Well here we are. It’s our first ever newsletter. It’s been a wild ride to get here. We are so grateful to the hundreds of local volunteers, supporters and donors who have made the Pioneer Project possible since we started in March 2020.
As of Winter Solstice 2021 we have helped to start 5 new community gardens around Arran and have supported the work of 2 existing gardens. We’ve worked with local farmers and gardeners and had advice from the wise and the good of this bonnie isle.
What’s next? See the features below to see what’s happening in the lead up to Spring 2022. You can always write to us on arran@pioneerproject.scot if you want to get in touch or would like to get involved with any of the gardens over the winter and into the New Year.
Happy Winter Solstice and ….. Arainn gu brath x
Louise and Simon – The Directors
Corrie Community Garden
Over the Christmas break we will have a few midweek sessions at Corrie, starting this Thursday 23rd of December from 11am to 1pm. We will be having regular volunteer days in Corrie every Saturday from 12 to 2pm. There will be one on 1st January and continue in the New Year.
Tasks will include helping to build a deer fence, gathering seaweed for no dig beds and laying them out with cardboard, tree planting and a variety of other construction tasks. This is the latest site that we have started to establish, so all help is welcome whether you are resident in Corrie or anywhere on the island, and of course visitors are welcome too.
If you are able to help with a vehicle or trailer for gathering seaweed, this would be much appreciated! – Please contact us on arran@pioneerproject.scot to coordinate.
Lamlash Community Garden – Volunteer mornings continue on Sundays from 11 am to 1 pm, including one on 2nd January.
Tree Planting and Willow Workshops
We are receiving 950 trees from I Dig Trees which will be planted in Brodick, Lamlash, Kilpatrick, Lochranza, and Pirnmill. The trees will help increase biodiversity, provide shelter and build natural green spaces You can find out about the varieties of tree we are planting in the following document: Tree Planting January 2022 and also check out these Tree Care Tips.
The trees are currently due to arrive on 26th January and volunteer sessions will be organised in the days prior to that. This will be the first phase of planting: we additionally hope to planting fruit trees before the spring.
In addition to this, we are tentatively planning workshops in March around bio construction with Willow, which we are planning to use for fencing, trellises, and sheltered gathering areas at the sites where we are working. You can see ideas for willow construction on this Pinterest board.
Become a Member / Join our board
We will announce membership options for anyone who wants to join the Pioneer Project in the New Year. Permitting the right circumstances we hope to to hold an in person AGM in January, however this will potentially be online if we are unable to meet up. Please email us on members@pioneerproject.scot if you are interested. Likewise, we will be looking for people to join our board in the New Year.
Visit the new website
Donate to the crowdfunder
CALENDAR – WINTER/SPRING 2022
• End of January: Tree Planting Phase I
• February: Seeding begins for 2022 Annual Season
• March: Willow Workshop
• March/April: Tree Planting Phase II
All photo credits: the Arran Pioneer Project. Featured image shows winter sun over Loch Tanna.