07/10/2026
Strong Roots, Community-Led Futures 🌱
How can our heritage help shape the future of rural communities? Across South East Moray, communities are preserving traditions, bringing historic buildings into community ownership, creating opportunities for young people and finding new ways to bring people together.
On Saturday 3 October, around 33 community members supported by the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund joined a cross-community visit to explore this work across Dufftown, Glenlivet and Inveravon, Glenrinnes and The Cabrach.
For The Cabrach Trust, the visit showcased how our cultural and natural heritage can drive community-led regeneration. Through our Cabrach Lives initiative, launched in 2021, projects such as Cabrach Tweed, Cabrach Tapestry and community events celebrate local stories, skills and traditions while creating opportunities for the future.
As Sam Dowdall, our Community and Development Manager, reflected:
“Cross-community visits like these are so important in showcasing the tangible and intangible work happening in our rural communities, from the grassroots up. They help us share ideas, learn from one another and recognise how our heritage, stories and traditions can be embedded in our strategic aims and visions for the future.”
The visit also celebrated inspiring work across neighbouring communities, including the Keith and Dufftown Railway, plans for Dufftown Clocktower, community ownership at Inveravon Church, the Glenlivet and Tomintoul Community Archive, Glenrinnes Community Centre and the ambitions of young people from Speyside Youth.
The day concluded with conversations about working more closely together, sharing learning and building new partnerships.
At The Cabrach Trust , we believe regeneration is about more than places and buildings. It is about people, identity, heritage and creating opportunities for rural communities to thrive. By celebrating our past and working together towards a shared future, our heritage can provide strong roots for sustainable regeneration.