| The House Opening
in the summer was a great success. We had nearly 2000 visitors
this year.
There were some fine days to enjoy the
various attractions, including kite flying, birds of prey and model
boats.
The last day of the opening was for
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. We have raised £23,599 since 1969 for
charity. |
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Story telling at the
Opening |
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| Earlier in the
year the South West branch of the Royal Scottish Forestry
Society celebrated their 150th Anniversary with a visit to
Blairquhan.
At the end of the estate tour, on the
Castle lawn, a Dawyck Beech was presented and planted to mark the
anniversary.
In August we welcomed the Clan
Hunter here for dinner. |
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Planting the Dawyck Beech |
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| We have also had
five excellent weddings in the Castle during this period.
The family papers are being
studied and put in order by the archive section of South
Ayrshire Council.
They are being helped by a
number of volunteers. Christine Lodge is shown here with
some of the collection. |
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Christine Lodge with the archives |
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| During the summer
months, Milton Lodge, near Straiton, has been undergoing a
thorough refurbishment. Now complete, the lodge is to be re-let
to full time tenants.
This month the shooting got off to a very good start with an all time
record day at the duck. |
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Milton Lodge undergoing
refurbishment |
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| Furthermore,
there has been a revolution on the river. In the dry conditions
of last year we caught only four salmon and this year we have
caught 104 salmon. Many
of these were returned and there is a really good stock of
salmon and sea trout in the water. |
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JHB in his 1936 Alvis |
