A charitable organisation that has established tourist attractions such as the Cateran Trail and Perthshire Big Tree Country is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Founded in 1997, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) negotiates access to land, builds footpaths, helps care for the countryside and undertakes conservation projects aimed at improving and promoting access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Day-to-day, PKCT delivers path improvement projects varying from £500 projects taking just a few weeks to £2.6 million projects spanning several years.
Some of the trust’s highlights include Perthshire Big Tree Country, the Cateran Trail, Perthshire Conifer Conservation Project, National Tree Collections of Scotland and the Tay Landscape Partnership.
Its current path projects are taking place in Auchterarder, Abernethy and communities around Loch Tay.
PKCT’s past path projects have seen local path networks established in Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, the Carse of Gowrie, Coupar Angus, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinloch Rannoch, Kirkmichael and Pitlochry
Morag Watson, trust manager, said she is delighted to reach the landmark.
“We are over the moon about the trust reaching its 20th anniversary,” she said.
“It was set up and is run by people who love the countryside and want to make it as accessible as possible for everyone who lives in and visits Perth and Kinross.”
She continued: “Our dedicated team of six manages a hugely diverse portfolio of work going on at any one time, including managing path projects and contractors, community engagement, interpretation, mapping, promoting the Perthshire countryside and networking.
“Our most recent work includes path upgrades on Provost Walk in Auchterarder and a conifer conservation expedition to Chile with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Benmore Botanic Garden.
“We work with community groups every day on path improvement works, maintain the Cateran Trail, promote Perthshire Big Tree Country and generally try to get as many people to visit this fantastic area as possible.”
Neil Kirkpatrick, chair of PKCT’s board of trustees, added: “The number of projects the trust has delivered over the past 20 years is staggering. The staff has literally laid the groundwork for an accessible, dynamic and heritage-rich countryside to be enjoyed for years to come.”
