Issue 161

September 2025

Hello dear Voice readers, it’s the start of September, and time for another issue! After a hectic summer I am appreciating the gentle transition to autumn. And while life mostly continues not to follow the restfulness of the season, a softness around the edges – some much-needed rain, blackberry walks, swallows on the move – is thankfully present.

But with this shift has come another. The busyness of the summer afforded a degree of burying my head in the sand, in terms of the ‘wider world’. But as I have been gathering news for this Voice, my state of semi-ignorance came to an abrupt end. Suddenly I was immersed in shocking realities – Paul Laverty (among hundreds of others) being arrested for conscientious and peaceful protest, ugly scenes of anti-immigration demonstrations, and the apparently realistic suggestion (in mainstream press) that Nigel Farage might feasibly become UK Prime Minister. Was this real? It felt like I had not just been occupied with school holidays for the past couple of months but inhabiting a completely different planet, now just coming to land in an illusory dystopia.

Closer to home, news was coming about a mismanaged community consultation on the future of the island’s only care home, Montrose House.  Or as it now appears, the decision to cut the facility to ten beds had already been made, with the ‘consultation’ (which was attended by many islanders) coming after. This is despite the intention of the Health Integration Joint Board in Ayrshire, as Sally Campbell reports in her piece on the topic, “to build greater capacity in our communities and provide more ways for service users and local people to share their views…to help shape services.”

Next, an announcement of a planning application from Isle of Arran Distilleries to expand the pumping station near Pirnmill. With two distilleries operating now, this will presumably enable them to increase the amount of untreated trade effluent being discharged into the sea. And without thorough testing of the water quality in the surrounding area, the impact of the waste on marine life, which is composed of a mixture of harmful chemicals, is not clear. The application is open for responses until 19th September, and readers – islanders and visitors – are encouraged to object. Perhaps especially because there are now sustainable alternatives that can be implemented for dealing with trade waste.

With so many seemingly insurmountable issues piling up, it was enough to make me want to retreat ‘underground’ again.  For some time, I sat with the magnitude of these situations, facing the fact that I can’t really do anything to change them, feeling shock and despair, and disabled. But still the questions arose – what am I doing to help? What can I possibly do? Slowly over a few days I realised that many of the issues raised in the articles here were starting to coalesce around the mass lobby of MSPs in Edinburgh later in the month. And it may only be a small part in a huge and intractable set of situations, but I have signed up. So far, none of the MSPs that cover our area have replied to confirm they will meet me. But I hope they do, because from Palestine, to plastics, and the plight of seabirds, to opposing cuts to Montrose House, incinerators in Irvine, and the pollution of the Kilbrannan Sound, there will be a lot to talk about!

In whatever ways you spend your days in the coming weeks, may you also find the peace and gentleness of this autumn with you, Elsa

SOS – Save Our (Kilbrannan) Sound

Saying One Thing and Doing Another.

“Both our distilleries embrace strong sustainability values. The water, the land, the climate, the community, are essential to who we are and the whisky we make. So, we wouldn’t risk them for the world.”What Can You Do?19th September 2025. reference 25/00356/PP:https://www.eplanning.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/search.do?action=simpleeference 25/00356/PP.The deadline for public comments is 19th September 2025. Ocean,

Meet your MSPs at the Mass Lobby in Edinburgh

  • Making our homes warmer and more energy efficient
  • Supporting us to secure jobs and the skills we need for these
  • Enabling better public transport and safer streets for walking, wheeling and cycling
  • Transforming our food system so that everyone has access to healthy, sustainable food
  • Reducing poverty and supporting those most impacted by climate impacts
  • Ensuring a thriving natural environment that supports our health, wellbeing, and livelihoods for generations to come

This is OUR Problem now! Plastics Treaty failure.

  1. A rift over production vs. recycling
.
  1. The power of petro-lobbying
  1. A Treaty too weak, too late
  1. Consensus rules and deadlock
Even just one plastic-polluting country can block the entire world from acting. ditch the broken unanimity rule and move to majority voting.A powerful wave of public pressure can help world leaders move to majority voting and secure a strong Global Plastics Treaty.Greenpeace's Reaction:Greenpeace's Stance and Actions: Criticism of Fossil Fuel Interests:The Outcome: Uncertain Path Forward:.the ongoing tension between reducing plastic production and focusing solely on waste management and recycling. But all is not lostCOP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21, 2025. This 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference will be a pivotal event, marking a halfway point for countries to update their climate pledges under the Paris Agreement. The conference's location in the Amazon region highlights the critical role of nature and land use in climate actionfirm voice

Arran Eco Savvy launches Climate Detectives project in schools

  • Composting and food waste – learning how nature recycles and how we can reduce waste at home and school.
  • Energy use and renewables – discovering how Arran can power itself more sustainably.
  • Active travel – finding out why walking, cycling, and scooting are better for health and the planet.
  • Local climate stories – sharing family and community memories of how Arran’s seasons and wildlife have changed over time.
Listening to pupils through focus groupstwo focus groupsfeelings of uncertainty or worrycompassionate engagementCommunity benefits of the project homeschooling communityLooking aheadWant to stay updated on the Arran Climate Detectives series?What Is the Climate Engagement Fund? The Climate Engagement Fund supports community organisations across Scotland to help people understand climate change and take meaningful action. It funds events, workshops, and creative activities that make climate literacy engaging, accessible, and locally relevant. By securing this funding, Eco Savvy will deliver an exciting and ambitious programme of events designed to celebrate our island’s strengths, share skills, and encourage practical, everyday climate action. For more information and for ways to get involved, follow this link And for all Eco Savvy's September news follow the link here!  

How we Lost Touch with Nature

  • Urban greening: Increasing nature in cities by 50%, 100%, or 1000%, in the context of a tenfold rise in urbanisation since 1800.
  • Nature engagement campaigns: Boosting attention to nature by 50%, 200%, or 300%, against a backdrop of a threefold decline in nature connectedness.
  • Parenting and early-life interventions: Enhancing intergenerational transmission by 30%—a stretch target based on current interventions that typically yield 10% gains. This was phased in over 10 years and then held constant.

An hour of not feeling complicit in the genocide

Almost 500 people were arrested in London yesterday for holding placards supporting ‘Palestine Action’ which the UK government has declared a ‘terrorist organisation’ despite it never harming anyone. In theory, anyone holding such a placard could receive up to 14 years in prison.

Those arrested at that ‘Defend our Juries’ protest included folk who had travelled down from Scotland. Meanwhile in Edinburgh, a group of 4 people sat with the same signs.

New seabird action plan a sticking plaster for a gaping wound

Hope for seabirds compromised by devastating decision

Posted Wednesday 13th Aug 2025, at RSPB. Featured image credit: Jonathan Greenaway on Unsplash.com

Today was meant to be an important day for Scotland’s seabirds.

The Scottish Government has launched its seabird conservation action plan – a welcome and long overdue commitment to protect and restore some of our best loved yet most threatened wildlife. But it has been completely overshadowed by the devastating decision by the Scottish Government just 13 days ago to consent Berwick Bank, a mega offshore windfarm next to vital seabird sites like the Bass Rock. We need offshore wind to help tackle climate change, but it can’t be at any cost. It is estimated that Berwick Bank will kill tens of thousands of seabirds over its lifetime, including Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Puffins and Gannets. Seabirds are already in crisis. This development could be the final nail in the coffin – fast-tracking species towards extinction. Now the Scottish Government has launched an action plan which aims to protect and restore seabirds – but it really is pulling out a sticking plaster to try to deal with a self-inflicted gaping wound after the Berwick Bank decision. Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "The seabird conservation action plan was meant to be a moment of hope for Scotland’s iconic and struggling seabirds. But the decision to consent Berwick Bank has changed that. This plan now looks like applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound. Done right offshore wind and seabirds can coexist. But it’s difficult to convey the damage that is predicted to be done by this one, devastating project. Seabirds are already on the brink, Berwick Bank could push them over the edge – quickening some species toward extinction in Scotland. The Scottish Government has said positive words about saving seabirds. But it is actions, not words, that nature needs. It’s hard to see how the Scottish Government can claim to be safeguarding our seabirds when decisions like this are taken without any detail on what urgent measures will be delivered where and when. The Scottish Government needs to prove this seabird action plan is worth the paper it is written on. We need to see immediate, ambitious and urgent action combined with funding if we are to have any hope of saving our internationally important seabirds.”

What are the good parts of the plan?

To help save seabirds, we need to address three key needs – to ensure safe places for them to breed and rear their young, plentiful food supplies and to avoid adult mortality. RSPB Scotland helped shape the seabird conservation action plan and we believe it addresses the first two needs – but not the third. Earlier this year, we encouraged 5,000 of our supporters to add their voices to the seabird action plan consultation through our campaign. They made an impact:
  • The action plan will now include an action on the management, monitoring and protection of seabirds in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
  • Two important species have also been added to the plan. Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls need help just as desperately as other seabird species. They are both now included.
However, we were disappointed by the lack of a clear commitment to roll out Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras on fishing vessels – a vital measure which is needed to help reduce the thousands of seabirds killed each year as bycatch. There was also a lack of commitment to deliver nature-positive offshore wind, a real missed opportunity which could spell tragedy for seabirds – as the Berwick Bank decision shows.

There’s still work to do

We’re currently closely scrutinising the details of the Berwick Bank decision and considering the next steps. The Scottish Government must implement the measures in the seabird action plan and go much further in light of this decision. We’ll be pressing Scottish Ministers to take immediate action to restore Scotland’s beloved seabirds. In the meantime, if you feel strongly about this issue, you can contact your MSPs or write to the First Minister directly: firstminister@gov.scot.

Request for bird sightings

A Swallow aside - Take a look at telegraph wires to see them gathering before they fly to France, Spain and eventually southern Africa.  They need to make sure they are well stocked up before they go, so look out for them flying low over fields to find insects to fuel their 6,000+ mile journey. As well as crossing the sea more than once, Swallows, which weigh less than 14 paper clips, also fly over the Sahara Desert, an amazing feat for such a small bird. (Notes from RSPB).

Consultation on Montrose House 22nd July 2025 and the Future

  • general practitioners and their teams
  • community pharmacies
  • dentists
  • ophthalmic practices
Integration Joint Board IJB:health boards and local authorities must integrate their adult health and social care services.North Ayrshire IJB is the constituted legal governing body of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Health and Social Care Partnerships. Featured image shows entrance road to Montrose House, Brodick, accessed at arranonline.com

On the Ground… with Jim Henderson

Voice reporter Gillian spent some time with James Henderson (Jim), for another interview in the On the Ground series. The featured images shows Jim with his late wife, Mary Ina, in Australia a few years ago.

Born James Henderson, Isle of Arran, 1943

What do you regard as the best of the island? I have travelled to many parts of the World. Selected parts of the UK, Canary Islands, Malta, Turkey, Hong Kong & China; three times to Australia. Given an open choice there is nowhere I would rather live. The Island has a lot of pluses and minuses, but every time I reach Ardrossan it is time for home.

Brodick tennis courts update

In anticipation of the Brodick tennis courts being completed soon, a group of twelve Arran residents have busy undertaking their Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Assistant Training course.

This enhanced two day qualification is suitable for teachers, tennis parents, enthusiasts and keen players looking for the knowledge and skills required to support group tennis sessions for children.

As well as the two full days of face to face training, which were held at the High School in Lamlash, there is also an online element to the course with a number of online learning modules which must be passed. In addition, four hours of work experience has to be completed.

McLellan Arts Festival 2025

It’s the McLellan Arts Festival time of year again!

Proceedings kicked off last Friday evening with the Poetry Competition’s Winner’s event and it continues over the next 10 days with an array of wonderful concerts, ceilidhs and other creative happenings. We wish the team a great Festival and look forward to seeing you there!

Have a look at all the brilliant events lined up on the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust website, and for a brief overview see the programme below.

Poems for September

From Sabbath Poems
VIII.
Always in the distance
the sound of cars is passing
on the road, that simplest form
going only two ways,
both ways away. And I
have been there in that going.
But now I rest and am
apart, a part of the form
of the woods always arriving
from all directions home,
this cell of wild sound,
the hush of the trees, singers
hidden among the leaves -
a form whose history is old,
needful, unknown, and bright
as the history of the stars
that tremble in the sky at night

Artists in Residence named for Bioregion art project at Drumadoon Estate

A press release from North Ayrshire about the recent appointment of artists Claire Pencak and Saffy Setohy to the Clyde Bioregion Residency programme, based at Drumadoon Estate.

North Ayrshire Council is providing an exciting placed-based arts residency opportunity on the Isle of Arran through Creative Scotland’s Culture Collective programme, funded by the Scottish Government.

With off-grid accommodation being provided at Drumadoon Estate in the form of a fully mobile converted 1956 Bedford Vintage truck, we are excited to share that the two collaborating Artists in Residence have been officially announced this week as Scottish Borders-based dance artist Claire Pençak and Glasgow-based dance artist Saffy Setohy.

Autumn archaeological workshops

The South West Scotland Archaeological Research Framework (SWSARF) is holding two workshops in the coming weeks, one on Arran and one in New Galloway.

They are keen to speak to islanders and encourage you to join one of the first events for the SWSARF, for an afternoon of talks and discussion, and contribute to the future of archaeological research in this significant region of Scotland.

For more information and to book please follow the link here

Featured image credit SWSARF

Roots of Arran tree planting fundraiser

90 Trees marking The HH The Dalai Lama's 90th birthday

Roots of Arran Community Woodlandhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/90-trees-marking-the-hh-the-dali-lamas-90th-birthday websiteRoots of Arran Community Woodland was formed in 2002 and volunteers have over the years planted up this large clear-fell site known as Fairy Glen or Lag a Bheith, with many young trees which include birch, rowan, beech, hazel, willow, oak, alder, blackthorn, Scots pine and even fruit trees in an enclosed orchard area.  This is in order to regenerate the woodland for locals and visitors to enjoy and increase the island’s biodiversity.

Help stop a new incinerator in Irvine

Although Scotland has banned the development of incinerators, a new one is being proposed for Irvine. Read on for more information and how to object to this application. Friends of the Earth have made it simple for us by constructing an email that is ready to send when you follow the link. The following information is from the Friends of the Earth press release. Featured image by Octavian Catana on Unsplash.com

SEPA, Scotland’s environmental regulator, is seeking views from the public before it decides whether to grant a new incinerator in North Ayrshire a licence to operate.

Photos from August

Photos sent in by Jim Henderson (top six - images from the garden, and COAST's 30th birthday celebrations), and by John Campbell  (images from the garden, and of Goat Fell with the Waverly in the foreground).