Comrie Community Orchard:
The Orchard was planted at Cultybraggan Camp in April 2011.
There are 40 varieties of apples, as well as plums, damsons, gages, Morello cherries, quinces, medlars, a few walnut trees and a small grove of hazels. There are soft fruits too - black currants, red currants, gooseberries, raspberries and blueberries. The orchard is surrounded by an edible hedge - elder, hawthorn, guelder rose, blackthorn, sea buckthorn, hazel etc.
The orchard, which is in the most beautiful setting, is for the enjoyment of everyone.... there are picnic tables set under the trees. There is a label on each tree with its name, rootstock and the year it was planted.
There is an Apple Day in October each year, when there’s the opportunity to taste and buy many of the varieties and to purchase some delicious fresh or pasteurised apple juice.
The Orchard is cared for and maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers - the Orchard Working Group - and a work party meets on the first Sunday of each month - summer and winter - whatever the weather ..... 11 am to 3 pm. Volunteers and visitors very welcome.
For up to date information go to Facebook - Comrie Community Orchard
Page: https://www.facebook.com/ComrieCommunityOrchard?hc_location=timeline
Visit the Comrie Cubs and Beavers Facebook page for more information at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/comriecubsandbeavers/?fref=ts
Comrie Development Trust, set up in 2006, is a charitable organisation owned and managed by local people living within the boundary of Comrie & district area – Strathearn. Our Board consists of up to 12 voluntary positions elected by the membership with up to three co-opted positions to attract particular skills. Our members are the lifeblood of our Trust and support us in all sorts of ways – we have over 700. Through the support of the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund in 2009, we opened a ‘main street’ office in the village which is now located on Drummond Street.
Comrie is also lucky enough to be just minutes from the famous WWII PoW Camp, Cultybraggan. When the Trust was first created, there was overwhelming support for the Trust to buy the camp on behalf of the community and, subsequently, in September 2007 the CDT took ownership of the 90 acre site.
Currently the Trust employs 3 full time equivalent members of staff, who cover various roles such as finance, office management, estate management, project development and marketing. The office is an established place for the community with a friendly open-door policy to provide information, guidance and promote the many facets of the Trust.
Our aim:
To enable and assist individuals and groups in Comrie to make their dreams come true in Sports and Entertainment, Rural Arts and Crafts, Business Marketing and Manufacture and to allow the purchased land resources of the village available, accessible and useable to this end.
Our principles are to:
Work closely with local people, groups and businesses
Capture and build community passion, enthusiasm, ideas and skills
Promote quality in everything that we do
Keep our £ local
Ensure every aspect of our work is financially and environmentally sustainable
Keep our eye on the future whilst learning from the past
Several community groups have grown through the CDT and currently these are; The Comrie Heritage Group, Comrie Orchard Group, Renewables & Resources Group, Events & Recreation Group and Comrie Woodland Group.
The Trust is always looking for volunteers to become members by attending AGM meetings and spreading the word about what we do. Alternatively you can volunteer in other ways. Would you like to lend a hand? Help the Comrie Heritage Group at events, open days or with heritage tours. Visit the Orchard Group at one of their working days to help with pruning, planting or weeding! Maybe you have an interest in events management? Help to organise sporting activities at the camp or painting white lines for sporting pitches is always needed. Could you lend a hand with hut maintenance, generating revenue or some marketing & communications? If any of the above interests you, please contact the office cdt@comriedevelopmenttrust.org.uk.
The Comrie Development Trust welcomes anybody to visit the office to talk with us about the community, about what we do, or just to say hello.
Office opening hours: 8.30am – 12.30pm (Tues-Fri)
Website: http://comriedevelopmenttrust.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComrieDevelopmentTrust
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComrieDevTrust
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comrie-development-trust
YouTube: www.youtube.com/CDTComrie
Instagram: Comriedevtrust
Hashtag: #comriedevtrust
Telephone: 01764 670769
Comrie's Famous Flambeaux Event
Whilst the origins of this ancient custom are lost in the mists of time, the tradition is maintained by local voluntary effort. Each Hogmanay as midnight is announced by the bells of Big Ben the Flambeaux are lit. The torches, consisting of long thick birch poles with tarred rags tightly bound to the tops, are paraded around the village preceeded by the pipe band and followed by a fancy dress parade.
Once the procession returns to Melville Square prizes are presented to the best Fancy Dress competitors and then the torches are cast over the Dalginross Bridge into the waters of the River Earn. This is supposed to signify the casting out of evil spirits.
Many of the villagers follow this on with the custom of 'First Footing' which usually involves a dfferent type of spirit entirely!
Programme
6.30pm Children’s Fancy Dress Parade
Following the judging of the Fancy Dress parade, anytime after 7.00pm there will be a Fireworks Display at the Boulevard
Prior to midnight the judging of the adult floats takes place
This year there is a new shield to present to the best adult single /pair entry, The Jimmy Stewart Shield.
Then at midnight the Flambeaux Parade commences with Comrie Pipe Band leading the Flambeaux
Thereafter the main parade will commence with the lighting of the Flambeaux at midnight and setting off from Melville Square on the usual route round the village.
We encourage folks to dress up to join the parade with topical Fancy Dress and small scale floats or carrying items to show off their fancy dress. There is a new shield to win this year (The Jimmy Stewart Sheild).
This event has changed little for as long as anyone can remember. There have been small changes due policing and health and safety issues and also the fireworks are relatively new, but we do try to keep it as traditional as possible.
The Flambeaux Committee hope this is of help to you and that you will be joining with us in the Hogmanay celebrations.
Comrie Flambelles
The Flambelles are a group of vibrant women who meet every Thursday evening from 8pm-10pm at the White Church for an evening of fun and chatter.
A volleyball net is put up where everyone has fun playing at the net, and at the break enjoy time to chat with a cuppa.
The Flambelles have featured in the parade on the last day of the Comrie Fortnight for many years, and are proud of this achievement.
New members always welcome
For further information please contact: Heather Hooker on 01764-670970