Community Land Festival week one roundup
23 October 2024
So far, eight communities have participated in this year’s Community Land Festival. Our team has been out and about, celebrating alongside participating communities and even getting stuck in at times. You can see a collection of pictures from the first weekend of the Festival below.
A’ the Airts kicked things off last Friday with a launch event for two films created by their youth film programme. In addition to the films, the young people also shared an photography exhibition, performed music, led a Q&A with attendees – and made the most delicious mocktails for their guests.
Over in Port Bannatyne on Bute, The Anchor Tavern continued their now three-year-old tradition of hosting a fortnight of music for Community Land Festival. The music continues through to the end of the Festival, so you still have two weekends to join this wonderful community for a pint and some tunes.
Sunday was all about apples! Comrie Community Orchard and Kettins Community Hub both hosted apple festivals where participants could get stuck in with pressing fresh apple juice, learn about the activities of their hosts, and (as Meg and Heather did) eat their body-weight in apples and cakes.
Also on Sunday, the Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust hosted an Open Door day to update their community on their plans for a Community Asset Transfer of the Moffat Police Station. Despite the wild weather, the group reported high turnout, with attendees learning about the building, and completing questionnaires for their community consultation.
Further North, The Cabrach Trust kicked off two weeks of celebration with a Makers Market and coffee morning. The festivities will be continuing the celebrations for the rest of the Festival, so do check out their event schedule if you are in Moray.
On Monday night, Community Land Outer Hebrides and St Andrews University organised an event in Stornoway in conversation with Rueben George, Indigenous land defender and Sun Dance Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation (where Vancouver, BC, Canada is today), presented by Agnes Rennie of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn. The evening shone a light on the importance of healing colonial trauma and protecting cultural heritage when defending local land rights, both in First Nation Territories and in Scotland. It was a wonderful evening of food, songs and storytelling, with a very receptive audience. We hope Rueben returns to Scotland!
Finally, yesterday South West Mull & Iona Development celebrated the opening of their new nature trail in Tiroran Woodlands, which was planned together with local primary school students. They hosted a woodland walk for those students and others in the community, and all the children participated in an activity as part of Linn an fhearainn / 100 Years of Community Ownership where they learned about the history of the forest and mapped their own dreams for the future.
You still have two weekends left to join the celebration, with events taking place all across Scotland over the next ten days. (This Saturday, 26 October, is particularly busy, with 13 communities taking part!) See the map of participating communities and learn more at the link below.











