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, Isle of Arran, KA27 8HY
Come and build your very own Bird Box to take away and put up in your own garden or green space and help our garden birds this spring. Easter is a time when many of our garden birds will be thinking about nest building and laying their eggs. Come to our bird box bonanza and learn about our garden birds whilst building your very own bird box to help them in their efforts.
To book tickets and your bird box kit follow the link here
Scything sessions, Saturday 6th April, 11am – 2pm, Cladach Community Garden, with the Arran Pioneer Project
Learn all about this traditional method of land management with scything expert Ida Fabrizio who will offer tips and tuition to getting the most out of a scythe. We’ll have a couple of practice scythes available, but if you’ve got your own, feel free to bring it along.
Dawn chorus and bird watching, Sunday 7th April, meet at 5.30am, at Cordon Community Garden, with the Arran Pioneer Project
Join us early doors as we go to listen to the dawn chorus at the Cordon Community Garden. We will see what birds we can find being attracted by the green space we are developing, and learn how to build bird friendly habitats.
For both events please RSVP to arran@pioneerproject.scot for both sessions as spaces for these activities are limited.
Keep up to date with the Pioneer Project on their Facebook page And see their news from the last couple of months in their new Island Ranger Journal here
Adder Walk, Wednesday 17th April Adder Walk, 10 am, with the Brodick Castle NTS Rangers, Glen Rosa
Have you ever wanted to see our native adders in the wild? Why not join us on our adder walk and there may be a chance you will see the ‘dance of the adders’ as male adders compete for the attention of the females. Maybe even the elusive black adder too, or failing that it will be a great walk in Glen Rosa with wildlife and nature chat. See the link here for more details and booking.
Women in Black peace vigil, Saturday 27th April, 1pm. Meet at the Coastal Way marker, Shore Road, Brodick (opposite the Douglas Hotel).
Women in Black is a world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence. The group in Arran has recently re-started after a few years break, initially due to Covid, and meet on the last Saturday of each month. All women are welcome. Bring messages of peace, wear black if possible.
Arts and Arran Heritage
Moira Monologues and More Moira, Saturday 6th April, 8pm, Corrie and Sannox Village Hall
Alan Bissett’s Moira award- winning and classic ‘one woman show’ is back! Come and see parts 1 & 2 in Corrie Hall.
Tickets on sale now from http://t-s.co/alanb
Malin Lewis – Halocline, Friday 12th April, 7.30pm, Corrie and Sannox Village Hall
One of Scotland’s most exciting innovators, Malin melds West coast tradition with a newly invented, self-made bagpipe. Hair tingling, philosophical and dance inducing melodies inspired by European folk traditions, humans, queerness and the universe. Joined by Ali Hutton (guitar) and Sally Simpson (fiddle) Malin plays highland pipes, fiddle and a newly invented two octave bagpipe that creates a whole new world of sound. Malin will perform a selection of pieces from Halocline as well as s few brand new unreleased sets.
For more information and to book tickets follow the link here
Corrie Film Club, screening of The Wonder, Sunday 14th April, 7.30pm, Corrie and Sannox Village Hall
The Wonder is a 2022 period psychological drama film directed by Sebastián Lelio. Emma Donoghue, Lelio, and Alice Birch wrote the screenplay based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Donoghue. Set shortly after the Great Famine, it follows an English nurse sent to a rural Irish village to observe a young ‘fasting girl’, who is seemingly able to miraculously survive without eating. Is the village harbouring a saint ‘surviving on manna from heaven’ or are there more ominous motives at work? Florence Pugh leads an ensemble cast that includes Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, and Elaine Cassidy.
Alba Challah Klezmer Band, Saturday 20th April, 7.30pm, Brodick Hall, with Music Arran
So much more than Klezmer band – Alba Challah will be performing instrumental traditions of the Ashkenazi Jews of central and Eastern Europe. Klezmer (Yiddish: קלעזמער) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for listening; these would have been played at weddings and other social functions. For more information about the band see the link here
Tickets £12 in advance from Inspirations of Arran in Brodick, or on the door. Free to under 18s.
Isle of Arran Heritage Museum Tuesday Talks
April sees the start of a new season of Tuesday Talks, with guests speaking on various aspects of Arran. Fortnightly Tuesdays, in the Garden Room commencing 1.30pm.
The programme is kicking off April 9th when Malcolm Whitmore from Arran Access Trust will be presenting “Access Matters: 20 Years of the Arran Access Trust”
From 20+ years ago when the trust was formed to resolve issues between landowners and those seeking access, to the present day with illustrations of the improvements to the path network, and the way ahead.
Please note: Tickets on the day only, very limited numbers, please come early.
Then on 23rd April Keith Robertson will talk on: The past, present and future of herbal medicine on Arran
For updates see the Museum Facebook page