Wigtown & Bladnoch Community Initiative

11/05/2026

06/05/2026

If you are able to contribute financial support to our friends at the Wigtown Shindy, you'd be helping to keep this brilliant local event free for all to attend.

Can you help? The Wigtown Shindy 2026 is getting nearer and the team of volunteers are working hard behind the scenes to create a fantastic 4 days of music and events in August.
We have had some great support over the years and again this year - as usual sponsor details will be released over the next few weeks.
Unfortunately though, everything is costing more and we are a little short on our fundraising target - the Shindy costs over £10,000 to put on and make sure that it is free for everyone to come along to.
If you are an individual or a business, or know someone or a business who would like to help make this year's shindy special and free for all, please get in touch. Message us and we'll be happy to chat about getting your name/brand on the programmes, displaying banners at the Shindy and promoting you via this page.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

28/04/2026

We don't know about you, but we are very happy to be basking in glorious sunshine at the moment! We hope it continues, into this weekend and beyond.

Speaking of this weekend, the Association of Wigtown Booksellers' Spring Book Weekend is almost upon us, with some fantastic events. Their programme is online and through your letterboxes, so check out what's on, including at The Merse 😁

And, don't forget to reserve your team table for the Wigtown Shindy fundraising quiz at The Wigtown Ploughman on May 13th.

So many great things to enjoy!

24/04/2026

I'm really looking forward to these workshops at The Merse at The Spring Book Weekend, 2nd and 3rd May.

There is a session for kids on the Saturday (Primary 2 onwards welcome, even if they are not quite 7), and a longer one for adults on the Sunday.

I'm increasingly drawn to doing more music in the community. I ran a 'Choir in a Day' last year at the Wigtown Book Festival and not only really enjoyed it but found that I was quite good at it! (Thank you to those who encouraged me and came along ❤️) I don't have massive confidence as a leader but having done music of some kind all my life, the arrangements, harmonies and direction are all there waiting to be used 🎻🎤🪇🎼

I am inspired by friends I see running singing groups, choirs, workshops and would like to do more here in Wigtown. Lucy Farrell in Charlottetown, Rachel Dadd and Julia Turner in Bristol, Katy Rose Bennett in the Midlands are just a few of these inspiring singing facilitators.

These workshops will be nature inspired, using some songs from The Spell Songs, from The Lost Words project that I am a part of, and also some rounds and fun warm ups. No singing experience necessary and we won't be reading music. All welcome.

It will be a great way to meet new people and to sing about things we care about in the environment 🌱🦋🦉🐝💚

I'll be making a quick exit on Sunday as me and some pals are going up to Glasgow to see Lady Maisery - a fine way to finish a weekend of singing!

19/04/2026

11/04/2026

We're super excited to be hosting two singing workshops from the multi-awarding winning musician Beth Porter as part of the Association of Wigtown Booksellers Spring Book Weekend in May☀️
Visit https://www.themerse.com/events-programme for more details and to book tickets.
Find more info about the fabulous full programme of events at https://tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com

11/04/2026

🐄 Bladnoch Creamery 🐄 A reminder of this special short-film screening tomorrow afternoon at The Merse on Lochancroft Lane in Wigtown 🌸 Free event and all most welcome 🌸

23/12/2025

HO HO HO! Christmas has come early for Wigtown and Bladnoch Community Initiative, and for Wigtown Community Shop! 🎁

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been successful in securing the funding required to purchase 33 & 34 South Main Street. Our heartfelt thanks to the principal funders, South of Scotland Enterprise, and to our local partner in this purchase, Wigtown Community Shop.

Please see the full press release in the images below.