Craignish Lantern Festival
The Craignish Lantern Festival ran over the weekend of 14-16 March at Craignish Village Hall, with the theme of Scotland’s rainforest. Helen Mason gives a personal reflection on the event.
It’s a chilly, but dry and bright day. I’m walking up a woodland path with a group of 25 or so people chatting about where we are and admiring the views of the sea opening as we climb.
“I come here every day. It’s our own little bit of rainforest and I love it.”
There’s a strong sense of connection and belonging amongst the group. They care for this place and want to nurture it.
Local people from the Craignish peninsula are on one of Dr Oliver Moore’s lichen and bryophyte walks. Oliver appears to be in his element, diving off the path with an exclamation to point out ‘octopus suckers’ and ‘dragon skin’ lichens. There are ‘ooo’s and ‘aaah’s as folks equipped with lenses catch their first glimpse of this new dimension to a familiar place. The ‘stinky sicta’ prompts more of an ‘ewww’ of disgust, but it’s building a rich, multi-sensory experience and I’m hit with a sense of something special taking place.
Lantern-making workshops and Our Rainforest Futures
I’m here as part of the Our Rainforest Futures project, connecting with local people and supporting their annual lantern festival. The idea for the rainforest theme came from local young people, who are working on their John Muir Award and will be guiding visitors around the exhibition sharing what they’ve discovered about rainforest species.
There have been workshops throughout the week, led by artist Tara Coggins, supported by a team of volunteers to create the lanterns from willow and paper. Assembled in the hall and illuminated with fairy lights, the lanterns create a unique and enchanting atmosphere.
Alongside the main exhibition we’re staffing a table and display about Our Rainforest Futures, collecting questionnaires and chatting with visitors. We’ve been talking about how the people who live and work in the rainforest zone are essential to securing its future. We’re explaining our aim to mobilise, train and equip people with the skills and knowledge to be guardians and advocates for the rainforest, building capacity and expanding the available workforce.
Being here feels like genuine partnership working. Three of the project partners (Plantlife Scotland, ACT and Woodland Trust Scotland) at an event for, and run by local people. We’re gaining valuable evidence for this development phase of our National Lottery Heritage Funded project, whilst contributing to the festival.
Emotional visit to a very special rainforest tree
I’m pulled away from my reflections as I notice the group moving away up the path. In the hazel grove Oliver helps us find rainforest specialist species such as the hazel-gloves fungus, Norwegian specklebelly lichen and frilly rosettes on a jelly-skin lichen. Discovering these treasures adds to the group’s understanding of just how precious their rainforest is.
We reach a small waterfall and are preparing to return.
“Our special tree is over there. We call it the ‘mother’ tree. I’m not sure why, but there is something special about it.”
I can’t resist asking for a look, and sure enough it’s a rather lovely oak standing out on a terrace above the ravine. We head over to say hello. I think I see someone looking for lichens on its broad mossy trunk, but find I’ve interrupted a quiet moment and a hug.
I hadn’t expected to feel emotional about a day at work. Community, rainforest, expression through art and poetry, learning, conservation, connection and care. It’s all here. I’m a bit wowed and excited and humbled and feel privileged to be a part of this.
The Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest ‘Regenerating Craignish Rainforest’ project didn’t get the funding that was applied for recently. Money is needed, and without it the rainforest will suffer. But, the key element of community care and buy-in is here already and growing through events like these.
Keep in touch with the project by following us on Facebook. #OurRainforestFutures.
It’s World Rainforest Day on 22 June. Look out for our short film celebrating people who are saving Scotland’s Rainforest.
With massive thanks to Rachel Rogers from Craignish Arts for organising the festival and to Ardfern and Craignish community for making us so welcome.
Helen Mason is the Engagement and communications officer for Our Rainforest Futures.
Dr Oliver Moore is Plantlife’s Lichen and Bryophyte Specialist (Scotland).
