NOW PAST:
7th to 9th October
The theme of this year’s Gathering will be Upstream/Downstream: looking at how upland management affects farms and settlements on lower lying land. We will be perfectly placed for this, based in Moffat, deep in the Southern Uplands. The Southern Uplands are home to a lot of commercial forestry and hill sheep farming, plus an increasing number of wild woodland restoration projects.
We will hear from the Director of Borders Forest Trust (BFT), Jane Rosegrant, about plans for ‘Restoring the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland’, Andrew Heald of Confor about the role of commercial forestry, Robbie Porteous about the community buy-out of Gallowhill, and Hugh Chalmers, one of our directors, will pass on some of his expertise in rewilding rivers.
There will be several options for visits, including Peter Dreghorn’s cabin in the woods, a look at river rewilding and BFT sites at the Devil’s Beeftub and Corehead. Walking options range from mild to challenging.
As usual, there will be a range of workshops – including the possibility of arranging ones on the day – discussing various woodland policy and practice topics. Practical demonstrations / workshops include knife whittling and possibly cutting joints for a wood cabin.
The main Gathering begins at 6:45 on Friday evening; prior to this, there is the opportunity to join the Buildings of the Forest tour, which looks at innovative buildings in the forest or using forest materials.
The highlight of Saturday night will be a ceilidh in Moffat Town Hall with the Whigmaleerie band and the Feral Choir. Catering will be by Tiril Planterose.
The Gathering will be based at the Well Road Centre in Moffat and takes place on the weekend of 7-9 October.
Booking now open – download booking form
photo by Stuart Adair
