Tarland Development Group (TDG) acquired charitable status in 2010 and became a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) in 2014 (Registered Charity SC041598).
Tarland Development Group
Aim of TDG:
The organisation’s purpose is the advancement of community development and in particular, promotion of the arts, culture, heritage, environmental enhancement and protection, and the provision of recreational activities: all within the Parish of Tarland and the Howe of Cromar in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire.
How TDG operates:
TDG has developed close working links with Cromar Community Council, The MacRobert Trust, Tarland Welfare Trust and Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust, who have assisted in the planning, funding and maintenance of projects.
Membership of TDG is open to anyone from the local area who shares the aims of the group, as set out in section 4 of the constitution, and who wishes to volunteer their time and expertise to support the work of the group. The group consists of members and up to 12 Trustees. The work of the group is project based, and members/trustees take on responsibility for supporting those projects which interest them. Funding for projects is sought from relevant funding bodies and agencies.
Trustees meetings are held every 6 weeks to review progress and develop action plans for new projects. Other members and interested parties may attend these meetings by invitation.
If you wish to become a member of Tarland Development Group (TDG), please download an application form.
Please see our Privacy Notice.
TDG welcomes approaches from anyone with an existing project or a proposed new project idea. They can be contacted at
Current Projects:
Tarland Wetlands Group: This group was set up in 2018, initially to address the decline of breeding birds, particularly waders, in the Howe. Its vision is to develop a set of natural wetlands fitting within the farming system, for the benefit of wildlife, the environment and local people. A study was undertaken in 2019 looking at four areas of work: water quality improvements; flood alleviation, flood storage and Natural Flood Management (NFM); biodiversity improvements; and monitoring and research. An awareness-raising event was held in March 2020 to gain ideas and comments about the issues linked to wetlands, and gauge what community views are towards possible projects in the area. The group is currently working on delivering the next steps with the support of the Dee Catchment Partnership (DCP).
- Tarland path network, including the Tarland Way: This was set up over ten years ago and includes a graded, waymarked path system around the village and in the surrounding countryside. There is also a waymarked path from Tarland down to Aboyne that meets up with the Deeside Way. Leaflets and maps are available locally and there are information boards at the Stone Circle, in The Square and at Knappieround Car Park. Volunteers are always welcome to help with maintenance. Check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/426274925192851 or download the form here and return to tarlandpaths@gmail.com
- Spring market: A market selling local produce with a wide range of food, drink and horticultural stalls, held in April each year in the MacRobert Hall; The Spring Market is not currently in operation.
- Food and Music Festival:
Started in 2014, this festival has grown to be a popular weekend long event, held in various venues around Tarland at the end of September each year. There is a morning market, a wide range of exciting lunch and dinner options, talks and debates, evening concerts, music workshops, woodland walks and activities for children.
- Composting scheme
: Started in 2010, the garden waste collection continues to be a popular project offering an invaluable service to village households. It is run by volunteers and operates between April and November;
- Community Garden:
Set up in 2013, Tarland Community Garden provides a wheelchair accessible mini allotment scheme. Membership is open to households in the Howe of Cromar. There are raised beds in a large polytunnel and an outdoor space, along with communal areas. The garden is available as a venue for outdoor groups to use for events, for example a spoon whittling workshop has been held there;
- Lego Club
: The club meets on the 2nd Friday of each month from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Folks are welcome to come for some or all of our session. We’re in the MacRobert Hall, Tarland, and our group is free to attend;
- Bee Group:
What began as a series of talks has grown into a thriving group of local beekeepers. The group runs a community apiary, as well as providing help and support for private individuals. Honey is sold at the markets;
- Tarland Trails: Tarland Trails, Drummy Woods is a set of short mountain bike skills trails created in 2015. There are three runs and a pump track,
which are popular with children and adults from Aberdeenshire and beyond. Tarland Trails Pittenderich, a mountain bike trail centre, opened in April 2023 with many kilometres of trails on the slopes of Pittenderich and Pressendye. See the dedicated Tarland Trails Website here: www.tarland-trails.com
- Tapestry
: The tapestry concept was launched at the Tarland Market in April 2017 and recruited volunteers. Interested stitchers attended a workshop with Dorie Wilkie, who organised a thousand stitchers for the Great Tapestry of Scotland. ‘The tapestry is now complete and can be viewed in the MacRobert Hall foyer. Tea towels of the design are available to purchase locally;
- Apple pressing:
In 2015 TDG bought an apple press for the community and in the apple season, the end of September to the end of October, apples are collected and juice is made as a collective effort. Bottles and boxes of juice are sold to contributors and in the local markets. Anyone with apples or who wants to help is welcome to come along;
- Seed Swap: Gone to Seed is a joint project between Tarland Community Garden, Cromar and District Horticultural Society and Aboyne Garden Club. The aim is to encourage local gardeners to conserve, grow and swap the seed of heritage varieties of vegetables and flowers and also to encourage them to grow a wider variety of potatoes, especially heritage varieties. There are talks and workshops to provide skills to enable people to start saving seed. The Seed Swap and Potato Day is held at the end of February in the MacRobert Hall;
- Film Club: RESTARTED SEPT 2023 . The club meets on the last Thursday of each month from September to June in the MacRobert Hall at 7.00pm for refreshments, and the film, chosen by members..
- Cromar Food Waste:
Begun in November 2020, we aim to prevent food waste in our local communities. We do this in the following ways : distribute non-perishable supermarket surplus free to all, via pop up pantries; collect perishable surplus from our local supermarket and freeze to distribute at our pop ups, or cook, store and serve in our home base, the MacRobert Hall; run workshops on how to use up difficult to use leftovers (e.g. the inside of a pumpkin); hold community events such as the Community kitchen at the Tarland Food and Music Festival. Please email cromarfood@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.
- Tarland website: This website for the Tarland community is also a TDG project;
Supported projects
TDG welcomes ideas for new projects that can be supported in their initial stages before becoming charities in their own right. Support includes management of finances, insurance and advice. Examples of such projects are The Cromar Future Group and Tarland Community Housing.
Charity Trustees:
- Chair: Chris Redmond
- Secretary: Vacant
- Treasurer: Dave Hirst
- Trustee: Jonquil Nicol
- Trustee: Sandra Van Heusen
- Trustee: Frank Paterson
- Trustee: Hayley Lockerbie
- Trustee: Dave Muirhead
- Trustee: Sheila Williams
- Trustee: Ken Webb
- Trustee: Simon Langan
Meeting Minutes:
Minutes 8th November 2023
AGM 27th September 2023 Chairs Report Treasurers Report
Minutes 14th August 2023
Minutes 12th June 2023
Minutes 3rd May 2023
Minutes 8th March 2023
Minutes 25th January 2023