Posts for April, 2026

A live musical performance tracing the emergence of dragonflies from water to air — including a guided RSPB site visit.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
Boat of Garten Community Hall, Saturday 13 June 2026

Almanac is a new large-scale project by composer Thomas Butler, commissioned by Red Note Ensemble, using contemporary musical performance to mark events in the natural world.

Across four seasonal, immersive works presented in locations throughout Scotland over 12 months, the project brings together ensemble, voice, electronics and field recording to explore ecological cycles, seasonal change, and the disruption of natural rhythms in a time of climate crisis.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
The first chapter of Almanac focuses on the emergence of dragonflies and damselflies as they transition from water to air. This new performance combines live music with flute, clarinet, viola and percussion, and field recordings to trace this moment of transformation, shaped by ecological research and the surrounding landscape.

Each ticket includes
• A guided site visit to a nearby bog with an RSPB guide to observe dragonflies and damselflies (transport provided by bus)
• A live performance of Emergence
• A Q&A with composer Thomas Butler

Grantown Open Studios is an artist-led initiative rooted in collaboration, skill sharing and place, and returns from 1–4 May 2026, inviting visitors to experience the growing creative energy of Grantown-on-Spey and the surrounding area.

This artist-led event brings together 18 artists and makers, opening studio doors that are rarely accessible to the public and offering a unique opportunity to meet creatives in their working environments. Visitors can plan their journey in advance using the interactive map available at www.grantownopenstudios.com.

The event showcases an inspiring breadth of disciplines, reflecting the remarkable concentration of talent in the area. From contemporary abstract painting, ceramics and design to illustration, photography, wildlife art, leatherwork and paper art, Grantown Open Studios highlights both established and emerging creatives. Alongside studio visits, an expanded programme of partner venues and events will feature exhibitions, workshops, performances and talks, offering a rich and immersive cultural experience.

New for 2026, the Grantown Open Studios express – a free, bookable bus service – will connect venues across the programme, making it easier than ever to explore the full range of studios and events. This initiative enhances accessibility while encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with the creative community.

Grantown Open Studios is supported by the Cairngorms Trust, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the Berryburn Community Fund and delivered in partnership with Grantown Business Association, whose support has been instrumental in enabling the project to grow.

This adults-only dance workshop will have you dancing classic and funky disco routines inspired by the much-loved classic songs that you just can’t help but dance to!

No experience needed – this workshop is for anyone who loves to move and have fun. Whether you’ve danced a little, a lot, or never at all, you’ll be guided step by step in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

An adults-only line dancing workshop, full of fun, movement, and great music! Whether you’ve danced before or are completely new to line dancing, this session is designed so everyone can enjoy learning at their own pace.

Move to classic and modern line dance routines, enjoy the social atmosphere, and experience the joy of dancing together – no partner required! Yeeee hawwww!

Come together with Cairngorms Connect and friends to welcome summer and co-create a seasonal gathering!

Creative, collaborative, workshops on Saturday 25th April, where we’ll bring together ideas for a gathering on Friday 1st May.

When: Saturday 25th April 11am-3pm / Friday 1st May 4pm to 6pm

Where: Talla Nan Ros Hall, Kingussie

Who: For all ages

Free, drop-in. Family-friendly, no previous experience or knowledge required. You can attend one or both events.



Information:

Bealltainn is an ancient celebration of the end of winter and the beginning of summer, welcoming in the new light and warmth, marked by humans for centuries.

Join us in craft, song, movement and stories and celebrate our rich shared local heritage – coming together to co-create a gathering to mark Bealltainn on Friday 1st May.

We encourage everyone to bring their own music, song, poems, stories, costumes or any cultural references to share and celebrate together.

This autumn foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal autumnal plants and fungi found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Autumn is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, join us as we discover many different varieties of mushroom, nutritious nuts and seeds and succulent berries.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.

Meeting point: Meet on the green in front of the castle, next to the ‘The Cannon’ coffee cabin.

This spring foraging course is an invitation to learn about the edible and medicinal spring plants found in the grounds of Blair Castle & Gardens. Spring is a special time for foraging and this walk will give us time to celebrate the best of this season, as the plants wake from the winter providing the first flowers, leaves and nutritious seeds of the growing season.

The course consists of a 2.5 hour foraging walk, in which you will learn lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales.

During the walk we will move through a variety of habitats – woodland, meadow, hedgerow and garden – taking time to connect with each surrounding environment, noticing their changing flora and subtle variations in character.

We will finish up with a wild tea and homemade cake and biscuits in Hercules Garden, with time to revise the plants learnt and how best to store them for future use.

All participants will also receive a personalised PDF containing information about all the plants met.

Meeting point: On the green in front of the castle, next to ‘The Cannon’ coffee cabin.

Soul Embers is a four-night Spring Equinox retreat held at Badeguish within the ancient landscape of the Cairngorms National Park. This intimate immersion offers protected space to slow down, reset, and reconnect with your intuition through nature. Through elemental ceremony, guided and solo nature immersion, sacred glasswalk and firewalk, Equinox threshold work, and deeply held circle, you’ll step away from noise and responsibility to listen more honestly to yourself. With comfortable and warm rooms, nourishing shared meals, and a largely phone-free environment, Soul Embers supports nervous system restoration, grounded courage, and a conscious new beginning aligned with the season you are stepping into.

Immerse yourself in creative fun for a morning of nature painting with Ellie Dimambro-Denson.

In 2024, Ellie challenged herself to walk 250 kilometres across the Cairngorms Connect partnership: the UK’s biggest habitat restoration project and 600 square kilometres of ancient forest, peaty bog, and magnificent mountains.

On her journey she captured her experiences in beautiful watercolour, using natural pigments she made herself from the plants that grow within the landscape.

Join us at the Loch Garten Nature Centre for a beginner’s workshop on the world of wild watercolours:

~ Get an introduction to making paint pigments from nature

~ Learn tips & tricks on how best to capture your favourite scenes through watercolour

~ Enjoy the mindfulness and peace of painting in an ancient forest location

This workshop is for beginners but all abilities are welcome!

This is an indoor event at the Loch Garten Nature Centre but please bring warm layers in case you feel inclined to take inspiration directly from the outdoors! The centre is a short, 3-4 minute walk from the car park over even ground, however if you require further assistance, an all-terrain wheelchair is available to use for free. Please contact us in advance if required.

Designed for families, this uplifting session invites adults and children to step into the world of Oz and learn some fun dance routines set to the songs we know and love from the films.

From the sparkle of Glinda to the power of Elphaba, this workshop celebrates friendship, confidence and finding your own kind of magic!

Suitable for age 5+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.