen residents as members and committee members. A new boathouse was commissioned and built, the number of boats increased to 4 and the membership to 60 and remains so.

Today some 1,800 Rainbow Trout at an average weight of 2lb. are introduced over the season which extends from 1st April to 31st October, with a catch limit of 3 fish per rod.

The number of members from the village has declined in recent years, and the membership is widespread including a good contingent from Helensburgh. A sign of the health of the club is the long waiting list for membership.

In addition the fishing, a visit to Loch Laggan can be rewarded by sightings of a variety of wildlife which includes duck, geese, swans and ospreys in season, plus roe deer, buzzards, heron and even an occasional otter and the inevitable cormorants.

As custodians of this facility the members of the club maintain high standards of conduct, and can introduce guests on a one for one basis, but there is no facility for the issue of day tickets to unaccompanied visitors.

Bob Mitchell

For several years, our old churchyard and ruined remains of the church, with its iconic belfry, have not been maintained. Ivy is growing on the gable wall of the church and vegetation has become rooted in the joints, thereby jeopardising the stability of the stonework. The boundary walls in places are also clad in ivy which, though attractive, can also be damaging. Self seeded trees are pushing through between the headstones and in one case a mature tree has destroyed the corner of a grave enclosure and dislodged the adjacent table gravestone. In some areas brambles are so dense that it is impossible to access the gravestones.

The graveyard does have visitors, many come from overseas to trace family origins, and there are some fascinating stones and stories to tell within the inscriptions. It is apparent that something ought to be done to rectify the situation and make the graveyard a place where locals and visitors can spend a few reflective moments.

However, it is hoped that the situation can soon be remedied and some initial work has already been carried out in this respect. Barbara Docherty, the Council Cemeteries Officer has been most helpful in giving advice and, should the community commit to raising sufficient funds to restore the remains of the kirk, the Council would offer assistance by way of ensuring the gravestones are stable.

Murray Cook, the Council Archaeologist, has also been very encouraging and supportive, suggesting that a group is formed to spend initially one weekend, perhaps in February, to work with a team of Council rangers to clear the destructive growth such as brambles, saplings and ivy from the stones and boundary walls. This will enable a full survey of gravestones to be carried out as there appears to be no record of inscriptions after 1855 when civil registration began.

Eventually it is hoped that the graveyard can be freely accessed and in view of the work which has already been instigated at the Old Smiddy by Kippen Heritage, the old churchyard could also be included in an historical ‘village trail’ accompanied by a publication which would assist, among other things, in locating burials and identify some of the more ‘celebrated’ occupants!

Quotations to carry out stone repairs to the ruin have already been sought together with costs for the replacement of damaged ironwork and it is also intended to seek advice and costs regarding restoration of the bell. But until the debris is cleared from the boundary walls, a full assessment of the work involved in the grounds of the graveyard cannot be carried out.

However, costs for the works to the ruin alone do not appear to be excessive and if money can be raised locally the need to apply for funding from such organisations as Historic Scotland may not be necessary initially. In this event the work not only can proceed much more quickly but, in view of efforts already made by the community, can assist in any application for match funding which may become necessary in the future.

The Community Council, Friends of Kippen Kirk Trust and Kippen Heritage have all offered their support for the project. Currently, confirmation is awaited from the Kirk Session regarding ownership of the ruin but hopefully further notice can be given in the New Year regarding progress.

Anyone interested in helping in any way can be given an opportunity to take part, whether by joining a group to clear vegetation, fund raising or donating. Any assistance will be most welcome.

Irene Chapman
irene.chapman@mac.com

No, nothing to do with Cuban music and mystical hairy dictators, but an informal walking club.

The aim is to walk the vista as seen from Kippen, loosely based on the engraving at the view point at the top of Scott Brae. It is just about getting out and enjoying the stunning scenery on our doorstep and, as you can also see the Gargunnock Hills from Kippen, why not include them?

No previous experience is required just a pair of good boots and a stout heart. The specific hill is chosen to suite the walkers and weather. For instance, recently (18th December) we went up above Braeval to the Trig point on the Menteith Hills. A short(ish) walk on a misty day, to suit those who had been out supporting OldPlay in the Cross Keys all night! Which brings me perfectly to identifying our “Club House” – aka Cross Keys. Hills are often selected over a Friday teatime pint, and on occasion it is important to “assess the day” on the way home.

Communication has so far been mainly by word of mouth, but we are looking at setting up a Gmail account to allow coordination. There is also a facebook group here you can join. In the meantime, if you wish to be kept informed just email me at ptr.singleton@tesco.net.

Peter Singleton