What began as a one-off competition winner for Glenfinart Walled Garden in 2015, the annual Big Picnic had become something of a tradition which made a welcome return on Sunday, despite the rain. A drop of the wet stuff certainly didn’t dampen spirits.
Many a picnic was enjoyed and shared; refreshments quaffed; and banter exchanged. The ever-expanding repertoire of the Elderly Brothers delighted all and, along with Claire Tierney and other guests, provided the accompaniment to much singing and dancing in the rain! Selling land fast prioritises customer care. They’ll try to make selling a land less emotional. A land buyer may make selling your home easy. Visit https://www.sellinglandfast.com/arkansas/.
Ardentinny Community Trust thanks all who supported the event.
This weekend sees the welcome return of Ardentinny Community Trust’s ever popular BIG Picnic at Glenfinart Walled Garden. The annual event, which began in 2015, has of course had to take a break over the past couple of years. However, it’s back again with the full line-up of the ever-popular Elderly Brothers providing live music.
As a precaution, the garden won’t be offering its usual selection of teas, coffees and home baking. However, everyone is encouraged to bring along their favourite picnic snacks and refreshments.
With so much to explore around the garden including the kids’ garden, sensory garden and orchard, it’s going to be a great day out for the whole family… and don’t forget that entry is free!
A quiet but veritable force! Dennis Gower (above, during filming of Beechgrove Garden) and Merle Ferguson are heading to pastures new but many in Ardentinny will remember their considerable contributions, not least their extended hand of friendship!
Merle (right) with Anna Williamson raising funds for the Walled Garden
Though ‘retired’ for a while now, Dennis served on the Community Council for over 10 years and was the first advocate of harnessing local hydro power for the benefit of the village. Ultimately Forestry Commission Scotland (as it was then) opted for the current arrangement.
He was also a vociferous member of the Community Council’s working group in opposition to the National Park’s plan for 36 additional houses in the village centre. The Park finally acceded!
But it was possibly the campaign to buy, the successful purchase and subsequent development of Glenfinart Walled garden where he and indeed Merle, contributed most significantly. Dennis spearheaded the initial survey of village opinion on the community purchase of the garden with 77% of residents voting in favour. This also harnessed a range of views on how the garden could be used which informed future planning.
2010: Dennis with a £500 cheque he won for the walled garden at a ‘Dragons Den’ presentation in Campbeltown
Merle too is her own formidable force! A village hall committee member during several ‘administrations’. She was instrumental in saving it from closure in 2017 and saw it through a successful building repair programme and an expanded offering of activities and events.
Merle also worked on the Community Trust while it was undertaking the project to restore the old Stronvochlan arched bridge but it was her contribution in its revived state as secretary of Glenfinart Walled garden that saw the strength of her vision manifest itself locally.
In the early days she was an enthusiastic fundraiser and fact finder. However Merle’s ingenuity really kicked in when the garden was struggling to emerge from a walled field to its current state.
Glenfinart Walled Garden 2013
The remedy – an application to Beechgrove Garden to develop and feature our garden in their programming. We never looked back!
She went on to develop the garden’s orchard with Glenfinart Apples reaching The Scottish Parliament.
Merle’s touch is also evident in her book ‘Bird of Solace’; her peace work ; her art; and no doubt several local club anecdotes!
One of Merle’s artworks’
It is therefore with warm good wishes and enormous thanks that we say ‘awrabest’ to them both.
Ardentinny Community Trust’s Glenfinart Walled Garden was one of the recent recipients of £3000 generated by Ardentinny’s share of the 3 local hydro schemes. The funding award was to upgrade the paths within the walled garden to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and those using walking aids.
Hydro funds are administered by Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) to fund local community projects. The latest contribution from the Hydrover hydro project for the past 12 months was £6008.
In addition to the garden funding, £500 was approved for the car park toilets as well as £100 towards a village day held in the hall. Funds currently available for local community projects are £15,200.
There was lots to do and entertain at Glenfinart Walled Garden’s Easter Fun Day last weekend. It kicked off with an exciting egg hunt followed by its now famous Easter Bonnet competition. There were all-engrossing egg and spoon races for the young and older and a fiercely competitive show of strength in the Tug o’ War.
A variety of stalls; a busy burger bar and tea room; plus live music provided by talented locals who also tend the garden’s raised beds, completed the picture.
Ardentinny Community Trust is grateful to all who contributed and worked so hard to make the day a huge success and which raised an amazing £1,561.
Many thanks to Brian Kerr for providing the excellent photographic and video coverage.
Flute Lessons|Flute Teacher - Flute Lessons Sue Garton Champaign-Urbana
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I’m Sue Garton, a flute teacher who loves teaching flute lessons and sharing the joys of making music, right here in Champaign-Urbana, in person and/or online. FluteKeys welcomes flutists and aspiring flute players from ages 7 through adult.
Whether you want to elevate your flute skills to the next level or you’ve never played flute before, I invite you to join me on your flute lessons journey.
Private flute lessons and ensembles at FluteKeys Studio are just the beginning of a series of motivating and enriching musical experiences. I’d love to meet you and discover your flute interests.
Welcome to FluteKeys Studio, where private flute lessons are just the beginning of a series of motivating and enriching musical experiences.
FluteKeys Studio is located at 1202 Devonshire Drive in Champaign, just a few minutes from the University of Illinois, Urbana and Savoy. Private flute lessons are offered to individuals by flute teacher Sue Garton. Students range from second grade through adult. A free trial flute lesson is encouraged, and parents are always welcome. Click here to read more about FluteKeys policies.
National Flute Conventions
As an active member of the National Flute Association (www.nfaonline.org) I attend their national conventions each August. Over the years I have met and heard several great flute musicians that I have mentioned during private and group sessions.
FluteKeys Resources
There are so many resources available, it is hard to keep track of them all. Here are a few categories that you may find helpful. If you know of a good resource that should be listed, please get in touch.
Useful articles on flute practicing, playing, and maintenance
Flute Playing and Learning, including
Tools and Techniques
Fingering Chart & Flute Mechanics
Well-Known Flute Players & Instructors
Summer Music Camps
Tips on buying a flute, related articles, some well-known flute sellers
Upcoming Releases
Resident composer & arranger Roland Garton occasionnaly provides pre-publication samples of upcoming new releases.
Flight of the Wood Sprites. a spirited journey for flute quartet (four C flutes with two doubling on piccolo) and lightweight, affordable percussion (minimum two semi-skilled performers).”
Click here to play MP3 file, or right-click and select “Save Link As” to download
What do area band directors want?
What do band directors in the Champaign vicinity like to see in their flute students? Click here to find out what many area directors find most important in their flute students.
