Community Housing updates, a fresh ‘Food from the Wood’ project, and exciting events ahead — here’s what’s happening in Strathdearn!
Board Changes at SCD: Gratitude and New Beginnings
Following his recent stepping down from the SCD Board at last month’s AGM (based on time served), the Chair of SCD, SCD and WRT Board Directors, and SCD/WRT executive staff members would like to go on record in thanking Duncan Bryden for his immense contribution to the charity’s efforts and outputs in recent years. As many will know, Duncan is no stranger to adding significant value to sustainable development for community benefit within Strathdearn. His impressively broad skills set, massive rural community knowledge and experience, and ever amiable disposition will be sorely missed by all, but no doubt he will not be a stranger! We all wish him well during his well deserved break from SCD charity work, and look forward to potentially working with him again in the not too distant future.
As Duncan departs, Kevin McKnight joins the SCD Board as the Strathdearn Community Council Representative. The SCD Chair and new fellow Board Directors offer the warmest of welcomes to Kevin, and very much look forward to working with him in all our charitable endeavours.
Community Housing
We remain on track for handover towards the end of April. However, recent adverse weather has slowed progress in some areas and delayed certain trades. Timelines are therefore under active review.
All major services and infrastructure are now in place, with the exception of the pumping station and SUDs pond. Installation of the air source heat pumps is taking place this week.
Weather permitting, we expect to see a significant visual improvement on site within the next two weeks as preparations continue for driveways, paths, and further works to the site entrance.
Housing Applications
We have had a very strong response, as anticipated. Community Housing Trust (CHT), our appointed letting agent, has received significant interest.
The application window opened on Friday 13 February and will close on Monday 9 March 2026. Please contact CHT directly if you wish to apply.
It will take approximately two weeks after the closing date to complete the initial sift and progress to Stage 2, which includes financial checks and references. All applicants will be contacted regarding the progress of their application.
To apply:
Website: https://www.chtrust.co.uk
Telephone: 01463 233549
Email: info@chtrust.co.uk
The application window opened on Friday 13th February and close on Monday 9th March 2026.
Hazelbank Woodland – What’s been going on?
🌿 Welcome to Hazelbank Wood Food from the Wood – Community Update 🌿
New Fruit & Nut Area and Habitat Improvements Underway!
Our Food from the Wood project is now underway, thanks to funding from the the Highland Council’s Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).
This programme will run from now until the end of October 2026.
Work is mainly taking place in the area marked by the what3words location:
📍 showrooms.melt.someone
We are pleased to be supporting the local economy by using local workmen throughout the project, ensuring that the skills and knowledge within our community directly contribute to the future of Hazelbank Wood. We are beginning with the creation of a new Fruit and Nut Area.
The planting of heritage apple trees has been carried out with the fantastic pupils of Strathdearn Primary School, their involvement is specifically in the apple planting, helping nurture the next generation of Hazelbank’s woodland caretakers.
As part of the wider project, we will also be carrying out:
- Bracken management to improve habitat quality
- Planting bluebells to restore native woodland ground flora
- Creating edible hedging for both wildlife and community use
- Planting hazel trees, providing a future food source for red squirrels
Our newly planted trees will be mulched with sheep’s fleece, a fully biodegradable material that helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and give the young trees the best possible start. Each tree has also been individually fenced to protect it from deer damage – these guards will be removed and reused once the trees are strong and established.
What’s Next?
A wildflower meadow will soon be established alongside the Fruit and Nut Area.
Over time, this path will be transformed with:
- Spring blossom overhead
- Colourful wildflowers below
- Abundant food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife
Hazelbank’s future is taking root – and it’s going to be blooming. 🌸🌳
Woodland Volunteers Welcome
We currently have a small number of volunteers signed up, but we are always keen to welcome more helping hands. Whether you would like to get involved, gain experience working in a woodland, or simply pass on ideas, we would love to hear from you.
If you are interested, please get in touch with Louise Ramsay at louiseramsay@strathdearn.org – she will be very pleased to hear from you.
Hazelbank Woodland continues to grow as a place for nature, learning, community, and connection, and we are excited to share the next chapter with you all.
Youth, Health & Wellbeing News
Kidz Club (term-time only)
Build Bird and Bat Boxes at Kidz Club!
Thanks to funding from the Highland Council Nature Restoration Fund, we’re excited to be building bird and bat boxes at Kidz Club!
John the Countryside Ranger will be leading the activities, giving children the chance to get hands-on in creating safe habitats for local wildlife. Not only will they help build the boxes, but they’ll also be able to spot them in the woodland for years to come — a lasting reminder of their contribution to nature.
Baking at Kidz Club
We are excited to announce that baking was a big hit at Kids’ Club, thanks to coach Daneil and his chocolate brownies recipe.
Lego Kits
Kids can now build planes, boats, flowers – even a Batmobile – thanks to new Lego mini kits at the club!
Every Wednesday, 3.15pm – 6pm, at Strathdearn Primary School.
P1 – P7
Upcoming Kidz Club dates for the diary:
25th March: Easter egg hunt in playpark
1st April: Bird and Bat Box building
To book or for more information, email: matthew.allan@highlifehighland.com
Baby & Toddler Group
Bring your little ones along for playtime while you enjoy a cuppa and a chat with other local parents and carers!
Every Thursday morning, 9.30am – 11.30am at The Strathdearn Hub (term-time only)
Bookbug sessions
Bookbug brings the magic of songs, rhymes, puppets, and stories, and is part of a fantastic Scottish Book Trust programme that encourages story sharing to support children’s language, social skills, and overall development.
📅 Upcoming sessions:
- 19th March with Jeanne
P7s visit
The tots love when the P7s come to visit! Coby, Edie and Hugo do a wonderful job reading stories, playing games and of course, getting creative with the playdoh!
📅 Upcoming sessions:
- 27th March
Teen Social Group
All 11 – 19 year olds welcome! Come along and challenge your pals to a game of badminton, pool or table tennis, or just enjoy having a space to hang out and chill.
Tasty snacks available 😋
Please note the club now runs as one combined group.
Every Friday, 7pm–9.30pm, at The Strathdearn Hub (term-time only)
The Snug
Last month of Soup at The Snug!
We are delighted to provide soup and rolls at The Snug at The Strathdearn Hub from October – March.
Alongside this, you will find our usual offerings of tea, coffee, biscuits, and the day’s newspapers.
Come along for a cuppa, a bite to eat, and a friendly catch-up with friends and neighbours in a relaxed space.
Every Tuesday & Friday, 10am – 3.45pm, at The Strathdearn Hub
If you — or someone you know — would like to join us but need help with transport, please get in touch at enquiries@strathdearn.org and we will do our best to assist.
Strathdearn Primary School at The Snug
We were delighted to welcome pupils from Strathdearn Primary School at the Snug on last Friday with their chosen books!
It’s a joy to see different generations of Strathdearn coming together through reading, with older members of our community sharing their time, encouragement and experience with the younger ones.
These sessions will help build the pupils’ confidence and nurture a lifelong enjoyment of reading — and the warmth and support of the community makes it all the more special.
The students will be joining us for the final Friday Snug of each month from 11.30am–12pm.
Next date: 27th March
Pilates at The Strathdearn
Pilates with Marina and Morna continues to be a community favourite! ✨
Come along to strengthen your core, improve flexibility, and enjoy a full-body workout – suitable for all ages and abilities.
📅 Every Monday
🕚 11:15am – 12:15pm
📍 The Strathdearn Hub
Otago at The Strathdearn
Otago with Val is a gentle movement programme designed to help prevent trips and falls. It’s ideal for older adults and anyone returning to exercise. The class focuses on leg-strengthening and balance-retraining exercises that gradually progress in difficulty, and it also includes a walking plan that can be followed at home or in a group setting.
📅 Every Friday
🕚 10am – 10:45am
📍 The Strathdearn Hub
Pricing for High Life classes
✅ First class free for anyone who’d like to give it a try!
Included with a High Life membership:
- Family: £19.35/month (discounted from £42.99)
- Individual: £13.05/month (discounted from £28.99)
Or pay as you go:
- £8.55 per class (standard rate)
- £5.15 per class (over 60s)
ℹ️ For details on discounted membership: projects@strathdearn.org
📞 To book: 01479 813 140
💻 Or online: online.highlifehighland.com
High Life Highland Membership – Over 50% Discount for Families and Individuals
Bannatyne Health Club membership subsidy
IV13 residents can enjoy over 50% off for Bannatyne Health Club all-inclusive membership!
An all-inclusive membership with Bannatyne provides the opportunity for you to take advantage of their extensive health club facilities including swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. There are several personalised services, including access to expert personal trainers and complimentary fitness evaluations when you join.
Further discounts include:
• 10% discount in the spa (Spa Days, Products, and Treatments)
• 10% discount in the café
• 10% discount on retail products
• 50% off the first spa treatment
Price: £20 / month (discounted from £46.99 / month + no joining fee)
For more information on all that Bannatyne can offer, visit the website: Bannatyne Health Club Inverness (https://www.bannatyne.co.uk/health-club/inverness)
To sign up or for more information, email projects@strathdearn.org (mailto:projects@strathdearn.org) or call 07703 328333.
Please note: All membership addresses will need to be verified as IV13 postcodes (i.e. utility bill dated in last 3 months) to benefit from SCD subsidy.
Community eBikes
Explore the area on one of the community’s eBikes – for free!
Thanks to our partnership with The Strathdearn, SCD is continuing to fund a 2-week free trial for all local residents. Just pop into the Hub and take an eBike out for a spin!
Already used up your free trial days? No problem – locals can still enjoy discounted rates at just £15 per day.
We now have handy route cards available, showcasing some of the best local day trips – perfect for a bit of adventure.
And for families, we have got Kids Ride Shotgun attachments (suitable for ages 2–5), so your little ones can come along for the ride too!
To book:
- email: enquiries@strathdearn.org (mailto:enquiries@strathdearn.org)
- or complete online form https://thestrathdearn.org/hire-an-e-bike/
- or call 01808 511700
Medical Group News
Milton of Leys Pharmacy is now offering a Travel Health Service, including both NHS and private vaccinations, as well as malaria prevention and other travel-related healthcare support.
They are also providing the Flu Vaccination Service this year — available for both NHS and private patients.
Fully supported weight management services are also available at this time of year. The programme includes monthly face-to-face consultations, with personalised support throughout, and medication can be prescribed where clinically appropriate.
📞 Telephone: 01463 771001
For more information, please contact the pharmacy directly
Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConneXions
SCD team have collaborated with Badenoch & Strathspey Community ConneXions (BSCX) to help support this important service which extends to the people of Strathdearn. Local volunteers are required for BSCX to be able to accept referrals within our area.
If you think you could spare an hour or two to help your community who may need just a chat or a call to say hello, please contact the BSCX office on 01479 810004 or visit Community Transport | Badenoch And Strathspey Community Connxions | Aviemore (bscx.co.uk) (https://www.bscx.co.uk/)
Community Events
The Events Team has been hard at work behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for an exciting and diverse programme of events for 2026.
Easter Breakfast – Saturday 4^th April 2026:
We still have spaces available for IV13 families to join us for our Easter Breakfast! 🐰🥞
If you’d like to come along, please complete the online form using the link below. We’d love to see you there!
https://forms.gle/AQ6WjZTuJxBfSG2Y9
All numbers to be confirmed by Monday 23rd March 2026.
Entry:
£2 per person
£6 for families of 4 or more
To book please click the link below: –
Your ticket includes:
- Delicious morning filled rolls
- Unlimited tea, coffee, and fresh juices
- Crafts for all ages
- A movie on the big screen
- Face painting by Pam Hardwick
- A magical Easter Egg Hunt in our community woodland.
It’s the perfect way to celebrate together as a community. We’d love to see you there.
Community Fun Run – Saturday 23rd May 2026
Join us for the SCD Community Fun Run – 10K / 5K in aid of “MND Scotland” held in honour of the late Jimmy Duncan, a true community gem.
Route:
We’ll be following the same route as last year!
10K: Starts at The Strathdearn, up to Balvraid Estate, and back.
5K: Starts at The Strathdearn – run, jog, or walk at your own pace!
Registration: From 10:30 AM at The Strathdearn, Tomatin
Start Time: 11:00 AM
All participants will receive a t-shirt (optional) and running number.
After the run, enjoy burgers and soft drinks back at The Strathdearn!
Entry Fee:
IV13 Residents: Adults £15 | Children £5
Non-IV13: Adults £15 | Children £10
(Includes t-shirt (optional) and post-run burger & drink)
Register here:
https://racebest.com/races/ve4vy
Sponsor link (for supporters):
https://www.justgiving.com/…/strathdearn-community… (https://www.justgiving.com/team/strathdearn-community-developments-mndscotland2026)
JustGiving Team Page (for participants who want to fundraise):
https://www.justgiving.com/…/strathdearn-community… (https://www.justgiving.com/team/strathdearn-community-developments-mndscotland2026)
Share far and wide – every donation truly makes a difference! 💙
Please note:
Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult during the run.
Any questions? Email events@strathdearn.org (mailto:events@strathdearn.org)
We look forward to welcoming you to our third community fun run for a fantastic cause!
Spring Food, Drink & Craft Market – Saturday 30th May 2026
A showcase of talented vendors, live music and kids’ entertainment.
The Strathdearn, Tomatin
11am – 3pm
Free entry
SAVE THE DATES 2026:
We would love to hear your ideas for community events in 2026. What would you enjoy?
- Seasonal celebrations?
- Workshops or learning sessions?
- Family fun days?
- Something completely new?
SCD Events Team
Tastes of Tomatin Café & Shop Updates
A Strong Start to the Year
The team is pleased to report that our strong start to the year has continued, with both takings and footfall showing substantial growth. Figures remain significantly ahead of the same period last year, reflecting improvements across our offer, service, and community engagement.
Social Media Growth
Our online presence has strengthened considerably this month.
📈 Highly engaging posts
👥 Growing follower count
➡️ Noticeably increased footfall linked to social media activity
We’ll keep building on this momentum to reach new audiences – in the meantime please continue to like, share and comment on our posts! It makes such a difference to our pages.
Rock ’n’ Roll Bingo Success
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
🎶 A fantastic evening with big jackpots
👏 Great atmosphere and strong community turnout
Events like this reinforce our role as a valued community hub.
Customer Feedback
⭐ Google reviews remain very positive
⚠️ The number of new reviews has slowed
The team is being encouraged to gently prompt customers—especially when compliments are given—to help maintain our online visibility and reputation.
New Craft Beer Offering
We’re delighted to confirm a new account with Cairngorm Brewery.
🍺 Their craft beers will soon be available in the shop and café
🌄 A great fit for both tourists and locals
This addition should help boost both retail and café sales.
Authentic Spanish Pop‑Up Evening
Saturday 28th March
Paella, tapas, and a quiz to follow!
Discussions are also underway for a Greek‑themed evening next month as we continue to diversify our community events.
Changes to Supper Club
Our Wednesday Supper Club is evolving based on customer behaviour.
➡️ Moving to Fish Fridays
🕟 Fridays 4.30pm – 6.45pm
🍽️ Sit‑in or takeaway
This shift aims to better support families who prefer Friday evenings for dining out
Staffing Update
Staffing remains challenging as trade levels rise.
However:
✔️ Ongoing monitoring
✔️ Operational adjustments
✔️ Strong team commitment
…are helping us maintain consistently high service standards.
Seniors’ Lunch
Enjoy two courses from a selected menu for just £8.75 (for all over-60s)
📅 Available every Thursday
Community Coffee Morning
Our Community Coffee Morning takes place in the café on the first Wednesday of each month. Pop along for a cosy catch-up with your neighbours and enjoy some delicious homemade scones.
☕ Unlimited tea or coffee & a freshly baked scone for £4.50
Meal Deal
Sandwich + selected crisps or chocolate bar
Plus a can, juice, or water
👉 Just £5
Coffee Loyalty Card
Don’t forget to pick one up next time you’re in! Collect 6 stamps and get a free coffee!
Local Loyalty Card
Residents can enjoy 10% off with a valid community loyalty card — don’t forget to use it!
Tastes of Tomatin – Opening Hours
Shop: 8.30am – 5pm
Café: Monday – Sunday, 9.30am – 4pm
🕞 Last food orders at 3.30pm
☕ Coffee and cakes available until 4pm
📞 To get in touch, call 01808 517230 and a member of the team will be happy to help.
Overall
It has been a very positive month marked by:
💷 Improving financial performance
🎉 Vibrant community events
📈 Continued momentum across the business
As always, we are deeply grateful for the community’s support as we build on this success.
If you have any queries about anything mentioned in this update, please get in touch by emailing info@strathdearn.org (mailto:info@strathdearn.org) or by phoning 07703 328333.
To visit the SCD website click on following link: Supporting the Community | Strathdearn Community Developments (ourscd.org) (https://ourscd.org/)
Join the Board!
We are looking for new volunteers to join the Strathdearn Community Development / White River Trading boards. If you care about what is happening locally and want to help shape future projects, we would love to hear from you!
The commitment is now very manageable — just a 2hour meeting every two months, along with keeping on top of emails between meetings. No special experience needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to share your ideas.
We are particularly keen to welcome younger adults and more women onto the board so we can make sure a wide mix of voices and perspectives are represented when making decisions for our community.
If you are interested, or even just a bit curious, you can apply or ask for more information by emailing info@strathdearn.org (mailto:info@strathdearn.org) . It would be fantastic to have some new faces around the table!
The Strathdearn Community Developments Team
