The story so far…
How we began and what we have achieved.
Regenerate Our Green Space was formed in April 2022. Recent world events, and their economic and social consequences had resulted in a change in the way people wish to live, with more people living outside of cities and working from home. One impact locally had been a surge in demand for Allotments at Rosemarkie Allotments & Gardens Society.
The Highland Good Food Conference in 2021 provided inspiration for communities in the Highlands to seriously consider community food growing as a way to reduce “food miles” and increase local knowledge and experience of a more sustainable way of living. We understood the need to build local resilience to be able to cope with the challenges of climate change. We felt that this was the right time to start building that resilience, since there had never been more local/national government and national voluntary organisation support for such initiatives.
The Scottish Government set in place the Scottish Land Commission on 1 April 2017, with the aim of supporting communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and buildings. The Scottish Land Fund was set up to achieve more sustainable economic and environmental and social development through community ownership of land and buildings. We plan to take advantage of these reforms to get land into community ownership so we can provide a way for the community to work together in order to be more sustainable and resilient in the longer term. Our founding members have recently organised hedge planting on Easter Greengates, and near the Beach Café in Rosemarkie. We have also successfully lobbied Historic Environment Scotland to plant two large areas of Fortrose Cathedral grounds with wild flowers (planting begins in autumn 2023). We also hope to partner again with Rosemarkie Amenities Association to create wild flower patches in locations throughout the village. Future plans are to lobby for a reduction in the use of pesticides and herbicides in the communities of Fortrose & Rosemarkie.
Our most ambitious project is to create new allotments, community food growing and a community garden. We are currently working on an application to the Scottish Land Fund and Community Right To Buy, to enable us to buy land within the town of Fortrose.
We are setting up our Constitution with the help of the Scottish Land Fund so we can be compliant with their requirements and those of the Community Right To Buy, and we expect this to be completed by summer 2023.
If you would like to get involved in any of the activities we are organising please join our email list to receive updates, find out when and where you can help, and ensure you have your say on proposed community projects.
We look forward to working alongside you to protect and improve our environment through positive community action.
Our founding members
Steve, Trish, Morag, Jo-Anne, Paul, Clara, Lynne
Morag Bramwell
BA in French & Italian, PostGrad Diploma in Business & Secretarial Studies. I worked as a Secretary then Programme Researcher at Scottish TV in the 1980s. After moving to the Highlands I did a degree in Computer Object Programming (OU). I spent two years working with three different medical practices computerising medical histories, then worked for approximately 10 years as a Data Analyst with NHS Highland. I joined Rosemarkie Allotments & Gardens Society before retiring and have been Secretary at RAGS for several years. I have been a lifelong nature lover and food grower.
Since retiring I’ve been a volunteer at Fortrose Academy’s veg, fruit and flower garden. I am a member of the Soil Association and Pesticide Action Network. I started up ROGS with a view to creating community gardens and allotments in Fortrose, after being inspired by the Highland Good Food Conference.
Alister Clunas
I have worked my whole career in conservation land management. Latterly Property Manager of National Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge Estate from 1998-2005. From 2005-2015 I was Chief Officer of Aberdeen Greenspace Ltd which carried out greenspace projects within the boundary of the City of Aberdeen funded mainly through the Landfill Communities Fund.
I am retired but volunteer for RSPB on their Highland reserves delivering visitor management at Loch Ruthven and practical tasks at Culbin Sands. I am Chair of the Highland Branch of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club.
Paul Dungey
I was born in Lincolnshire and gained a Diploma in Fine Art from Lincoln Art College in 1984. In 1988 I gained a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Prehistory from Sheffield University and worked as a Field Archaeologist for 10 years throughout the UK and abroad.
Following trecking experiences in the Himalayas, I was inspired to become a Physiotherapist and qualified in 2001. I initially worked as an NHS Physio in Grimsby, then Oban from 2004 to 2006, followed by the RNI in Inverness. From 2007 I have lived in Fortrose, where I met my wife Clara. Since 2015 I have been a Specialist Physiotherapist for Learning Disabilities, based at New Craig’s Hospital, and cover NHS Highland.
I chose to work for adults with Learning Disabilities because they are some of our most vulnerable citizens, and I gain significant job satisfaction from achieving positive outcomes for them, in collaboration with colleagues, families and care providers.
I have always had a deep love of nature and a desire to nurture and protect it. To this end, I have been a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and a member of Greenpeace for over 30 years. I gained a love of gardening from my Grandad who worked a large garden, growing fruit and vegetables to feed his family. Following in his footsteps I became a member of Rosemarkie Allotments and Gardening Society, where Clara and I continue to grow fruit and vegetables and wildflowers, to make provision for nature.
Lynne Mackenzie
I grew up on the bonny Black Isle. After studying Art, then gaining an MA hons in History of Art from the University of Aberdeen, I moved to Glasgow where I worked with several contemporary arts organisations and then for Glasgow Museums and Collections. I then made the leap into freelance work as a visual arts PR and marketer, curator and advisor. With a bit of web design on the side. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with the estates of internationally renowned artists George Wyllie and Joan Eardley.
I relocated home to Rosemarkie where I’m developing my own artistic practice inspired by a keen interest in the natural environment and focused on botanical painting. I am a commitee member of Rosemarkie Allotments and Gardens Society and enjoy time pottering around in my own allotment.
Trish McKeggie
Starting with a National Certificate in Agriculture at Oaklands College, I went on to work on various farms, milking etc, then collecting Farm records and accounts for the Milk Marketing Board. I came up to Scotland to work in Ord House Hotel, and kitchen garden in Muir of Ord.
We moved to the Black Isle and I worked for Scottish Special Housing, part of the job was decanting tenants while their houses were up graded, In 1990s a friend and I started and ran a small tree nursery. In 2000 I started my own gardening business, till I retired in 2017
I now volunteer in Fortrose Charity shop, I am on the Food and Growing group for Transition Black Isle, and on the committee running Resolis community Hall.
Jo-Anne Pugh
I was born in Lancashire but grew up in Caithness. I have been a journalist for the BBC for more than thirty years in various parts of the UK, and currently work part-time for the main London newsdesk.
My husband and I moved back to Scotland in 2013 where our two children attended Avoch Primary and Fortrose Academy. I have been active in both schools’ parent councils and am currently a member of Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council.
Coming from a family of keen gardeners, I enjoy the challenge of growing fruit and veg in our exposed garden at Upper Raddery. Practical solutions to problems appeal to me: with my FRCC hat on, I organised the planting of a 220m native hedge on Common Good land in Fortrose to encourage wildlife, help combat climate change and encourage neighbours to get to know one another. I’m also a firm believer that gardening is the perfect physical and mental antidote when you find the News just too depressing.
Steve Bramwell
I retired from my work life as a Consultant Urologist at Raigmore Hospital in 2013 having spent 35 years in NHS surgical practice. I have always been a keen sailor and have spent my retirement so far exploring the coast of Scotland in a sailing boat which I own jointly with friends. I have served on the Committee of Chanonry Sailing Club as Secretary and volunteer fund raiser, and was involved in the building of two St Ayles Rowing Skiffs which now comprise Fortrose Community Rowing.
I am interested in setting up projects to enhance the quality of life in our communities on the Black Isle and am excited to be involved in the Black Isle Mens Shed.
Other interests include rowing, cycling and outdoor pursuits in general.
I am married with 3 grown up children and have lived in Fortrose for the past 22 years