Arran Natural History Society April meeting

Arran Natural History Society’s final meeting of the 2024 spring season will be a talk by Community of Arran Seabed Trust’s Marine Protected Area Project Officer Lucy Kay titled ‘Fifteen years of research in Arran’s marine protected areas – what have we learned?’. The community on Arran has been proactively campaigning for better protection and …

2024 McLellan Poetry Competitions open for entries

The McLellan Poetry Prize is awarded by the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust as part of the annual McLellan Arts Festival. Now in its eighteenth year, past judges have included Kathleen Jamie, Robert Crawford, Jackie Kay, Peter and Ann Sansom, Michael Laskey, Simon Armitage, David Constantine, Maura Dooley, Sinéad Morrissey, Sean O’Brien , Luke Wright, …

Events in April

Listed here are just some of the events taking place across the island in April, with yet more events and news linked elsewhere in this issue… Featured image credit: NTS Ranger Service. Events Outdoors Build a bird box, Wednesday 3rd April, 1.30  – 4.30pm, with the Brodick Castle NTS Rangers Ranger Centre, Brodick Country Park, …

Poem for April

Waiting for the Barbarians The barbarians are due here today. What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? Why isn’t anything going on in the senate? Why are the senators sitting there without legislating?Because the barbarians are coming today. What’s the point of senators making laws now? Once the barbarians are here, they’ll do …

What is comunity? How can we make it work better for everyone?

Firstly, what do we mean by community? There are many definitions: It is a collective of people who come together, either physically or virtually, to support and engage with each other, forming a sense of belonging and shared identity. The benefits of having a community are numerous. It can be one locality, one national, transnational. …

The Arran Green Islands Project

Based on a Press Release from Arran Eco Savvy 5th December 2023 International work to address climate change Last month saw the conclusion of the 28th United Nations World climate change conference (COP 28). This forum tackles climate change worldwide by finding ways to implement solutions and develop appropriate legislation. Hosted this year by the …

Arran Veganuary Day

The Arran Vegan group are celebrating Veganuary on 27th January in Corrie and Sannox village hall. Here is a note from the organisers: We shall have an information stall in Brodick library throughout January and then an Arran Veganuary Day on 27th January. A day full of inspirational and informative talks, films and delicious food, …

Arran Arts Open Day

Saturday 13th January from 11am to 3pm Ormidale Pavilion, Brodick Arran has a rich artistic life across the whole spectrum of the arts. For some time Arran Theatre and Arts Trust has wanted to seek the views of the Arran community as to how it sees the future of the arts on the island and …

Robin Jenks – a Tribute

Tribute to Robin Jenks – A COAST Stalwart 04/01/1944 – 10/11/23 Dr Robin Jenks, who sadly passed away on the 10th of November, will be greatly missed by his wife Catherine and sons Michael and Christopher, as well as many people on Arran. After moving to the island with Catherine and baby Michael in 1994, …

The People of Scotland’s Address to World Leaders

By The People of Scotland, curated by Makar Kathleen Jamie. Published in December 2023 by the Scottish Poetry Library  I saw a dead child today, in rubble, on TV; his cold blue hand – meanwhile she burns, weeping, the mother city eòin iarainn, a’ leigeil dubh-shìl, an nimh is fuath (iron birds, scatter their blackseed, …