Wester Loch Ewe Trust: From Roots to Renewal

We chose to take part in the Festival, of which WLET was unaware before this year, because we thought it an amazing way to let the wider public become aware of what has been made possible all over Scotland due to The Scottish Land Fund.

It was a successful and meaningful day as we had so many people who hadn’t previously been aware of our project – The Old School Inverasdale – visit, look over the building and grounds to see what it is like today and see the changes that have taken place over the years since WLET took it into community ownership with the support of the Scottish Land Fund. Our illustrated boards show clearly what has been achieved by a very small, very remote and rural community to preserve a much-loved building, its history and its peoples’ stories both school-based and crofting from which 3 distinct local places fed into the school.

We found out that so many people were unaware of Kay Matheson who attended the school as a pupil and later as a peripetetic teacher of Gaelic and crafts – and many of us here remember her well!

It was truly meaningful to us to be able to host this afternoon and be able to chat with so many interested people. It was meaningful and overwhelming to be able to record a short video explaining The Old School Inverasdale, its history and its importance to this area.

We were thrilled at the number who attended and asked very relevant questions about the processes gone through, the difficulties encountered along the way and the achievements so far. It was also amazing to have a member of the CLS attend and show such interest in the project.