Turretbank Wood

Community ownership

In 2012, a section of woodland along the Turret Burn, between Mungall Park and Lady Mary’s Walk was purchased for the people of Crieff. The purchase was led by a working group under the auspices of the Crieff and Upper Strathearn Partnership, and upon completion of the purchase, the title for the land was transferred to the Crieff Community Initiative to be held in trust for the people of Crieff. This area of community-owned land was known as Acorn Dell and following a survey of local residents was renamed Turretbank Wood in 2016 and the title deed for the land was taken over by Crieff Community Trust following retirement and dissolution of Crieff Community Initiative. 

Here is a map showing the location and extent of the community owned land at Turretbank Wood (in pink and blue).

First steps – the path through the wood

One of the main reasons for purchasing this land was to enable the local community to take action to repair and upgrade the path. A survey conducted by the Perth & Kinross Council Countryside Ranger service in July 2013, found that the footpath through Turretbank Wood was accessed by an average of 160 walkers per day (more than 4,500 people per month) during this one-month period alone. This is a very popular walk in Crieff (being the first section of Lady Mary’s Walk), and is used by both residents and visitors, young and old.  The path is also part of the Crieff-to-Comrie designated Core Path (CRIF/113 and CRIF/51).  However, years of neglect meant that the path was in a very poor condition by the time the land came into community ownership. It was badly eroded, prone to flooding, and completely inaccessible to wheelchair users, cyclists and prams.

In 2013 a volunteer group of local residents was established under the auspices of CCT to take forward the task of repairing the footpath.  This group’s aspiration was to make the footpath more accessible to people with mobility problems and families with very young children. However, the remit of the group has also now expanded to include the development of the woodland as a community asset. This will involve consultation with the wider community in Crieff to explore how local people would like this land to be used.

What has happened so far?

Phase 1

In March 2015, CCT secured grant funding totalling £22,000 from SSE’s Sustainable Development Fund and Perth & Kinross Council’s Community Environment Challenge Fund for Phase 1 of the footpath project.  This enabled the first section of Lady Mary’s Walk (from Turretbank Road, alongside the Turret Burn) to be refurbished. The section of the path in the second meadow beyond where the former railway bridge crossed the Turret Burn was also moved onto higher ground to protect the path from future flooding from the river.  This work was carried out in January and February 2016.

Discussions with SEPA indicated it was unlikely that a licence would be granted to rebuild the very badly eroded path along the River Earn between its confluence of the Turret and the Sands. The existing path would continue to be available to fit walkers and be accessible when the Earn is not in spate, however, to have an off road all abilities path from Taylor / Mungall Park alongside the Turret Burn linking through to the rest of Lady Mary’s Walk which is accessible to everyone, then an alternative route would need to be identified.

Phase 2

Following further investigation and consultation with the community CCT identified and developed potential solutions to the question of how to link Turretbank Wood with the rest of Lady Mary’s Walk and in 2025/2026 a 20 week construction project began to build a new all abilities path to link the Oakbank community to MacRosty Park. The route passes between the old railway abutments on Lady Mary’s walk up onto higher ground and connect to the path from Laggan Road, south of the wooden bridge as shown on the diagram here. The completed the path will provide a year round facility, more resilient to flooding and water damage.

Summary timeline of main activities CCT has carried out to develop Turretbank Wood for the community

  • 2025
    • AB Gairns Ltd awarded the new path construction contract and work commenced on 3 November 2025 with an anticipated completion of end March 2026
    • Himalayan Balsam blitz operations continued with help from community volunteers
    • Self seeded saplings removed from the site of the new path construction and planted safely in Meadow 1 ready to be moved back once path construction is completed
  •  2024
    • Planning Approval for the new path was granted in May 2024 however to comply with a change in the funding criteria from Transport Scotland, the main funder for path construction in Scotland, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust [PKCT] took over the management of the construction phase of the Project and appointed TP&E as the Supervising Engineers for the Contract who then invited tenders for the Works.
    • Himalayan Balsam blitz operations continued with help from community volunteers
  •  2023
    • To develop the feasibility of various options for forming a link path CCT discussed rights of way or wayleaves with the landowners of the disused railway line intersecting Meadows 1 and 2 of Turretbank Wood and as a result CCT were delighted to acquire the title to the disused railway line in May 2023. This generosity of the landowners, Sir Brian and Lady Elizabeth Souter, allowed CCT to then proceed to apply for funding to design a new path which was successfully secured from the Ian Findlay Paths Fund from Paths for All.
    • Once funding was in place, CCT invited tenders for the work and on 15 April 2023 CCT awarded the contract for the design of the Oakbank to MacRosty Park Link Path to the successful tenderers Transport Planning and Engineering Ltd.
    • The design contract included topographical surveys, an ecological assessment, options appraisal and research into any SEPA requirements permissions as well as production of scale drawings and relevant documentation necessary for planning application and tender purposes.
    • Himalayan Balsam blitz operations continued with help from community volunteers
  •  2022
    • The COVID restrictions remained in force throughout the period to 2022 and these limited the activities that could be carried out, however during the summer periods informal Himalayan Balsam blitz operations continued with volunteers working whilst remaining socially distanced.
  •  2020
    • Work on the remaining 20 trees identified in the survey was completed, funded by money bequeathed anonymously to CCT.
    • Informal Himalayan Balsam Blitz continued with significant support from Crieff Soroptimists working whilst socially distanced at Turretbank Wood
    • Other projects on hold due to Covid 19 restrictions.
  • 2019
    • Completed Tree Assessment and Woodland Management Strategy,  funded by Foundation Scotland. Recommendations from tree survey carried out using local contractors, funded by money bequeathed to CCT to ‘enhance the outdoor  environment within the Crieff area’.
    • Year 3 of Balsam Blitz to eradicate Himalayan Balsam – 6 volunteer days arranged to pull out the invasive non-native species,  including 45 school children as part of their Civics programme.
    • December – Awarded £250 from Coop’s Community Donations Programme to install a bench at Turretbank Wood
  • 2018
    • Grant of £1500 awarded by Foundation Scotland allowed CCT to commission a tree survey.
    • First draft of Management Plan for Turretbank Wood prepared.
    • Trees identified as requiring urgent attention, saplings growing on top of the pier to the old railway bridge and a fallen tree in the Turret Burn all removed
    • Quotes obtained for tree survey of area
    • Himalayan Balsam Blitz continued with a further 18, two hour sessions over 6 days
  • 2017
    • Campaign to eradicate invasive species Himalayan Balsam from Turretbank Wood commenced. First annual Balsam Blitz in Turretbank Wood comprised 18, two hour sessions spread over 6 days
    • New welcome sign and bollard installed at the entrance to Turretbank Wood at Turret Bridge in May
  • 2016
  • 2015
    • May – CCT awarded grants from SSE and PKC and in partnership with Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust works to facilitate the refurbishment and repair of Acorn Dell path.
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