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Click hereMorvern Games and Gala Week Committee (MGGW) has received £137,452 from the Scottish Land Fund towards the purchase and development of a 47-acre plot at Knock Park currently owned by Ardtornish Estate.
MGGW will continue to run the annual Highland games and regular shinty matches while further fundraising through grants, funding schemes and donations will be required to enhance further recreational space for the community in the heart of Lochaline.
MGGW secretary Megan Whyte said: ‘The committee is absolutely delighted with the offer from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase Knock Park and surroundings.
‘Our small committee of volunteers has worked hard to achieve this result which provides a unique opportunity to take ownership of this land for community use now and for generations to come.
‘Morvern Games and Gala Week has always had community interest at heart and we are passionate about making the suggestions we have received from the community a reality.’
Ownership will provide the chance to establish a community woodland, a motorhome and campsite, a new sports and recreation clubhouse and storage.
Philip Coghill, development manager with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), commented: ‘MGGW has put in a huge amount of work to get the project to this stage and it’s been a pleasure along with my now retired colleague John MacDonald to support the group in developing its plans to take this land into community ownership with money from the Scottish Land Fund.
‘The project has huge potential and I look forward to seeing the plans come to fruition.’
The funding is just one of 14 awards, totalling £1,269,683, that have been handed out to urban and rural projects following the latest round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: ‘These successful projects are all fantastic examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.
‘Ownership will give them greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.’
MGGW committee members continue to work hard behind the scenes with a host of events planned for 2022. Keep an eye on the group’s Facebook/Instagram pages for further details.
Organisations, businesses and individuals are all welcome to become involved by hosting an event, sponsorship and advertising or volunteering.
‘We are inviting everyone, home or away, to become a member of our newly-formed Scottish Charitable Incorported Organisation to continue to support us throughout this exciting period and beyond,’ added Megan.
Contact knockpark@outlook.com for a membership form or to donate.
Caption: The 47-acre Knock Park plot is currently owned by Ardtornish Estate. NO_F13_KnockPark_MorvernGamesAndGalaWeek.
