Ancient woodland in Pitlochry at risk

An ancient woodland in Pitlochry is at risk from a proposed brewery and taproom. The McPhee family who live within the woodland are Travellers who were settled there as part of a forced assimilation project which has been called ‘cultural genocide’ in an official report.

They have had recent apologies from John Swinney, their local MSP and the First Minister of Scotland; as well as Perth & Kinross council. Whilst the government and council are apologising about history and talking about the importance our natural environment, they are quietly allowing a development to impact ancient woodland and a site important in Scottish Traveller history. Travellers still face abuse in Scotland, and serving alcohol a short walk from the family's home risks increased harassment.

This is a dangerous precedent. If a brewery is more important than ancient woodlands, many other developments will be too - there will always be reasons to cut down the woods, impacting communities and the natural environment.

There is an active court case about this which will be starting on 3 Nov.

Environmental Impact

The woods have historically been owned by Pitlochry Estates, with the council leasing the family's residential site to them. Recently a part of the woods was sold to a brewery company who want to build a brewery & taproom very close to the residential site. There is a currently ongoing legal case against the brewery's planning permission, which the council had originally granted without considering the fact that the area is ancient woodland.

Back in 2009 the Estate & council drafted a management plan for the woods which identified it as ancient woodland and specified that no further development should be allowed, yet they failed to register the land as ancient woodland with NatureScot or on their own maps. The brewery development would involve felling trees at the edge of the woods. The Council’s report is dismissive of impacts on residents and claims that most of the proposed site is ‘cleared’, when in fact it’s full of young trees in the process of re-wooding it, we have seen this with our own eyes when we went to visit the woodland and the family who live there.

Allowing this development would also set a problematic precedent for any future developments impacting pockets of ancient woods. A couple of jobs seems enough for them to dismiss the severe negative impacts this proposed site would have.

The Human Impact

The taproom is a specific issue for the McPhee’s safety as well, as there is an increased risk of harassment for Roseanna's family from drunk patrons and unfortunately there is still abuse directed towards people from the traveller communities in Scotland. The separation here of human and environmental impact is also a little arbitrary as we recognise the link between anyone and the environment they live in, especially when that is one that has been a family home for decades and is woodland you understand and protect.

The McPhee family were amongst the first to be impacted by the ‘Tinker Experiment’ assimilation project which has been characterised as cultural genocide by the St Andrew’s report. The MSP for their area is John Swinney who, in his role as First Minister of Scotland, made a formal, historical apology for the experiments in June 2025. The council in the area, Perth and Kinross, also made a localised apology in January 2026. The fact that this family have experienced such things and are now expected to continue to fight for the woodland they live in and the safety of their family is shocking. Read more here.

What can you do?

Come join us outside the court for the first day on Tuesday 3 November – from 9am outside The Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Email John Swinney (John.Swinney.msp@parliament.scot) to tell him what you think of the proposed plans in his constituency. Here is a template:

Dear John Swinney,

I am writing to ask you to oppose the proposed plans to build a brewery and taproom near the site of Bobbin Mill in Pitlochry.

Bobbin Mill Wood is the original site of the Tinker Experiment,a forced assimilation project which was described as cultural genocide in a report by the University of St Andrews. Just last year you made a formal apology for the Tinker Experiment on behalf of Scotland. Bobbin Mill Woods should be protected for its importance in Scottish history, rather than being partly built over.

The woods have been recognised by Perth and Kinross Council as ancient woodland, which is legally protected under the National Planning Framework 4 passed by your government in 2023. Allowing this policy to be overidden for the sake of a brewery sets a dangerous precedent which makes this a protection in name only.

The McPhee family are also concerned for their safety if the brewery development (which includes a taproom) goes ahead. There is still abuse directed towards people from the Traveller communities in Scotland, and the family has already faced harassment for their opposition to the plans. Serving alcohol a short walk from the McPhees’ home risks further harassment from drunk patrons.

Please request Perth & Kinross Council oppose these plans and do everything within your power as the representative for this area to oppose this development.

Sincerely,

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