The Paths Group has not reported to you since the April/May edition of Thornhill Views.  As you will appreciate, progress has been somewhat hampered by a certain virus.  That said, the team of enthusiastic volunteers have done what they can towards improving our network of village paths – such a valuable asset, particularly during lockdown.

The group successfully applied for a Paths for All grant of £1,500 to improve a section of path on the northern boundary of North Common.  They have until February to complete the work.  In July, a number of the volunteers collectively spent 9 hours clearing overgrown Gorse and Broom from another section of North Common and enjoyed a welcome, socially-distanced blether!  It is worth taking a walk around North Common and maybe sit on one of the benches and just enjoy the peace.

Speaking of benches, on behalf of the village, we extend our thanks to Paths Group member Alison Lawrance. Thornhill Community Trust paid for the materials and Alison kindly put in the work to re-paint the bench at the Viewpoint.

We have heard that the path from the new houses on the Aberfoyle Road into the village has certainly not been forgotten and we look forward to it being constructed in the coming months.

Group member Alison Wallis attended two webinars on the subject of COVID-19 safety for path works volunteers.  The Group will take the lessons from those webinars into its planning of future work, taking all reasonable steps to minimise risk and permit some pieces of work to go ahead safely.  In September and October, some members will also attend Paths for All training webinars, which are being run to assist volunteers.

Understandably, the Group has not achieved as much as it would have liked this summer but are certainly still full of enthusiasm and look forward to making gradual progress and enjoying one another’s support and company, virtual or otherwise.  Please consider lending a hand – you can contact me on 01786 850528 or by email at thornhillpaths@gmail.com .

Gary Richardson for The Paths Group”