It’s that time of the year again in Ardentinny with the bats coming out at dusk. This little chap was an early riser!
Cowal Open Studios annual picnic
On Sunday 26th July Cowal Open Studios held their annual picnic in Glenfinart Walled Garden. There was an array of interesting titbits to eat and cold drinks chilling in the ice box.
Unfortunately, due to the rather damp weather, eating al fresco was not possible. However both the garden cabin and marquee on the edge of the orchard made excellent rain cover and a good time was had by all.
Cowal Open Studios weekend takes place from 25 – 28 September. More information here.
Lynn Kerr
Public Consultation on Electoral Boundaries
The local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is undertaking a public consultation on its proposed reform of electoral boundaries.
Under the proposals, the existing Cowal Ward would disappear and Ardentinny would fall within Ward 8, Lomond North. Details of the proposals can be found here and you can give your views via their consultation portal.
The consultation period ends on 22 October, 2015.
Glenfinart Walled Garden hosts first wedding
Ardentinny’s historic Glenfinart Walled Garden last week marked a milestone as a wedding venue.
Clair Tierney and Derek Nelson chose to exchange their vows within the grade 2 listed walls of the century-old garden which was bought by the community of Ardentinny in 2012.
Set beside the only beach in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park with its Argyll forest backdrop, the garlanded entrance and flower-lined avenue surrounded by the orchard, sensory and children’s gardens provided the perfect setting for this special occasion with family and friends.
Click image to enlarge
Glenfinart revisited
A recent visitor to Glenfinart Walled Garden had a fascinating story to tell. It was only Don Ward’s second visit to the village since 1960. On that occasion he was accompanying his mother Helen Bonnieman who had lived in Ardentinny as a child.
Helen was born in 1908 and moved to Ardentinny at an early age when her father, who had previously been a footman at Drummond Castle near Crieff, was appointed butler at Glenfinart House, Ardentinny. The family lived in a cottage at Stronvochlan (see photo below) until after the First World War.
Helen’s father was subsequently called up for service in the war and served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Helen and her three brothers all went to the village school and thoroughly enjoyed their time there.
On Don’s last visit with his mother in 1960, they visited the (then) Ardentinny Post Office which was located at Rock Cottage (see photo). His mother said that the Post Office was exactly the same as she remembered it all those years ago, and with the same owners. Indeed Adult Games, her family had attended the wedding of the postmaster/mistress (most likely the Gardners) some 40 years earlier. At the time of Don and his mother’s 1960 visit, the 80+ year old Postmaster was out on his bike delivering the village mail!
We are indebted to Don for allowing us to publish his excellent colour photographs from 1960.
