TI Newsletter, Sept 2026

• Application for planning consent for a potential ground-mounted solar array at Mary’s Land: 
• Following the vote in the hall in October 2025 that supported the proposal to apply for planning permission, the Renewables Working Group worked on these details and submitted the planning application to Argyll and Bute Council. This work was supported by the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). The application was submitted in February 2026 (26-00352-PP). 
• We weren’t expecting a decision so soon, but have now heard that permission has been granted.
• Funding/grant models for 2026/27 are different from a year ago. Some detailed modelling based on current opportunities therefore needs to be done. The feasibility of the project depends, of course, on the financing/grant modelling stacking up positively. 
• We’ll organise a Community Steering Group meeting for Renewables in due course when more details are available. 

• Possible community share in renewable energy projects: 
  
• A group of community trusts and community councils is working together to take legal advice on what a shared community approach might look like and to decide on the best next steps. 
• This is early stage work to look at what options might be available so that a future TI Community Steering Group meeting can review and discuss opportunities.
• If you’d like to get involved with renewables projects, please get in touch via info@tayvallichinitiative.org

Housing at Polldearg

• Tayvallich Initiative is working with Communities Housing Trust, plus architects and engineers, to carry out a detailed feasibility study for housing at Polldearg, the land around Taigh Eairdsidh. This feasibility study is reviewing all of the site constraints and looking at what type and layout of potential houses might be possible on the site.
• There was a TI Community Steering Group drop-in afternoon for housing at the end of May 2026 to look at the results and options. Comments and suggestions were collected from participants. 
• The options have been sent to A&BC Planning Department for pre-planning comment and feedback, so there’s a hiatus in the project until the response is in. The feasibility study will then firm up proposals.

Website

• Tayvallich Initiative has a new website, which has a lot more information and photos than the old site. It’s available at https://tayvallichinitiative.org/
• The site includes a page that gives reports on events and news of upcoming events and activities: https://www.tayvallichinitiative.org/news/

Project Manager

• A big thanks to James Allan for his work as Project Manager with TI over the last year. 
• Funding available for this role has come to an end, and James has now moved on to another job. Hopefully further funding might be available in the future to support this type of role. 

Community Rangers and Land

• The Community Rangers, Sal and Thorkil, have a number of projects on the go. 
• Funding for these roles has been boosted by an award by Swire Charitable Trust to continue with Sitka removal, which in turn helps broadleaf trees develop and grow. 
• Thorkil has been leading on a project to control the spreading of Skunk cabbage. And Sam Emmerich and Sal completed a Marsh Fritillary survey over the wetlands below Cnoc Leis. 
• This autumn there is also follow-up work on Rhododendron ponticum, supported by the two-year funding from Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation. Thanks to Hilary Blyth, as technician, and to Sal and Thorkil … plus the volunteer input for this work. There are opportunities for further volunteers to help if you’d like to participate. 
• The wet weather has unfortunately got in the way of a few of the activities: the dragonfly walks had to be cancelled as the dragonflies don’t come out when it rains, and Skunk cabbage treatment requires low water-level in the burn. But a wildflower ID walk and two bird walks went ahead as planned earlier in the year.
• There is currently a series of Autumn Activities, with some ditch digging, walking talking and hot chocolate drinking, plus path maintenance on Thu 24 Sept at 1pm and more walking and hot choc on Wed 14 Oct at 11:30am.
• Funding for the Community Rangers roles is now secured through to at least the middle of 2027. Any suggestions for future projects/funding, or legacy donations for this work, would be gratefully received. 
• The first part of the Old Carsaig Road – from the Tavyallich end to the SSEN substation – has been upgraded. This was possible with financial support from neighbouring landowners who use the track, and from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funds as part of the (now ended) Access & Inclusion Project. Further funding for the remainder of the track is not currently available to TI, but hopefully the western part of the track can be renovated in due course.
• If you’d like to contribute to any of the land work, please get in touch via ranger@tayvallichinitiative.org

Community growing scheme

• There was a get-together at the start of August: https://www.tayvallichinitiative.org/260806-community-garden-orchard/
• And some prizes won at the Tayvallich Flower Show

The TI Board

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Tayvallich Initiative Ltd (SC747516)
Registered Charity SC052450
info@tayvallichinitiative.org