Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year.

Founded in 1997, PKCT is an independent charity that negotiates access to land, builds footpaths, helps care for the countryside and undertakes conservation projects all to improve and promote access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

It is responsible for some of Perthshire best-loved tourist attractions, including Perthshire Big Tree Country and the Cateran Trail.

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.

Here are some of the Trust’s biggest highlights since 1997.

Major projects

• Perthshire Big Tree Country
• Cateran Trail
• Perthshire Conifer Conservation Project
• National Tree Collections of Scotland
• Tay Landscape Partnership

Current path projects

• Auchterarder
• Abernethy
• Communities around Loch Tay

Past path projects

• Local path networks established in Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, the Carse of Gowrie, Coupar Angus, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinloch Rannoch, Kirkmichael and Pitlochry
• Loch Leven Heritage Trail in partnership with TRACKS, local land owners, SNH and RSPB

Top line stats

• 150+ path projects delivered
• £6.5 million+ funding raised for projects
• 175 miles+ paths laid
• Nearly 1000 trees of threatened conifer species planted

 

Trust Manager Morag Watson said of this landmark:

“We are over the moon about the Trust reaching its 20^th anniversary. 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 & Kinross.

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.”

Chair of PKCT’s Board of Trustees Neil Kirkpatrick, commented:

“The number of projects the Trust has delivered over the past 20 years is staggering. Its staff has literally laid the groundwork for an accessible, dynamic and heritage-rich countryside to be enjoyed for years to come.”