Soldiers carry out 'mission' at Atholl Estate

Sep 15 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A CRACK military team has completed a mission with a difference on Perthshire’s Atholl Estate.

Eighteen soldiers from the 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) descended on the 145,000-acre Highland estate to construct two wildlife hides.

One of the new bases is located on the woodland fringes of Glen Tilt, with a second adjacent to the historic grounds of Blair Castle.

The hides will give visitors an opportunity to see native wildlife, including red squirrel and roe deer, at close quarters.

Their construction was part of a light training exercise for the Royal Engineers before they depart for their latest tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The English-based soldiers, who also enjoyed a well-earned break hiking and cycling through the woods at Blair Atholl and Dunkeld, regularly undertake construction projects to assist charitable causes.

Previous projects north of Perth have included the construction of a bird amphitheatre at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie.