Huge thanks to Kinga, our Habitat Restoration Trainee, for all her passion and hard work 🌿 From habitat surveys to native tree planting to community events, her blog shares her experiences👉 buff.ly/T6lq5Td Thanks also to Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for making it possible 💚

🌱 Food for Thought – Helensburgh & Lomond 🗓 Sun 2 Nov | 11–3:30 📍 Rhu & Shandon Community Centre 🎬 Film (Rooted) 🗣 Local speakers 💬 Group session 🥗 Free lunch 👥 Hosted by ABCAN | Supported by the Scottish Government 🔗 Free tickets: buff.ly/Ec6nSJD #FoodForThought #LocalFood #ArgyllAndBute

🔍 ACT is looking for rope access specialists to manage Rhododendron ponticum control on steep sites near Tayvallich. 🗓️ Tender deadline: 20th October 2025 💰 Estimated value: £200,000 📍 Location: North Knapdale, Argyll Full details on Public Contracts Scotland: buff.ly/zo9T4Ym 📷 Ian Dow/ACT

Lovely to see our Peatland Gaelic Walk and Talk with Islay Gaelic Centre featured in The Ileach this month! 🌿 The event on Islay was a chance to celebrate peatland biodiversity and learn some Gaelic words along the way.

@asrainforest.bsky.social partners joined us in West Cowal this week🌿 We explored Ash & Hazel refugia, saw cattle grazing trials at Kyles of Bute, and shared ideas on tackling Rhododendron at scale. Showers, lichens & an Osprey rounded off an inspiring day in #ScotlandsRainforest! 📷 Ian Dow/ACT

🌿 A brilliant visit from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Benmore team to Kilmory Walled Garden last week. Plant discoveries, glimpses of local wildlife and plenty of fresh ideas for the garden’s future. ✨ 📷 Josh Leckie / ACT

Kinga led a brilliant session with the Rural Skills class at Islay High School learning about peatlands, their ecosystems, restoration, and how peat and Sphagnum mosses filter water. 🌱 Thanks to Natural Resources Wales for the ‘Peat is neat’ challenge and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for supporting!

Yesterday our Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN) team gathered in Kilmory to talk climate action across education, food + community 🌍 Big thanks to Jamie + Cath from @cescotland.bsky.social for a great session on climate hubs + resources 🌱 Join our network here 👉 buff.ly/tdLQwpf

🌱 Food for Thought: Conversations Across Argyll & Bute, Helensburgh & Lomond 🗓 Sunday 2 November 📍 Rhu & Shandon Community Centre 🎬 Film screening 🗣 Local panel 💬 Group session 🥗 Free local lunch Hosted by ABCAN and supported by the Scottish Government 🔗 Book : buff.ly/HjsQFDP

🌿 Just a few spaces left! Join Our Rainforest Futures, with Woodland Trust + ACT, for a rainforest restoration day at Dunollie Woods, Oban. 📅 Thurs 11 Sept, 10am–2pm 🥪 Lunch included Come and be part of this collaborative restoration effort Register here 👉 buff.ly/VrHfOrq #ScotlandsRainforest

Imagine the future of Tayvallich For centuries this land has been deforested. But just across the water lies Taynish National Nature Reserve – a living reminder of what once was, and what can return. Woodland coming back,
Wildlife thriving
Carbon stored,
Communities supported #Scotlandsrainforest

🌱 Exploring Local Food Hubs for Argyll & Bute 📅 Mon 8 Sept | 6:30–8pm | Online Part of the ABCAN events series. Hear insights from Food Lochaber + join the discussion on building stronger local food systems. ✨ A few spaces are still available – grab yours here 👉 buff.ly/1KMdCYm

ACT is a finalist in the Scottish Land and Estates Helping it Happen Awards 2025 🎉 We’re shortlisted for the Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change sponsored by Murray Beith Murray 🌍💚 Congrats to all the nominees! Fingers crossed for 1 October 🤞 #HiH2025

🌿 We’re teaming up with the Woodland Trust in Scotland’s rainforest on 11 Sept, 10am–2pm at Dunollie Woods, Oban! We’ll thin beech regeneration to open the canopy & help more species thrive! 🥪 Lunch included 👉 Register here: buff.ly/VrHfOrq

Earlier this week our Board explored Scotland’s rainforest in Tayvallich under glorious sunshine 🌞 We’re lucky to have this special habitat in Argyll, and we’ve all got a part to play in protecting it. 🌿 📷 Victoria Winters

Last week on Islay we mixed peatland chats, biodiversity and watercolour painting! 🎨 Thanks to Dietmar, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and everyone who came along. 🌱 #Islay #Peatlands #Biodiversity #NatureArt #Scotland

🌱 How do we get more local food onto local plates? Join Exploring Local Food Hubs for Argyll and Bute 📅 Mon 8 Sept | 6:30–8pm | Online Hear insights from Food Lochaber + share your own ideas! 👉 buff.ly/EqcQvuK Part of a wider ABCAN series exploring the development of a regional Food Partnership.

Last week we held our Peatland Gaelic Walk and Talk on Islay. A lovely day learning about peatland biodiversity and new Gaelic words, like fraoch for heather! 🌱 Thanks to Neil at Islay Gaelic Centre, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and everyone who came along. 📷 Kinga Harding / ACT

We’re so close to unlocking match funding in the Big Give Christmas Challenge! 🌟 Every pledge now helps double the impact for Argyll’s rainforest, outdoor learning and wellbeing projects. Just a few more pledges and we hit the goal, could yours be one of them? 💚 Pledge here 👉 : buff.ly/AzXLccJ

We had such a lovely time creating woolly peatland landscapes, inspired by the amazing plants that call them home. 🌱 Thanks to everyone who joined in, artist Emma Baker for leading, RSPB Gruinart for welcoming us onto the boardwalk, and to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for making it possible.

A few months ago, Otis shred his school project poster on #ScotlandsRainforest with us. Last week he became our furthest-travelled rainforest visitor, coming all the way from Shanghai! 🌍 His favourite part at Kilmory? Pulling up Rhododendron seedlings to help save the rainforest! Thank you Otis!

Funding approved ✅ This winter we’ll restore almost 500ha of peatland across Islay, Kintyre & West Cowal. Updates coming soon 🌿 #PeatlandACTION #PeatlandRestoration #ClimateAction

This month at ACT: MSP visits, rainforest restoration, peatland projects, new team members, and more! 🌿 Read our latest newsletter 👉 buff.ly/8PX0qHn #ScotlandsRainforest #PeatlandACTION #BigGive #OutdoorLearning #CommunityAction

Welcome Callum & Andrew to the Rainforest Squad! 🌿 They passed their chainsaw training with flying colours & are already out in Tayvallich helping protect #ScotlandsRainforest 📷 1. Chainsaw training 2. Callum Robertson 3. Andrew Avison

🎨 Join ACT & artist Dietmar Finger for a watercolour painting workshop inspired by Islay’s peatlands! Sat 16 Aug | 10am–1.30pm | Bowmore £10, all materials included | Ages 16+ Book now: buff.ly/oziJ3ru 📷 Painting by Dietmar Finger

Thanks to everyone who came and spoke to our peatlands team at the Kintyre Show last week 🌿 Great to chat about the benefits of peatland restoration, and how we can support local landowners to make it happen.

⏰ LAST CHANCE! Up to £1k available for community climate action 🌱♻️ Grow food, cut waste, plant trees, the ABCAN Climate Action Fund supports it all. 🗓 Closes 11 Aug – don’t miss out! 🔗 Apply: buff.ly/AM1gRTW 📖 Stories: buff.ly/2LOHfWm 📷 MS Centre, Argyll

Join us for a gentle Gaelic Walk and Talk with the Islay Gaelic Centre at RSPB Gruinart🌿 📅 Thurs 15 August, 10.30am 👣 Explore the peatland trail with stories, nature and a bit of Gaelic (no fluency needed!) Bring water, sturdy shoes, long sleeves & insect spray, and maybe a sunhat and raincoat!

Heather and Stuart had a great day at Tayvallich Gala last month, chatting rainforest restoration, Rhododendron ponticum clearance and volunteering with Our Rainforest Futures 🌿 Plus a few pirate pals! 📸 @argyllshireadv.bsky.social, Tayvallich Initiative

Great to see this article from @nhm-london.bsky.social #ProblemPonticum #RhododendronPonticum #ScotlandsRainforest @wtscotsocial.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @actinargyll.bsky.social @n-t-s.bsky.social nhm.ac.uk/discover/rho...

New date just added! 🎉 🧶 Felt your own peatland-inspired landscape with ACT + artist Emma Baker 🗓 Thurs 14 Aug | 2–5pm 📍 Port Ellen, Islay 🎟 £10 (refundable) – booking required 👉 buff.ly/9EKgdcQ #PeatlandInspiration #NatureArt #IslayEvents

♻️ With ABCAN seed funding, The GRAB Trust helped islanders reduce waste & protect the coast 🌊 From repair cafés to microplastics surveys – it all adds up 🌍 Apply for your own £1k seed grant: buff.ly/W4a1AkS 🗓 Deadline: 10 Aug More stories: buff.ly/FAkhX5h

🌿 Seil Biodiversity CIC used their #ABCAN grant to run workshops & school visits connecting people to nature on Seil Island 🐝 Apply now for up to £1,000 – deadline 10 Aug 🔗 buff.ly/W4a1AkS 📷 Seil Biodiversity CIC #ClimateAction #CommunityFunding #Biodiversity

🌱 Need inspiration for your #ClimateAction idea? Our blog shares how small grants helped spark powerful community-led projects across #ArgyllAndBute 🌿💬 📖 Read: buff.ly/g4r6QMz 🗓 Apply by 10 Aug: buff.ly/BaLxAJS 📷 Argyll Wellbeing Hub

On Tuesday we were joined Benmore Botanic Garden staff to explore Kilmory Walled Gardens. It was a great opportunity to build connections, share stories and ideas, though we did note that some species were made harder to identify when absolutely dripping in mosses and lichens! 🌿

LANTRA Chainsaw Course, 2 Spaces Available! 📆 When: July 28th- August 1st, & August 5th. 📍 Location: Lochgilphead 💷 Cost: £725 + VAT per person for training, £245 + VAT for assessment. 📥To book on or for questions, please contact: [email protected]

🌿 We’re Hiring! 🌿 Join us as an ACT Peatland Action Project Officer in Mid-Argyll/Kintyre/Islay, Scotland. Part-time role. Collaborate on peatland restoration projects. Apply by August 4th: buff.ly/8GXw1Ke

Ever had to take a boat to do your job? 🌿 Ian, Stuart and Philippa did yesterday! They were out in North Knapdale, planning the next phase of rhododendron control. Even the remote spots need tackling, it's all about protecting the wider rainforest landscape 💚

🌍 Got a climate action idea? Apply now for up to £1,000 from the ABCAN Climate Action Fund! Open to community groups across Argyll and Bute. 🗓 Deadline: 10 August 2025 🔗 buff.ly/wO83GmM #ClimateAction #LetsDoNetZero 📷 Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Mid Argyll

What's it like working on a rainforest squad? Sarah took up a role with ACT earlier this year and has been finding out all about rhododendrons, lichens and the extraordinary collaboration work that goes into restoring #ScotlandsRainforest:

We said a big ACT goodbye to Angharad last week with lunch round the fire at the Hub 💚 She’s been with us since the CANN project days and has done amazing work with Peatland ACTION and our Peatland Initiative. We’ll miss her! Good luck Angharad, and do pop by Kilmory for a cuppa sometime!

Primary 6 pupils from Lochgilphead Primary just completed the Scottish Junior Forester Award with Helen and Susannah 🌳 Over 6 days they surveyed, planted, built habitats and became forest ambassadors! 🌱👏 👉 Full story: buff.ly/Akgxt0U #ScottishJuniorForesters #OutdoorLearning

📍 Port Ellen, Islay 🎨 Peatland-inspired felting workshop 🗓 Tues 15 July | 🕘 9am–12pm 🎟 Free – booking essential buff.ly/MEkB8zs Create your own felted landscape with Islay artist Emma Baker & peatland inspiration from act! No experience needed.

Brilliant news! ACT’s now officially a Gold Carbon Literate Organisation 🎉 We’re one of just a few orgs in the UK to reach this level, with over 50% of our team Carbon Literate and supporting communities to create a low-carbon culture in Argyll & Bute. Read more: buff.ly/xpA1Mrq #GoldCLO

The new ‪@asrainforest.bsky.social‬ progress report is out, and it’s amazing to see what’s been achieved! We’re proud to be part of the ASR, restoring rainforest across Argyll through hands-on work and community support 🌿 👉 buff.ly/ynl8OEO #WorldRainforestDay #ScotlandsRainforest

Brilliant to see growing support for restoring #ScotlandsRainforest! We’re proud to be part of this work and grateful to ASR for keeping the spotlight on it. Here’s to more rainforest action 🌿 #WorldRainforestDay

⏰ Applications close soon for our ABCAN Community Coordinator role! Support local climate action across Argyll and Bute. Apply by 12 noon, Mon 23 June: buff.ly/UH6CgyQ

Kinga and Angharad visited the Port Ellen Brownies and Rainbows with a few fluttery friends, moths! 🦋 They chatted all things ID and pollination. Loads of curious questions and sharp eyes. 📷 1. Clouded Buff Moth 2. Elephant Hawk and Drinker Moths 3. Beautiful Golden Y Moth #MothID #Islay #Argyll

You won’t often find Ian smiling in a rhododendron bush…unless he’s setting up soil sampling plots! We’re digging into how rhododendron affects fungi and what that means for rainforest restoration. More about the project here: buff.ly/WSETnXZ 📷 Rhyddian Knight / Glenan Wood #ScotlandsRainforest

Climate Action Hubs from across Scotland, including our own ABCAN team, came together in Glasgow yesterday. Big chats, big ideas and loads of new connections. With 60,000 people already involved, it’s clear: local action really does scale up. #ClimateAction #LetsDoNetZero