Coastal community groups off Scotland’s west coast have teamed up with Edinburgh community folk choir, Castle Chorus, to bring together incredible footage from Argyll’s coast and an original song ‘Lullaby Of Unknowing’, in a special dedication to Scotland’s seas.
In 2019 the waters off the coast of Argyll were declared a Hope Spot – the first in both Scotland and the United Kingdom – by international non-profit Mission Blue. This Hope Spot sheds a light on the immense beauty, rich history and vibrant life along the country’s west coast. Mission Blue seek out Hope Spot sites around the world which contain the presence of rare, threatened or endemic species and sites that can demonstrate active community involvement and have a real chance to reverse historical damage.
Four community groups within the Coastal Communities Network, including local CAOLAS, worked together to secure the Hope Spot. The waters here are home to a wide array of native wildlife and hold one of the last remaining strongholds of the critically endangered flapper skate. It is also a vibrant region for community-led conservation initiatives.
These groups, all led by volunteers from within the local areas, have now secured a small amount of funding to increase public awareness and engagement with the Hope Spot’s marine biodiversity throughout 2021, and to develop habitat and species monitoring pilots. The team also hope to work with local people and organisations to expand the Hope Spot boundaries and to campaign for better protection of the Hope Spots rich and unique biodiversity.
Annabel Lawrence, CAOLAS Chair and Hope Spot Champion, says, “We’re delighted to have this song from Castle Chorus dedicated to the Hope Spot. It helps shine the light on the incredible wildlife that lives within our seas. We want to encourage our coastal communities to engage in what is happening just off their shores. The more people get to know and understand the wonders of this marine ecosystem, the more likely they will care about how it is looked after.”
Caro Overy, Castle Chorus Music Director, adds “We’ve been inspired by the passion and care the communities behind the Hope Spot clearly hold for their local natural environment and so it was a real privilege to put together this remote collaboration – featuring beautiful footage of the area with our song ‘Lullaby of Unknowing’, an appropriate tribute to the hope we share for our planet.”
To find out more about the Argyll Coast & Islands’ Hope Spot and to support them with a donation, if you are able, go to www.argyllhopespot.scot