Our Activities

Since the formation of The Andrew Raven Trust in 2008 there has been a focus on exploring topics related to sustainability and rural development, and on the exploration of these topics from a range of perspectives. The development of an annual event held over a weekend at Ardtornish House became the focus of Trust activity from early in the life of the Trust. But unlike a conference or workshop the annual weekend events provide invited guests and speakers with the time and opportunity to explore the chosen weekend topic from directions they may not have previously considered. Participants include those from theory and practice, arts and sciences. The resulting exchange of ideas at these weekend events is exciting, challenging and at times provoking. It is always valuable to participants who then take away the experience into their everyday lives and work.

In his reflective concluding essay in Notes from Morvern: Ten Years of The Andrew Raven Trust 2007 – 2017, Simon Pepper, OBE, the founding Chair of The Andrew Raven Trust, referred to the Trust’s “gentle art of provocation and challenge” and commented on how much Scotland needs just such a model of engagement which can begin not only to unravel the old anxieties and entrenched positions, but can also lead to real and lasting practical change.

A record has been made of each weekend event and these are presented below in series of reports. The exception being the weekend event in 2021 which could not be held at Ardtornish House due to Covid. Instead, a virtual event was developed. Despite the limitations placed upon us the 2021 event was still rooted in Ardtornish with the development of a virtual house which contains links to all the presentations, and more besides. 

While the passage of time means that knowledge has developed, ideas have changes and issues have moved on, the majority of the content of the reports of the annual weekends remains as pertinent now as it did when originally transcribed.

Notes from Morvern: Ten Years of the Andrew Raven Trust 2007 – 2017 

In 2016, the Trustees decided to mark the Trust’s ten years of activity by commissioning Adam Nicolson to write a book of essays based on the topics of the ten weekends held to date. Drawing on the weekend reports below, and his own attendance at many of the weekends as a participant Adam has created a series of reflective and thoughtful essays drawn together as Notes from Morvern. The essays are supported by over sixty colour illustrations, many lent by Morvern residents; an introduction to the Trust by Amanda Raven; a reflective concluding essay by Simon Pepper OBE, Founding Chair of the Trust, and four poems courtesy of Thomas A Clark. 

Notes from Morvern was published in 2017 as a limited edition (500 copies) and can be purchased from the Andrew Raven Trust for £10 (plus post and packing). Please email andrewraventrust@gmail.com

The Andrew Raven Trust is grateful to Isla Robertson, Jason Pennells and Sally Thomas for the use of the above photographs.