Graeme MacDonald is a man on mission!
It has been suggested by many that he is Perthshire’s most enthusiastic and committed local food advocate while others have counseled that he is also one of the county’s most committed green exponents.
The truth, I suspect, is he embraces these titles with a knowing smile as responds to next matter on his busy agenda.
Graeme is the manager of Duchally Country Estate which sits amidst 27 verdant acres, of glorious tree heaven, a couple of miles from the A9 near Auchterarder.
I met him on the last day of an extended film recee for a project commissioned by Perth and Kinross Council and the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
He is an eloquent, articulate and enthusiastic individual who believes in getting the very best out of whatever he does, and the GTBS is no exception.
Before we took a walk around the estate we had a bite of lunch where he immediately extolled the benefits of supporting local suppliers and the quality and freshness of their produce. That extends all the way through to the kitchen where Head Chef, Colin Paterson is equally as zealous in his approach to his splendid dishes and using grown herbs from the estate to compliment his menu.
Both men feel very passionate about illustrating the provenance of their food and build that into the overall philosophy of Duchally including taking part in ‘Perthshire Breakfast’ scheme which dovetails naturally with their own values.
With fifty five, two, three and four bedroom luxury lodges Graeme is ringing the changes with a radical approach to expensive new LED lighting in every building which uses a fraction of the present energy requirements.
Although it might seem as if it’s little more than a glow in the dark the bottom line returns show significant energy savings and cost benefits too.
As we leave one of the beautifully appointed lodges he stops mid tracks and point slowly into a wooded glade where in the middle of the afternoon one of Duchally’s many red squirrels has perched itself on a feeder as if right on que for the camera.
Like all his fellow partners in the GTBS initiative at the other resorts, Graeme has a natural and seemingly infinite store of incredible enthusiasm and belief, in not just the immediate benefits of the scheme to his guests and his business but also to the wider community too.
Over the years I’ve interviewed thousands of individuals around the world about an amazing range of subjects, which encompass the diversity of life and on our planet.
Listening to the enthusiasm, and optimism of Graeme, and the other resort practitioners involved in this scheme, offers that most incredible aspect of the human condition, hope and integrity!
Photography
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