Category: Community Affairs

The Kippen Community Woodland Group has been awarded a Community Grant from Stirling Council, which will be used to pay for clearance of the pond in Burnside Wood by means of a mechanical excavator. Clearance is planned to be carried out late autumn before hibernation and when life in the pond is dormant. Work started on our February Woodland Morning to remove saplings from the Eastern edge of the pond, creating space to deposit material removed from the pond. Further work is planned to facilitate the clearance work, including lowering the level in the pond later in the year.

The pond in Burnside Wood was originally created with a puddled clay base for use as a curling pond. Being man-made, the pond does not have a natural balance between water and plants, and if left to its own devices, the plants would totally cover the area, trees would begin to encroach and the pond would gradually disappear. Regular rotational clearance is required to prevent succession and to maintain open water, enabling frogs, toads, newts, ducks and dragonflies to thrive, and plants such as Greater Spearwort to grow.

Two-thirds of the pond were cleared 5 years ago and the vegetation is already starting to take over. It is intended to remove a further third of the vegetation before it gets too overgrown; not only is this easier, but it also minimises the impact on wildlife with areas of vegetation left undisturbed.

If you would like further information about the pond clearance or would like to join us us on our of our woodland mornings (held on the first Sunday or each month excluding July and January), please email kippenwoodlandgroup@gmail.com

Paula Watson

Secretary, Kippen Community Woodland Group

Service C12A – Balfron Early Evening Bus (Balfron – Buchlyvie – Kippen –Gargunnock – Stirling) 

The service is being trialled in response to community consultation. The service commenced 

in December 2017 and was due to finish in March 2018 but has now been extended until 18 August 2018. Please look out for flyers in your local area. Visit https://my.stirling.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/rural-transport. 

Our main aim at the moment is to reduce the speed limit in the whole village from 30 mph to 20 mph. 

We are working with Bruce Crawford, Stephen Kerr, Stirling Council, and our own local councillors on this matter. 

If anyone has views on this or any other matter, please do get in touch with myself or Jon Greenman (870446). 

Helen Wilson (870672) 

Week 1 Tuesday 

Cauldhame                  1.15  -  1.35 

Oakwood                     1.40  -  2.00 

School                           2.05  -  3.10 

Cameron Crescent   3.15  -  3.35 

The Cross                     3.40  -  4.00 

May 1, 15, 29 Jun 12, 26 Jul 10, 24 Aug 7, 21 

Sep 4, 18 Oct 2, 16, 30 Nov 13, 27 Dec 11     

 

Week 2 Tuesday 

Cauldhame                  1.15  -  1.35 

Oakwood                     1.40  -  2.00 

Hanover Court           2.05  -  2.45 

Hayshill                         2.50  -  3.10 

Cameron Crescent   3.15  -  3.35 

The Cross                     3.40  -  4.00 

May  8, 22 Jun  5, 19  Jul  3, 17, 31 Aug 14, 28 

Sep 11, 25 Oct 9,23 Nov 6, 20 Dec 4, 18

As I write these words we have inched into Spring, but someone forgot to tell the weather. I found myself in England when blizzard conditions blanketed Stirlingshire. Thankfully, the work of so many ensured one road to Scotland was opened by the time we were heading home. As we drove across the north of England past the snowdrifts, I was reminded of my childhood experiences of blizzards – snowdrifts that bury cars, winds that endanger lives of people and beasts, and people risking their own lives to help others caught in dangerous situations. 

As a weather-worn South Dakotan, every time snowstorms hit the UK I prepare, but forget that the storms over here wouldn’t bring my hometown to a standstill, but the community spirit is the same. We check in on neighbours and offer help where we can – except maybe when stockpiling milk. Challenging situations define us for good or for ill, remind us of our deepest values of interdependence and community, and show us where our weaknesses lie.  

As followers of Jesus in the weeks before Easter, we recall Jesus’ journey into the wilderness – the harsh reality and fragility of life in the desert cut off from community. I believe that Jesus’ life and teachings help us to look at our 21st century life in Scotland and consider what matters most. In John’s gospel, Jesus says, ‘I came that [humanity] may have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10). We remember how God came to show us life in all its fullness, even when times are difficult and challenging, even when faced with death and destruction. Christians remember the empty tomb at Easter and cry out that ‘LOVE WINS! Death is not the end.’ 

In every challenge we encounter, whether it is a blizzard, a job loss, disease, the death of a loved one, anxiety, or loneliness, I believe we have a choice to let it define us or to live abundantly in the face of death, to love instead of hate, to hope over despair, and to be community rather than isolate. As a follower of Jesus, I believe Jesus shows us in his life, death and resurrection how powerful these choices can be. I know for some they need others to help them to see this possibility. May we choose to live and help others as well.  As we embrace new life in its season, I pray that you may have abundant life in spite the challenges you may face.  – Ellen 

Kippen Church meets on Sunday mornings at 11.15 am. All Welcome! 

Holy Communion will be celebrated on Sunday 13th May at 11.15 am. 

Messy Church ‘Big Birthday Party’ is on Sunday 20th May at Gartmore Village Hall from 3-5 pm. 

Rev. Ellen Larson Davidson, Minister, Kippen linked with Norrieston Parishes – Church of Scotland.  Registered Charities: (Kippen) SC004286 & (Norrieston) SC028719 

 
 

Open invitation to join the Wee Whist in the Reading Rooms on the second Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. All are welcome. 

Despite their recent paint job the interiors of our buses have not improved.  First Midland Bluebird have now admitted that they  under-estimated the cost of refurbishing the interiors of the five Discovery Buses and this will not now take place. They have been overwhelmed with the continual problem of faulty heating and water ingress on the Balfron buses. However, they do need passengers to continue reporting these issues. Please note that if the heating is working in the drivers cab they are not aware that that it is faulty in the rest of the bus, so please tell them so that they can add this to their vehicle log. Also mention any other other issues that spoil your journey, particularly water ingress and dirty buses, which have been a real feature recently. Complaining to each other or on Facebook will not bring about change and we must contact the company directly.  

For those online, Bus issues can be reported to First anonymously via their “Rant and Rave” forum. In the case of C12/C12A Services, as these are funded by the Council, I would urge you to alert their transport department as quality of service is taken into account when tendering a contract. If we donʼt report these issues they assume all is well. Please also note for lost property, or other issues, the number for Balfron Depot is 01360 440920. 

With regards to service changes, we are led to believe that the evening services via Cambusbarron are at last being reviewed. If this goes ahead it will cut the journey time for people who wish to go or return from Stirling in the evening but are put off by this long route. This may also encourage passengers to use the new early evening trial service to Stirling C12A Friday/Saturday 18.40 (in Kippen) which may not be shown on your existing timetable. 

The campaign is also ongoing for public transport on the B12 route on a Sunday. All Councillors and Community Councils in the surrounding villages have been contacted and asked to support this. If you want to see a change please take time to contact the Council transport department so that this matter can be moved up their agenda. There are people in all the western villages without transport who cannot access any services, including hospitals, on a Sunday.  

Valerie Brand 

The first round of grant applications has gone well and grants have been awarded to Kippen Street Fayre for new gazebos and to Kippen Playgroup and Toddlers to support the continuity of playleaders. 

The next deadline is 29th March but is intended only for organisations, which have already submitted applications which have to be amended and re-submitted. 

The next deadline for new applications will be 15th May 2018. 

Please contact Margaret Beaton on 870536 for application forms. 

 

Windfarm updates will be posted on the Kippen Village facebook page and also at McNicolls shop. 

 

We on the panel and board all look forward to the next round of applications. 

 

Kippen Primary’s Parent Council have kindly funded new sports kit for school teams. They have purchased 22 new red and white strips with matching shorts and socks, new athletics vests and a lacrosse goalie kit. We are awaiting delivery of new netball skirts and polo shirts too.   

The strips have had their first outing on 23rd March at the Balfron Schools Lacrosse Tournament and then at the Fun Football at Balfron High. Thank you very much to everyone who contributes to the Parent Council fundraising and to the parents who were involved in the very tricky task of choosing the kit specifications and sizing. Much appreciated. It looks great. Our senior pupils and some of the Sports Committee enjoyed modelling the kit for the rest of the school to see.