Image from Telegraph shows Chris Hunter measuring to the tip of the fir

The community of Colintraive and Glendaruel has received  a great deal of press attention over the last week or so as it has emerged that the Stronardron Douglas Fir has been crowned Tallest Tree in the UK.

from The Herald:

Mr Creelman, who hails originally from Greenock, says he regards himself more as a custodian of the tree than its legal owner. “When it was planted there was a kind of altruism where somebody plants a tree in 1848 and they are not going to see it in any great form and neither are their children,” he said.

“These days are gone but it’s nice that there are these living memorials. All you can do is look after the tree.”

While the title may seem rather obscure to some, it can be expected to boost tourism in the local area.

However, Mr Creelman is keen to strike a balance between making the tree accessible to the public and destroying the surrounding foliage.

“While we welcome people to come in and see the tree and see the garden, we don’t want to be trampled with people. It has survived there since 1848,” he said.

Reproduced with kind permission from The Herald

As more stories emerge they’ll be posted here:

• Scots fir is ‘tallest tree in UK’ (BBC)
• Trees worth meeting (The Telegraph)
• It’s a tall order measuring the biggest tree in Britain (The Scotsman)
• The tallest tree in the UK… by Fir (The Sun!)
• Douglas Fir in Argyll named tallest tree in Britain (Herald)
• Britain’s tallest tree is 209 ft Douglas Fir (Telegraph)
• The 210ft fir that’s been crowned Britain’s tallest tree – and is still growing (Mail)
• Sparsholt Lecturers Find Tallest Tree (Hampshire Chronicle)
• Is the Tallest Tree in the UK Argyll’s - in Glendaruel? (ForArgyll)
• Views of the Tallest Tree in the UK at Dunans Castle (LairdofDunansCastle.com)
• It’s a YES. Argyll has the tallest tree in the UK - see it from Dunans Castle in Glendaruel (ForArgyll)
• How long will Argyll’s Stronardron Douglas Fir hold on to the ‘UK’s Tallest Tree’ title? (ForArgyll)
• Dunans Castle Views the Tallest Tree in the UK – it’s official! (Dunans Heritage Project)
• Arborist’s to Search for Britain’s Tallest Tree (HortWeek)
• Sparsholt College Lecturers Search for Britain’s Tallest Tree (Sparsholt College)

Glendaruel Caravan Park, as a contribution to the recent Cowal ArtsFeast, staged a small but intruiging exhibition of artworks and stained glass loaned by several artists who have a connection with Glendaruel. There is also an historical display of old photographs and information relating to the Glendaruel Estate.
This initiative proved so popular and generated such  interest it has been decided to leave them on display throughout the summer during shop hours or by arrangement (Tel: 01369 820 267)
The Caravan Park would like to thank the following for their contributions: Anne Ferguson, Eleanor McLaughlin, Paul Morley, Carol Paterson & Hannah Frew Patterson.

After four hundred years the old Achanelid Bridge is no more. Its graceful curving arch spanning the ten feet over the burn is replaced by a gaping 40 foot canyon of mud.

Curiously, no one - not the engineers, not our local councillor, not the farmers who use it - can explain why. As soon as its replacement was mooted, I went under to have look. It appeared sound. Well, nothing that two men and a bucket of cement couldn’t fix in an hour including tea breaks - and without disturbing the resident bats.

Of course, the high hiedyins, as in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado, have ‘got a little list’ of bridges in Argyll to be upgraded whether they need it or not. Unfortunately Achanelid is spelt with an ‘A’. Were it Zebra Bridge we could well wait another 400 years - when the old bridge would still be standing sound.

One consequence of the works is that we’ve had no visitors for six weeks and we’re spending a fortune on fuel. Another is that the burn has taken on the consistency of oxtail soup. We, the Fyne & Awe Fisheries and SEPA are not amused.

Of course, we elect thecoucillors not the executive. This was an executive decision. Council-lors only do the really important things like deciding if you can build that conservatory and claiming their expenses. Shakespeare understood -
“… but man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he’s
most assured …”
Angry? Me? What about the bats?
Michael Kaufmann

The Trustees met on 2nd June to consider applications. Dunans Charitable Trust applied for assistance to fund the restoration and preservation of Dunans bridge. Major funding had already been obtained elsewhere and the Trust approved a grant of £5000 for legal costs, feasibility survey and access improvements. Before deciding on an application by the Glen Hall for a crèche more information was required. £995 was granted towards the costs of a Midsummer music festival organised by Nick Lewis. The Shinty club apply annually for a training grant for young players and a grant of £890 was approved. An award of £1000 was agreed towards a summer outing and other benefits for Kilmodan Primary. A grant towards costs of football training and equipment was discussed but held over. The Fellowship  was assured of assistance towards transport costs.

The annual grant from Scottish Power is considered low compared with awards made to more recent Trusts. The local authority and Scottish power are discussing a small increase.

The trustees remind the public that provided a grant application was for the benefit of the community it does not matter that the recipient was or might become profit making. All applications will be considered.

Alex McNaughton

The Dunans Charitable Trust is delighted to be the recipient of a grant from the Cruach Mhor Windfarm Trust. The funding will support the continuation of the extensive work that has so far been undertaken, to preserve, protect and create access to Dunans Bridge as well as the transferral of ownership to the trust.

In 1971 the Bridge was awarded an A listing in recognition of the unique place it occupies in the nation’s built heritage as the only example of a triple-arch rubble construction with eight octagonal piers designed by Thomas Telford. Playing a pivotal visual role in the designed landscape around Dunans, the bridge stands some 13.5 metres from the stream bed, straddles one of the Ruel’s tributaries and is flanked by magnificent native and exotic specimen trees. South-west Cowal’s  connection to Telford is well known and this example of his work is especially unusual and comparatively ‘undiscovered’ as a tourist attraction. With the recent addition of Caithness Stone steps and viewing platform the visitor is able to gain access to the base of the bridge and experience Telford’s monumental design at close hand.

The trust continues its work and next year will see further progress being made in the continued restoration and regeneration of the Dunans site as a whole in becoming a pivotal destination in Cowal and a positive addition to ColGlen’s assets.

The Dunans Charitable Trust, A Scottish Charity No.SC038431 www.dunans.org