Scotland: National Rural Network
Last week a group of ten people from around rural Scotland took part in our Renewable Energy and Environment project visit, hosted by Comrie Development Trust (CDT). This was the first visit in a series of five being organised by the Rural Network, and we couldn't have asked for a more inspiring start.
Proceedings began on Thursday evening with welcome drinks and dinner at The Royal Hotel in Comrie. This was a great opportunity for people to meet and it wasn't long before stories and aspirations for the visit were being shared. Overnight accommodation proved essential so that people could travel from across the country to attend and many regions were represented, including Aberdeenshire, Highland, Stirlingshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Argyll & Bute, including the islands of Islay and Bute, and even Shapinsay in Orkney.
Rural Network Regional Coordinator Matt Tyrer said, "I'm really delighted with how well this trip has gone. The team at Comrie have been excellent and inspiring hosts, and the visiting group have been full of great enthusiasm and experience. There's been a real buzz to the trip and initial feedback suggests the visit has made a real impact, with some quality knowledge sharing."
The group were picked up bright and early on Friday morning by the Comrie Community Bus for the short drive to Cultybraggan, the community owned ex-prisoner of war camp. Alan Caldwell, one of CDT's directors, welcomed everyone and explained how the Trust was formed, leading to the community's decision to buy the Cultybraggan site under the community right to buy scheme. It was fascinating to hear about Comrie's vibrant community of just over 2000 people, which has 56 different groups, and has been heavily involved in consultations and decision making right from the start. Alan explained local concerns that alternative uses for the Cultybraggan site could have been more expensive housing or a hotel complex, and there proved to be a real appetite to do something different, with a specific focus on environmental sustainability.
CDT's Delivery Plan Manager Will Reid, and the Climate Challenge Officer Emma Margrett, then took the group on an inspiring walking tour of Cultybraggan explaining future plans for the site, which include sport and leisure facilities, an eco hub for Solar/PV and biomass renewable energy production and local recycling, and a museum to cater for the many visitors who already visit Cultybraggan because of its military heritage.
There was also plenty of current activity to see. The community allotment is now well established, and the Comrie in Colour group, who are three time reigning champions in the large village category of Britain in Bloom, have erected a polytunnel on the site with the help of some LEADER funding. As well as using this for their award-winning floral displays, they have taken on an educational role and welcome three different groups to the polytunnel every week.
The Trust are keen to re-use existing structures where possible. One of the community's other working groups is currently planting a community orchard and they have been innovative in their use of the old army obstacle course to support the growth of the young trees and shrubs, giving them their very own walled garden. Other plans include re-establishing the three water towers around the site to collect rainwater, although they haven't quite figured out what to do with the old firing range yet. There was a suggestion that it could become an outdoor cinema, but Will assured us that this would need to be of the 'walk-in', and not 'drive-in' variety, in keeping with the site's environmental goals!
A local shortage of commercial property has been addressed with several of the old Nissen huts having already been refurbished and let to local businesses, including one lady who has been able to fulfil an ambition to run her own business, Fortren Mushrooms, growing shitake mushrooms in a very environmentally sustainable way, using locally sourced wood chips to produce blocks for the mushrooms to grow from. The site's largest commercial tenants, Wilde Thyme, are using an old army catering facility for their thriving hospitality and event catering business.
Following the tour, Emma explained the Trust's wider community activity encouraging individual household behaviour change in Comrie. They have supported the community with two successful Zero-Waste Fortnights and are holding their third this September. There has also been an intensive campaign to help residents carry out energy audits and install insulation. The next project is planning to encourage more involvement with the incentive of money-off vouchers that can be used in the local shops.
There were plenty of questions from the visiting group and some great discussion evolved, including questions about the renewable energy feasibilities studies the Trust has completed, how smaller scale renewable projects struggle to be financially viable and what collaborative work could be done to address this, and how smaller communities can apply what is happening at Comrie to their own circumstances. Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for the Environment and local MSP came along during the visit and joined the group for some of the discussions.
Finally, after a quick trip to the CDT offices in Comrie the group enjoyed a networking lunch with some of the Trust's consultants and funders before travelling back home, although quite a number of the group decided to stay on a while longer to attend a local event being held by Trust during the afternoon.
Look out for further news of our other project visits and short videos of all the trips, in the coming weeks.
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