Environment

Ballater Royal Deeside has the local environment as a focus area in order to safeguard and improve it for the community. It sponsors and supports a local volunteer group called Ballater Climate Action Network (CAN), currently comprising seven active members who are environment, biodiversity and climate conscious. In addition, Ballater Royal Deeside supports several of the Ballater & Crathie Community Council Action Plan 2023 focus areas, one of which is Environment, which has a number of projects being worked on by Ballater Royal Deeside members (also supported by Ballater Climate Action Network.)  

Ballater Climate Action Network Projects

Home Energy

As part of the Community Action Plant, Theme 4 - Environment there is a project with the objective to provide advice on energy use/savings and technical & funding support for Energy Improvements for the home. We hope you may find the following documents of use; Energy Savings Information pack, Energy Improvements and an article on this topic published in the Eagle (published June 2024).

Community Awareness

Ballater Climate Action Network 2021 is an open Facebook page where group members post climate mitigation/adaption news and practices for information and to encourage members to consider their actions and choices. There are currently 133 members from the community and elsewhere. Postings are regularly shared with the Ballater & Crathie Community Facebook page and the local ‘Eagle’ publication, to widen the readership. If you have any questions or wish to help on any of the projects please contact Scott Peacock on 07392738414. 

Litter Picking

These are arranged regularly and published on Facebook, inviting the public to join some of the CAN members picking up litter in the village and on the approach roads. 

Recycling Improvement

Informs of existing, and arranges additional, recycling opportunities, the most recent being installation of medicine blister pack recycling boxes for return to Teracycle to up-cycle into garden furniture . 

Tree Planting

We arrange for and/or volunteer to help with native tree planting in the community to benefit biodiversity, soil retention and CO2 sequestration, as well as reducing run off/flooding. 

Oak Tree Rejuvenations

The Craigendarroch Hill is a SSSI site with ancient oaks, with challenges of rejuvenation.  CAN are replanting and germinating a number of saplings with protection.  We have also had Ballater primary school students involved in acorn collection to germinate saplings for planting. 

Pollinator Project

Supported by Ballater Royal Deeside, wild flower seeds and bulbs are being planted in the public community spaces in collaboration with the council and local the Horticultural Society.

Squirrel Bridge 

Planned location is across the Pass of Ballater. The newest project being attempted, with Ballater Royal Deeside finding support, is to install a rope bridge across the road at a location where red squirrels are regularly seen crossing, and sadly killed.