Posts for July, 2026

Come and join us at the sixth Greentown Show the annual celebration of all that’s happening in and around Grantown on Spey to help create a sustainable future. This free show is organised by volunteer members of Sustainable Strathspey, a group which aims to initiate local change to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
The central theme of every Greentown Show has been energy-saving in the home, with a combination of impartial expert advice from Home Energy Scotland and practical advice from local providers of home energy equipment. Another important theme of the show is waste reduction, featuring stallholders engaged in recycling, repurposing and waste management. You can bring unwanted IT kit and white goods for reconditioning or recycling. A third theme is making learning about the environment fun for kids at home, at school, and in the outdoors – and making it plastic free and affordable.

………but there’s a lot more to be discovered at the Show. Here is a full list of stallholders.
Speysound Radio will provide the musical backdrop and commentary for the Show.
Sustainable Strathspey are the Show organisers who work in partnership with Badenoch Climate Action and Home Energy Scotland to promote sustainability in communities along the upper reaches of the Spey.
AW Laing are at the forefront of sustainable building in the strath, operating from their new state-of-the-art premises in Grantown.
AES Solar are award-winning local leaders in solar energy provision, who have been harnessing sunlight for 47years.
Greenflame Installations are Grantown-based providers of stoves, solar PV and batteries, biomass and heat pumps.
Air Change Ltd are Ardersier-based experts who guide the design and building of high-efficiency envelopes and ventilation systems.
SABorthwick Plumbing and Heating are a kingussie-based family business experienced in renewables and heat recovery as well as plumbing in existing properties and new builds.
Vattenfall are the developers behind the proposed Ourack windfarm. They can answer all your questions about their Community Development Strategy.
Home Energy Scotland are funded by the Scottish Government. Their role is to help people to stay warmer at home for less cost and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Alienergy Provide free and impartial advice on saving money and how to access a variety of support and funding.
Highland Peoples Power aims to reduce energy prices for Highlanders and to generate income to improve infrastructure, services and biodiversity.
Changeworks aims to deliver affordably warm, healthy and energy efficient homes and supports households in fuel poverty. Helps you get to grips with smart meters, energy tariffs and electric vehicles.
Highlands and Islands Climate Hub supports communities throughout Highland and the Northern Isles to take positive climate action.
Remakery prevent around 30 x 1 Tonne van loads of furniture going to Landfill every year, repairing, refurbishing or upcycling it and reselling it in the community.
Highland Region Waste Management are regular supporters of Greentown Show, providing tips on how you can reduce domestic waste.
ILM Highland  are an Alness-based firm working with Highland Region to provide services including electrical recycling, refurbished appliances, and home safety & independence support. Newcomers to the show who will be collecting unwanted household electrical appliances and IT kit.
Cairngorm National Park Authority Showcasing some of the exciting projects within the Cairngorms 2030 programme.
Anagach Woods Trust are the custodians of our local Grantown woods. Speyside Fields for Wildlife are a Nethybridge-based charity which assists farmers and other landowners to grow crops to benefit a range of wildlife.
Centre for Landscape Regeneration is a Cambridge University-based department which aims to provide knowledge and tools to restore the British countryside.
Growbiz is a community-based enterprise supporting rural businesses throughout Scotland since 2007, with a passion for local enterprises and sustainability.
Cairngorms Trust supports communities, landscapes and wildlife within the Cairngorms National Park by providing grants for projects, including the Active Cairngorms E-bike project (ACE) which now has its day-to-day operations at Aviemore Bikes.
Naturally Useful produces all sorts of tactile functional things from materials that are naturally occurring and readily available, including beautiful willow woven coffins and felted wool shrouds.
Dellifure Natural Burial Ground Provides eco-friendly burials, using biodegradable caskets and coffins, while supporting biodiversity and helping preserve the natural landscape.
Royal Highland Education Trust aims to bring farming, the working countryside and its practices to life for young people, to create a wider understanding of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of rural Scotland.
Cairngorm Crofters and Farmers Community aims to play a crucial role in the conservation of our local native species by emphasising the importance of farming and crofting for biodiversity and undertaking key projects to further nature conservation.
Vegan Outreach Scotland promotes the health and sustainability benefits of vegan living.
Grantown Churches have teamed up to to help the climate. Find out about how they can help you to recycle, and about their other eco- actions.
Grantown on Spey Fire Fighters are the team at the forefront of our defence against wildfires.
Grantown Golf Club are currently undertaking projects to install solar PV and to plant wildflowers on the course.
Fiona’s Wholefoods and Refills. Is a Grantown High Street sustainable grocery and minimal waste shop and coffee bar. They will be providing play experiences for kids at the Show.
Wild Tribe is a Grantown-based venture delivering immersive outdoor adventures that build confidence, independence and a love for nature for young people through hands-on discovery.
Care and Learning Alliance is a leading Highland charity with over 40 years’ experience supporting children, families, and communities. At the Show they provide an opportunity to watch your children play, discover and learn in a safe, welcoming environment.
Grantown Primary School are our local primary, who are undertaking a whole-school sustainability project with highlights on display at the Show.
Badenoch and Strathspey Community Connexions provide accessible transport for all, including a community car and bus service, and here in Grantown an accessible volunteer run e-trike service.

Come to this free show and get quality advice, be inspired, be curious, have great conversations and have a fun day of learning with your kids.

At Braemar Castle we will be running fun sessions for children every Wednesday at 11am.

There will be games, stories and hands on crafting sessions. No booking required.

Each session will last roughly 1 hour and includes a drink and a snack.

Only £3 per child, accompanying adult goes free!

Wed 15th July, 11am- Jacobites vs Redcoats games in the grounds

Wed 22nd July, 11am- Storytime with Sabine Muir

Wed 29th July, 11am- Spinning and Weaving with The Crafty Guidwives

Wed 5th August, 11am- Spinning and Weaving with The Crafty Guidwives

Wed 12th August, 11am- Sew your own Jacobite Rose

Email info@braemarcastle.co.uk with any questions.

Step back to 1745 and experience the sights, sounds and stories of the Jacobite Rising as Jacobites and Redcoats descend on Braemar Castle for a weekend of living history and action-packed battles.

Join us for a spectacular weekend as Jacobite and Redcoat reenactors bring history to life with authentic camps, military displays, living history demonstrations and thrilling skirmishes throughout the day.

Get up close to the action, explore the castle, meet the characters of the past and discover the stories behind one of Scotland’s most dramatic chapters.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Braemar Castle and the Cairngorms, this is the perfect excuse for a Highland day out!

Please note: Last entry to the castle is 4:30pm

Mesmerizing folk duo Ordinary Elephant has spent the better part of the last decade on a never-ending tour that’s earned married couple Crystal and Pete Damore widespread critical acclaim and made fans of luminaries like Tom Paxton and Mary Gauthier. In 2017, the pair took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album, Before I Go, and two years later, they returned with the similarly lauded Honest, which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year.” The duo hasn’t slowed down, earning consecutive International Folk Music Award nominations for Album of the Year in 2024 for their self-titled release, and then Artist of the Year in 2025.

This latest eponymous record is the purest distillation of their sound yet, showcasing the arresting power of the couple’s gorgeous harmonies and intricate fretwork. The songs are timeless, rooted in rich, character-driven storytelling, and the performances are similarly transportive, fueled by delicately intertwined banjo, guitar, and octave mandolin. Though the songs were born out of a period of deep uncertainty, the record itself is a work of profound self-assurance, one delivered by a duo whose personal and professional lives embody the limitless possibility of honest, organic collaboration. Press play on Ordinary Elephant, or attend a live performance, and you’ll hear more than just a husband and wife; you’ll hear the sound of sincerity and commitment, of patience and gratitude, of learning to let go of expectation and revel in the simple beauty of the moment.

“This is the kind of music that lingers long after the last note fades.”
— Red Line Roots

“Two become one, in song. Stripped down, intertwined clawhammer banjo and guitar, and hand in glove harmonies surprise the listener with focused intensity and musical mastery. Songs are pouring out of them, and I suspect their rise will be steady. I’m a fan.”
— Mary Gauthier

“…beautiful, soulful, exquisitely simple, and totally essential.”
— Ben Salmon, Bandcamp Daily

“I’m a big fan of Ordinary Elephant—their intimate songs, the weaving harmonies, and the stories that draw you in as if you were gathered around an enchanted campfire.”
— Eliza Gilkyson

“[Their] songs speak, heal, and we need them more than ever.”
— Donald Cohen, No Depression

A short talk on the rare Small Scabious Mining Bee, followed by a guided walk to local nesting sites. Learn about its habitat and food plants, and how you can help support it. Each attendee will receive free Devil’s-bit Scabious plant plugs to take home and support the Bees main food source.

As part of our Bikeathon weekend, we will be holding our popular jumble sale again. We have a good selection of bikes and things bike related to sell.

Pop along any time from 11am to 2pm to browse the items, or just to hang out and chat bikes.

If you have something to sell, please bring it along from 10am.

We will also be running bike safety checks there, so bring your bike along to get Bikeathon ready!

All money riased go directly to the charities CRY and Mikeysline.

Join acclaimed Strathspey musician and composer Hamish Napier for an immersive day delving into top trad tunes, arrangements, and creativity. This daytime weekend workshop is designed for players who want to deepen their skills and explore traditional Scottish tunes in a welcoming group setting.

10.30am – 4.30pm

We will focus on:

🎵 Expanding your trad session tune repertoire
🎶 Learning a few cracking local tunes from Badenoch & Strathspey
🎻 Exploring ornaments and variations to bring melodies to life
🎼 Learning how to arrange music for small folk ensembles

Open to adult instrumentalists (ages 16+) with some experience in traditional music. Suitable for both by-ear players and readers (those who can read a little music). Players of all melody instruments (e.g. fiddle, flute, whistle, accordion, etc.) and accompaniment instruments (e.g. guitar, piano) are welcome!

Calling writers – and anyone who’d simply like to give writing a go.

These relaxed and welcoming workshops invite you to spark stories from the remarkable objects and spaces of the Highland Folk Museum.

A lantern, a pair of boots, a cooking pot, an old tool… everyday objects that once belonged to real lives. Each month we’ll explore a small selection from the museum’s collection or surroundings and use them as starting points for imagination.

From there, the writing can go anywhere.

Stories, poems, memoir, drama, humour, fantasy – there are no rules about genre, subject or style, and no expectation to write about history or the Highlands unless you want to.

The objects are simply doorways into creativity.

Calling young writers, storytellers, and curious imaginations – or anyone who’d like to give writing a try.

These fun and welcoming workshops invite young people to spark stories from unusual objects and places around the Highland Folk Museum.

A lantern, a pair of boots, an old shinty stick, a mysterious tool… everyday objects that might hold hidden stories. They’re simply starting points for the imagination.

From there, anything is possible.

Participants might write stories, poems, comedy, drama, fantasy, or something completely unexpected. The writing doesn’t need to be about history or the Highlands – the objects are just creative sparks.

A community gathering bringing together local creatives inspired by the theme ‘ROOTED’, bringing together artists, makers, and musicians to share creative responses to the landscapes and communities around us.

Artists will share their work in 10-minute slots, speaking about process, inspiration, environment, and the stories held within their work. The evening will also feature live music woven throughout the programme, helping create an atmospheric and reflective space for conversation and creativity.

Whether you come to exhibit, speak, perform, listen or simply spend an evening surrounded by creativity and conversation, we would love to welcome you.