23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Trees set for chop across Stirling route to prepare for Walking of the Marches
An application has been made by council planners to chop back trees to accommodate flags within the parade - which is set for a route through city centre streets.
Trees on the route of Stirling's annual traditional Walking of the Marches parade could be cut back to make sure standards literally won't have to be lowered.
An application has been lodged by Stirling Council with their own planners seeking permission to chop back 'multiple' trees.
The work would involve a proposed crown lift of around between three and five metres of some trees, using a manual pole saw only.
The reason given for the work on the route is given as 'to accommodate flags in the parade', which takes place on Saturday May 31.
The route of walking of the marches includes: The Rotunda, King's Street; Spittal Street; Bank Street; Baker Street; Friar Street; Barnton Street; Maxwell Place; Viewfield Street; Barnton Street; Maxwell Place; Viewfield Street; Barnton Street; Murray Place; Port Street; Dumbarton Road; Back Walk; Smith Art Gallery; Back Walk; Academy Road; St John Street; Cowane's Hospital.
The streets of Stirling are expected to be packed at the end of the month as the city celebrates the tradition of Walking the Marches.
This non-political event is free and open to all, celebrating a tradition dating back to the 12th Century which saw Stirling's boundaries inspected and maintained.
This year, costumed historical re-enactors from Historia Normannis alongside Caledonia Combat's stuntmen will be helping to bring the period to life.
The march will set off from the King Street rotunda at 10.45am and head up to Cowane's hospital. Locals are being asked to expect pipe bands, re-enactors and fun for visitors of all ages as well as crowds along the route and increased visitor numbers.
A spokesperson for the organisers said: 'The Walking of the Marches is a tradition that is probably as old as Stirling, dating back to the days before accurate maps when it was necessary to check the burgh boundaries to ensure that no encroachment had taken place. As with other places across Scotland this tradition has developed into an inclusive community celebration of our heritage.
'Where most places ride their Marches, in Stirling we have always walked them; this was done by the Birlawmen, led by the Captain of the Birlawmen.
'Of course, it is no longer necessary to actually check all the boundaries but what we do is a modern interpretation of this tradition. The Birlawmen do check boundary points; the term Birlawman is no longer gender specific but it one of the many traditional terms that are still used and, like their predecessors, the Birlawmen still carry picks and shovels.
'Resplendent in their blue bonnets, the Captain takes reports from the Birlawmen that the Marches have been checked, are intact and have been marked in the traditional manner by the turning of turfs. This report is then conveyed to the Lord Provost, Lord Dean of Guild and Deacon Convenor of the Seven Incorporated Trades who are then invited to accompany the Birlawmen in a colourful celebratory procession through the city to the historic Cowane's Hospital where entertainment is provided.'
The Walking of the Marches is a free event and open to all. More information can be found on the Walking the Marches Facebook page, or through Eventbrite.
