Dunvegan Community Trust hosts online event to explore the past and look to the future

Dunvegan Community Trust (DCT) is hosting an online event on Monday 28 September from 7.30 -9.30pm to share conversation, ideas and speakers on ‘Dunvegan: Past, Present and Future’.

Dunvegan Past will focus on ‘A Sense of Place’ hosted by Skye & Lochalsh Archive Centre with photos from its collection of the Dunvegan area. Local trainee archivist Catherine MacPhee will take a look at how the community has changed, is constantly changing, and needs to respond to change.

Dunvegan Present will review DCT’s recent community conversations survey showing what the community does best and what it could do better, alongside a range of views from young and old, that imagine how the community might look in ten year’s time.  

Dunvegan Future offers a chance to contribute thoughts on two development opportunities. The first is Skye Cycle Network who are looking for ideas from the Dunvegan community.  Mark Crowe of The Skye Bike Shed will outline some of the benefits of new cycle routes in and around Dunvegan and how to link up with island wide cycle networks.

Jon Hollingdale CEO of the Community Woodlands Association will explore the reasons for woodlands being recognised as a valuable community asset and an important part of their cultural heritage.  Biodiversity, conservation, recreation, woodland crofts and  renewable energy are some of the potential opportunities for Orbost Forest, of which DCT has registered an interest.

Jason Bold, DCT Chair said: “Obviously Covid has curtailed our plans for a drop-in community event but we feel it’s imperative to continue our community dialogue. This event moves our objectives forwards and, with the help of guests speakers, share ideas from different viewpoints including Shirley Grant, director at Broadford & Strath Community Company.”

Dunvegan Community Trust manages a fund on behalf of Falck Renewables and has distributed over a quarter million pounds since the fund was established in 2009, following the opening of Ben Aketil windfarm. The majority of funding is granted to local constituted groups that operate in the Dunvegan area.

Vice chair Carole Inglis said: “We look forward to members of the local community joining us in what we hope will be an interesting evening of shared perspectives, some of which have come out of the recent online community conversations and others from outwith the community.”

Dunvegan Community Trust comprises the village of Dunvegan and surrounding townships of Harlosh, Feorlig, Vatten, Roag, Herebost, Orbost, Horneval, Greep, Claigan and Uiginish.

The full programme can be found at www.dunvegantrust.co.uk/programme.asp

To register a place, email Maressa Munro at dunvegantrust2020@gmail.com