Projects that educate, and moreover involve people, with the land, sea, and living things therein, not only increase awareness of environmental challenges but also foster a sense of collective responsibility to protect and restore nature.

The Project

Arnisdale and Loch Hourn Community Association was set up to manage the Ceilidh House, a community hall and heritage centre that hosts music, arts, and environmental events. They play a crucial role in addressing the challenge of social isolation on the remote Glenelg peninsula, with a population of 300, at a couple of hours drive to local amenities.

The idea for a photography and citizen science project was conceived through conversations within the community. In April 2024, HIEF awarded the Arnisdale and Loch Hourn Community Association a grant of £7,600 to allow the project to happen.

Images from workshops over Summer and Autumn 2024, courtesy of Arnisdale and Loch Hourn Community Association.

The project mapped the biodiversity of the Glenelg Peninsula’s coastal areas through photography and citizen science. A series of community workshops, led by experts, brought to attention the abundance of wildlife on the Glenelg Peninsula, such as sea eagles, otters, wading birds, and seaweed. Experts included ornithologist Bob McMillan, marine biologist Joss Main, Ben Yoxon from the International Otter Survival Fund, and environmental anthropologist Guadalupe Canale.

These workshops, taking place either in the field, or in village halls on the peninsula, were followed by litter picking on the coastline, collecting 113kg of plastic.

Simultaneously, the photography element of the project took place in collaboration with Glenelg Camera Collective, who introduced participants to the iNaturalist app. Through uploading photos of species, people formed a collective understanding and appreciation of their local biodiversity.

The project culminated with a photography competition inviting participants to submit photos of the natural environment of the Glenelg. There were high levels of engagement, with 94 entries submitted from wide range of individuals.

An exhibition took place in the Ceilidh House in Arnisdale, with a great turnout for the opening night on 23^rd May, where the winners were announced. A further 50 people viewed the exhibition in Glenelg village hall the following week, and the images can now be viewed on the Over the Mam website.

In the words of Jenny Munro, from Arnisdale and Loch Hourn Community Association,

“The end result was an illustration of what can be achieved in a remote location when people pull together to respect and protect their environment. It has been very gratifying to be a part of a project that has inspired so many people to look closer at the natural world around us and we are delighted that we are already having discussions about what next for 2026!”.