The Galloway Glens summer programme of partnership events has ended and the team starts to look forward to the Autumn / Winter plans.
The Galloway Glens summer programme of events lasted through July and August and consisted of 20 events, all put on in partnership with the wide range of Galloway Glens projects. From Sausage Sizzles to guided walks to family outdoor exploration events, there really was something for everyone. All the events were held outdoors to make them COVID resilient, and all served to connect people more deeply with the cultural, natural or built heritage of the Galloway Glens.
Partners in the programme included the Crichton Carbon Centre, the RSPB, the Galloway Fisheries Trust, the Dumfries Archival Mapping Project and the Ken Words writing project, with the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust. In addition, the Loch Ken Trust took the opportunity to get across the serious message of responsible wild camping by offering a fun sausage sizzle and chat with Ken, their Loch Ken Ranger. The Kirkcudbright History Society continued their very popular Kirkyard Tours with additional support from the Galloway Glens for booking administration.
The ‘Can You Dig It’ community archaeology project of the Galloway Glens was an integral part of the programme, offering guided tours of Castle Douglas and the Woodhead Lead Mines (courtesy of local historian Anna Campbell), a bus tour of the Lost Wells of Galloway and test pitting events at the National Trust for Scotland Threave Estate.
In a key learning point from the last 18 months, most of the guided walks were filmed and will be published on the Galloway Glens YouTube channel in due course. This allows people who cannot access live events to be connected to the area more deeply, and will be a core theme of the Galloway Glens moving forward.
Looking forward to the Autumn months, the Galloway Glens is taking what it learned about online events last year and will try and go a step further, with a series of talks planned that will have both in-person and remote audiences and in-person and remote presenters. Accessibility and reach are key outcomes for the Galloway Glens scheme, and these plans will help them achieve the best of both worlds. Details of the Autumn programme will be published on www.gallowayglens.org and the Galloway Glens social media in due course.
Helen Keron, Education and Community Engagement Officer for the Galloway Glens, said,
“In May, it wasn’t clear that we would be able to have a Summer Programme at all, but our fantastic Galloway Glens partnership organisations all really wanted to be back out there, connecting with their communities and sharing their knowledge. Thanks to them, so many people have had some really great experiences over the summer – all the more precious after last summer! I’d like to say a massive thank you to all our partners, particularly the volunteer-led ones like DAMP and the Kirkcudbright History Society – they really go over and above to share their knowledge of our amazing area, and it is very much appreciated.
More than 260 people attended the 20 events, which were limited to small group numbers to ensure COVID safety. Many people commented on how good it was to be out and about again, meeting people and learning new things in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.”
McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team Leader, said
“In many ways, organising an event for only ten people during the lingering effects of a pandemic can be more complex than a ‘normal’ event with tens or hundreds present. I am so grateful to Helen and all partners for their support. Some of the feedback received has been truly exceptional.
Keep an eye on our YouTube channel as we post the event recordings, and thanks as always to our funders and Scheme partners, particularly the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lottery players around the country.”
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