Kennetpans weekend in the spotlight
The historic Kennetpans Distillery, near Kincardine, will be the focus of a whole weekend of free activities organised by the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative next week.
Whether you’re interested helping discover more about the building’s rich history, recording some of the wildlife that now makes Kennetpans its home, or capturing the site in sketches, there will be an activity for you.
Built in the early 18th century, Kennetpans was once one the country's largest and most technologically advanced distilleries, producing vast quantities of spirit, which was exported far and wide. Before shipping, the spirit was stored in a large warehouse behind the main distillery building.
The primary focus of IFLI's Wee Dram at Kennetpans project, led by Historic Environment Scotland, is this distillery building, which is undergoing extensive clearance and consolidation to preserve it for future generations. But IFLI would like to know more about the wider site, and has teamed up with AOC Archaeology to work with volunteers to undertake a weekend project focused on the warehouse building. On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July you can join the IFLI team to help survey the building and produce an accurate record of its current condition. There will be a whole host of activities, from archaeological survey and drawing through to photogrammetry and laser scanning.
These days the whole site is quieter with much of it being reclaimed by nature. Stonework is covered in ivy, the warehouse now ‘stores’ woodland and the mudflats by the pier provide food for wading birds.
As part of the Kennetpans weekend, IFLI and Buglife will be carrying out a free Bioblitz on Saturday 9 July – a rapid survey of wildlife of all types – and local people are invited to take part. Whether they are experienced naturalists, students looking to develop identification skills, or a family with an interest in nature, there will be something for them. IFLI will be aiming to explore the site and create as many new wildlife records as they can. IFLI plans to add these new records to the Inner Forth Nature Counts iRecord form which is helping to build a better picture of wildlife in the landscape.
On Sunday 10 July people can learn speed sketching skills and tips from Mark Kirkham, the Edinburgh Sketcher. During the sketch tour you can learn or improve speed sketching skills and pick up new tips which will allow you to document and survey the world around you in ink on paper. All ages and abilities will have the chance to draw in ink and watercolour, and take away a mounted piece of work, following a sketching tour around the Kennetpans Distillery.
Surveying the Warehouse: Sat. 9 July, 9:30am - Sun. 10 July, 4:00pm
Kennetpans Bioblitz: Sat. 9th July, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sketch Tour with the Edinburgh Sketcher: Sun 10. July, 10:00am - 3:00pm
All the events are free to attend thanks to the way IFLI is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Booking is essential as places are limited, contact info@innerforthlandscape.co.uk or 01324 831 568.