Volunteers welcome freedom of the city accolade for peacocks

Eight years ago she spent countless hours wading through pages and pages of minutes, documents, reports and books trying to prove what everyone thought to be true - that the peacocks of Pittencrieff Park already had the freedom of the city.

She couldn't find anything to say they did, and so began a quest to get that recognition.

Suzi told the Press: "We had to go through all of the Fife Council minutes, that wasn't fun!

"It was a nightmare but we had to go through it all to see if we could find anything that said they had freedom of the city.

"There was nothing.

"The only thing we could think of was Henry Beveridge, in 1905, mentioned to Andrew Carnegie about bringing a couple of breeding pairs over from India, he's then said to bring them over and that 'we'll just let them roam and have the freedom of the park'.

"Everybody seemed to think they already had it but we kept having to say, 'No, they don't'."

She smiled: "They do now."

Peacocks have been in Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline since 1905. (Image: Fife Council)

In truth, the birds have always enjoyed the freedom to go where they please, often wandering about the High Street - one was memorably pictured going into the clothing store Peacocks on one occasion - and further afield.

Following the granting of city status in May 2022, local councillors agreed a motion in October last year calling for the birds to be granted the freedom of Dunfermline, and that was ratified by the full council in December.

Formal recognition was confirmed at a ceremony at the sanctuary in the Glen last Wednesday.

So, the big question. Do peacocks like the sound of the bagpipes?

A trio from Dunfermline Pipe Band kicked off the ceremonial proceedings - the birds did seem to be edging away after the first skirl rent the air.

Suzi laughed: "I thought as soon as they heard the bagpipes they would kick off but no, they've been quite quiet. They must like it."

It's official. The peacocks of Pittencrieff Park have been given the freedom of the city. (Image: David Wardle)

As for freedom of the city, she admitted: "It's been a long time coming.

"What does it mean? Everything. It means everything.

"It's the recognition of what all the wardens do and the fact the birds will have that protection."

Carlyn Cane, one of the 30-odd volunteers who look after the peafowl, said: "I think it's just knowing that the birds are so loved by everyone in Dunfermline, and beyond.

"To have that recognition, we know it's symbolic, but the birds are symbolic to Dunfermline.

"They've been around for so long, it's just nice they finally have that recognition."

Despite their iconic status the number of peafowl in the park had dwindled - for many years there was only one, Clive - until Suzi and husband Iain stepped in to help run the aviary in 2016.

It's official. The peacocks of Pittencrieff Park have been given the freedom of the city. (Image: David Wardle)

And if they hadn't volunteered there was a good chance the remaining peacocks, Malcolm and Louise, would have been rehomed and peacocks lost to the Glen for good. A new sanctuary opened, amid £1.6 million of wider park improvements, and thanks to all of the volunteers' efforts there are now 21 peafowl.

Sadly, Malcolm was killed and another bird, Louis, was seriously injured after two boys, aged 11 and 13, broke in and attacked them in May 2022 - 10 days after Dunfermline was given city status.

In the aftermath there was such shock, anger and a determination to help that more than £16,000 was raised for repairs and improvements.

Suzi said: "After what happened with Malcolm ... he's not forgotten.

"I still find it hard to talk about that.

"There will never be closure, every year on the anniversary we'll remind everyone."

She went on: "We did get CCTV, from Connor Baillie at CS Vision (in Rosyth).

"He got in touch after what happened with Malcolm and said 'Look, I want to put in CCTV for you'.

"We've had to use it a couple of times but we've got cameras everywhere now so Carlyn spends all day looking at them and watching the birds."

Some of the volunteers who help look after the peacocks. (Image: David Wardle)

Other improvements have been made too.

Suzi explained: "Fife Council have been helping us. We used to get flooded out every six months.

"Every time it rained we seemed to get flooded but they've put a stop to that.

"I've now got an office, we've got a kitchen and hot water - we'd never had hot water before but we do now.

"Everything is at hand now to look after the birds, it makes it easier for all our volunteers."

Carlyn added: "Fife Council have been really good with us since November.

"There have been a lot of improvements at the sanctuary and hopefully there are more to come.

"At the end of the day we rely on donations so if we can raise the profile, get more people coming here and can get more money for the birds, that's all to the good."