This year the Gathering is heading to the Trossachs, part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and home of more large-scale ecological restoration projects than you can shake a birch seedling at. We’ll be based in the village of Aberfoyle, from the 4th to the 6th of October, with a weekend of talks, visits and workshops, plus the Buildings Tour in the lead-up on Friday.
We’ll be hearing about woodland management in the park, visiting some of the big reforestation projects, looking at natural regeneration in the FLS woodlands around Aberfoyle and sailing on Loch Katrine. As usual much of the content is member led; if you have a project or an idea you’d like to tell everyone about you can prepare a 3-minute Soapbox or let us know if you can lead a workshop. Music for the Saturday night ceilidh will be by the HotScotch Ceilidh Band and catering by the Project Café.
Confirmed speakers and workshop leaders:
Prof. Chris Spray – LLTNP board member
Sid House – Cashel Woodland
Justin Kendrick – Extinction Rebellion
Grace Banks – Storytelling and the Landscape
Nick Kemp – Parkswatch
Donald McPhillimy – Land Revival Tour
Jim Knight – Future Forests
Visits:
– Fintry – community ownership, sustainable energy, school woodland and more
– Glen Finglas – large scale restoration
– Loch Katrine – see forest regeneration by boat
– Cashel – the Royal Scottish Forestry Society’s Milennium Wood
– foraging walk
And more:
book stall
seed sharing – please bring any seeds you have to share
The Gathering will be located at the Dounans Centre just outside Aberfoyle (https://www.soec.org.uk/our-centres/dounans/). We have block booked the centre and can offer rooms and camping at very good rates (see booking form) or there is lots of accommodation in the area if you want to find your own. You can download the booking form below. Concession rates apply to anyone who, for reasons of no or low income, genuinely can’t afford to come at the full rate. ‘Supporters’ pay a little extra to help us keep the Gathering open to all.
If you would like a Word version of the booking form or have any other problems, please email the Co-ordinator at
