First IFLI Inner Forth Festival is coming!
This September the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI) is launching the first ever IFLI Inner Forth Festival – a celebration of this fantastic landscape. Whatever you love about the Inner Forth – the history, the wildlife, the people, there will be something for everyone to enjoy in its month-long programme of free events.
This is the first time ever that a Festival has been held all around the Forth from Blackness to Stirling on the south shore, and back along the north shore of the Forth to Limekilns, in Fife. It will bring together communities from both banks of the river, showcasing the many things they share - in particular a pride in this unique landscape.
In all, a massive twenty-seven free events are planned, with something happening on nearly every day, and in all four local authority areas that border the Inner Forth – Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Fife. The festival has been made possible with the financial support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and IFLI’s eight project partners.
Activities will include:
- A cruise on the Maid of the Forth to see IFLI’s projects from a new perspective
- A 100-strong conference on wildflower meadows
- A two-week archaeological dig at Cambuskenneth in Stirling
- Arty adventures at Clackmannan Tower
- Bat hunts in Polmont Woods and Culross
- A birding bike ride from Alloa to Falkirk
- Healthy walks for all abilities
- Fascinating exhibitions and talks
- A rare chance to climb the ancient towers at Cambuskenneth and Clackmannan
- Wildlife ID workshops.
- Practical conservation work days
Commenting on the Festival, Kate Studd, IFLI’s Programme Manager, said: ‘A key part of IFLI’s role is to help reconnect local people with the fantastic landscape on their doorstep, and to encourage visitors from outside the inner Forth to come and find out what a great area it really is. Whatever their age, wherever they live, and whether they are interested in history, wildlife, or just like getting out and about, we have tried to make sure there is something for people to enjoy. And because of the way that IFLI is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund all the events are free!’
IFLI’s recently appointed Artist-in-Residence, Darren Woodhead, will also be capturing some of the many facets of the Inner Forth landscape throughout the Festival, and will be engaging with people through his art at a number of the events.
IFLI is a partnership of eight different organisations, and also works with many other charities, community groups and volunteers. In all, 15 different organisations have been involved in the planning of the Festival, working closely with IFLI to deliver this wide-ranging programme of events. Details of all the events and how to book are listed on this website at www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk/eventscal . A festival leaflet will be available from early August in libraries, community centres, museums and many other outlets. Festival news and updates will also appear regularly on IFLI’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.