Argyll Hope Spot

03/11/2026

Delightful embossed mackerels created with artist Liz Willoughby, Ardrishaig Primary School and Achahoish Primary School.

03/11/2026

30/10/2026

On the 30th September, Annabel Lawrence, director at caolas attended the Rural Affairs Committee at the Scottish Parliament to give evidence as a representative of the interests of the Coastal Communities Network (of which the Argyll Hope Spot is also a member). The Rural Affairs Committee is a cross party working group, a group with representatives from multiple political parties. This meeting informs what the committee will be working on over the next four years. Annabel presented alongside Marine Conservation Society, Scottish Environment LINK and Fidra. The committee separately heard from the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation, Community Inshore Fisheries Alliance and Scottish Fishermen's Federation. It’s a huge step for the Coastal Communuties Network to see a community member on the panel with NGOs and speaks highly of the knowledge held locally in The Argyll Hope Spot.

28/10/2026

Salmon feed the forest. Traces of nitrogen were sourced back to the ocean using ‘stable isotope analysis.’

Researchers in Canada and the US were able to find traces of the salmon (via stable isotope analysis on nitrogen) in tree rings in the forest. The tree rings held an archive of salmon migrations.

Because salmon swim from open sea to the upriver areas, they are often caught by other wildlife and their nutrients get deposited inland, adding to the forest floor. Hungry trees seek out the rare nutrients they’ve brought.

Book recommendation! This information was sourced from Braiding Sweetgrass, written by ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Images are by Beth Chalmers, Per Harold Olsen and NatureScot.

28/10/2026

27/10/2026

Our Autumn edition of the Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot newsletter is out! News from us as well as &

Read it here:
https://mailchi.mp/argyllhopespot/argyll-hope-spot-autumn-2026-newsletter-12777975

Or subscribe via the link in our bio 🌊

25/10/2026

What about other perspectives on our local seas?

We were invited to be a part of a Youth Arts Argyll project working with art pupils at Oban High School. We brought our marine arts archive out of storage and opened it up in the classroom, where the young artists brought the artworks out, carefully arranging them and talking about pieces they appreciated. This was to research for the project THE SEA - SURFACE / PLANE / SPACE with an emphasis on research, process and making place-based work. The group worked over 6 sessions and also visited SAMS and the beach, working outside in the elements and trying some of our underwater drawing techniques.

This is the long collaborative piece they made.

Some of you might be able to identify which piece in our collection they took a strong inspiration from. (Looking at you 2022!)

24/10/2026

It's not always easy to find images of the marine life around Argyll. If you're an underwater photographer, you're such an important part of sharing and revealing that below the surface of the sea is a miraculous world. We appreciate you.

These images are by Sarah Fanet, provided via Argyll Hope Spot champions, Loch Leven Sea Savers.

22/10/2026

During our marine arts sessions in schools, a practicing artist, who has snorkelled in the Argyll Hope Spot, combines their art practice with their love for the sea. Pupils express what they have learnt so far about our coasts and waters, using a variety of creative communication skills.

Here's the work of primary school children from Park Primary School, Oban who worked with Glasgow based artist Vicki Fleck to create starfish, nudibranchs and flapper skates. We love these!

17/10/2026

Last month we worked with Park Primary School, Oban as part of their climate week. Children across the school focused on different ecosystems as their topics. We joined five different classes to lead lessons on the Argyll Hope Spot on what lives there, why does it matter, how is it doing and what can we do about it?

Artist Kirsty Currie led this lovely marine arts session on the seabirds of Argyll and the Isles. Well done p5/6. We love it. 💙