Community action/Argyll and Bute

| Map | |
|---|---|
| Location | Argyll and Bute, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56° 27' 37.26" N, 5° 51' 42.63" W |
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Argyll and Bute.
News
[edit | edit source]
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland reports on community ownership of renewables, and how data-centres might knock us off our climate targets, Daily Alternative (Feb 01, 2026)
‘You don’t get to aim big when you are somewhere small’: A teenager’s fight to end single use plastics on her Scottish island, theguardian.com (Sep 24, 2025)
How to make the sun shine at night, Craig Dalzell, commonweal.scot (Jul 16, 2026) — Upcoming battery technology may well finally eliminate the last disadvantage of renewable energy and turn what has been an intermittent power source into a fully dispatchable one.
Peace literacy, peace politics and Scotland’s future [Scottish Futures Forum], Daily Alternative (Jun 30, 2026)
‘Literally growing the future’: volunteers help save Scottish rainforest by collecting 11m seeds, theguardian.com (Jun 29, 2026) — Teams painstakingly combed endangered Atlantic habitat over several years, helping to grow 8m native trees
The climate cafe where misery is 'empowering', BBC News (Jul 26, 2026)
The UK birth, death, and rebirth of the local market, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Jul 23, 2026)
Across parties, across postcodes, ffcc.co.uk (Jul 17, 2026) — British people want government action on food
May and June heatwaves killed about 2,700 people in England and Wales, data suggests, theguardian.com (Jul 13, 2026) — Extreme heat led to 440 deaths a day during June peak, say scientists, with climate crisis ramping up temperatures
Europe's heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths, WHO says, as Germany hits record 41.7C, BBC News (Jun 28, 2026)
European heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists say, theguardian.com (Jun 26, 2026) — Study also finds high humidity means people in hundreds of cities are enduring their worst ever heat stress
Shift Embassy in Rotterdam is “a public park that blends art with ecology” [Positive.News], Daily Alternative (Jul 25, 2026)
The tech party "Team Mirai” (Team Future) won 11 seats in the Japanese general election. They’re now modelling the future of democracy [Tech Policy Press], Daily Alternative (Jul 24, 2026)
What the majority world can teach the rest of us about low-cost, high-impact systems of “coolth” [John Thackera], Daily Alternative (Jul 23, 2026)
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Isle of Gigha, community website about the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, community groups, projects, events, volunteering and local news. added 09:49, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
- Mull and Iona Community Trust, dedicated and passionate locally based organisation focused on improving the quality of life for the residents of Mull and Iona.
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Aug 10 - 16, 2026 (Mon - Sun) — National Allotments Week, 2026 theme is “Grow to Learn.”, thenas.org.uk
Global or international events
Aug 09, 2026 (Sun) — International Day of the World's Indigenous People, observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population, un.org
Aug 12, 2026 (Wed) — International Youth Day, awareness day designated by the United Nations taking place on Aug 12 each year, un.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/Manchester, Community action/Essex, Community action/West Sussex / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
Argyll and Bute video
[edit | edit source]Land activism
[edit | edit source]- Tayvallich Initiative, Community ownership for affordable housing, local jobs, sustaining land and community
Gigha community buy-out
The problems created by private landlords came to an end in March 2002 when, with help from grants and loans from the National Lottery and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the islanders purchased the island for £4 million. They now own it through a development trust, the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust. 15 March, the day when the purchase was finalised, is celebrated as the island's "independence day". £1 million of the financial support was in the form of a short term loan. The money to pay this loan back was largely raised by selling Achamore House (but not the gardens) to Don Dennis, a businessman from California. Dennis operates a flower essences importing business and a boat tours company from the house, which is also rented out as a bed and breakfast business.
An additional £200,000 was raised by the islanders through various fundraising ventures, allowing the loan to be paid back to the Scottish Land Fund on 15 March 2004. Since the community buyout, several other private businesses have opened, providing a boost to the local economy. The island's population and economy have begun to recover as a result of these activities.
Community energy
[edit | edit source]Gigha wind turbines
The Heritage Trust set up Gigha Renewable Energy Ltd. to buy and operate three Vestas V27 wind turbines, known locally as The Dancing Ladies or Creideas, Dòchas is Carthannas (Gaelic for Faith, Hope and Charity). They were commissioned on 21 January 2005 and are capable of generating up to 675 kW of power. Revenue is produced by selling the electricity to the grid via an intermediary called Green Energy UK. Gigha residents control the whole project and profits are reinvested in the community. In 2016 two batteries were added to the system.
Trees, woodland and forest
[edit | edit source]- Bute Forest, owned by Bute Community Land Company, added 20:48, 23 December 2024 (UTC)
- Ardura Community Forest, Mull and Iona Community Trust, mict.co.uk
Coastal community activism
[edit | edit source]- Seawilding, based at Loch Craignish, Argyll, the UK's first community-led native oyster and seagrass restoration project. Video: Seawilding channel on youtube.com
About Argyll and Bute
[edit | edit source]Argyll and Bute (Scots: Argyll an Buit; Scottish Gaelic: Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, pronounced [ɛrˠəˈɣɛ:əlˠ̪ akəs̪ ˈpɔ:tʲ]) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and covers the second-largest administrative area of any Scottish council. W
See also
[edit | edit source]UK news, Cosmolocal news, UK topic, Global topic
- UK community network news, Community network news, Community networks UK, Community networks
- Land activism UK news, Land activism news, Land activism UK, Land activism
- Community energy UK news, Community energy news, Community energy in Scotland, Community energy UK, Community energy
- Trees, woodland and forest UK news, Trees, woodland and forest news, Trees, woodland and forest Scotland, Trees, woodland and forest UK, Trees, woodland and forest
- UK Coasts news, Coasts news, Coastal community activism UK, Coastal community activism
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2024–2026). "Community action/Argyll and Bute". Appropedia. Retrieved July 31, 2026. |









