Barmaddy
In May 2006, we closed up in Govan for the day and the whole lot of us - staff, participants and all, went on an outing that took us deep into Argyll. Our Purpose was to check out a disused farmhouse on Loch Awe side that the Forestry Commission were interested in leasing to us.
The quality of light displayed the Highlands in their full glory that day. To such an extent that the trip was rather emotional for some of our trainees who get precious few chances to escape the city’s confines. One woman was moved to tears by her first sighting of Loch Lomond. The trip reaffirmed our notion that acquiring a breathing space from city life was as essential to our urban work as it was to our unfolding rural intentions.
That space came, a little under a year later when we finally signed the lease. Barmaddy Farm features a traditional stone built, two-storey farmhouse and out-buildings. GalGael aim to give Barmaddy a new lease of life as a bunk-house and centre where people can come together to learn, work and aid in restoring our native woodlands. Transplanting the template for renewal we have developed in Govan, we are already able to witness the ways in which a space such as Barmaddy, can bring alive the best in the most marginalised people. Activities we plan for Barmaddy include engaging people in food production; re-establishing areas of native woodland and habitats for wildlife; ongoing renovation work; and harnessing sustainable energy.
This will be combined with exploring the local area with a trained wilderness guide by land, and also by loch, in our boats. The outstanding surrounding environment features on land the ancient Dalavich Altantic oak woods while the loch was once home to one of the highest densities of crannogs in Scotland.
The combination of meaningful work, learning through doing, positive recreation and engagement with nature improves the well being of not only individuals but also the communities to which they belong and we hope soon to be engaging locals from the Loch Awe area.
