Moffat 2024: Another great festival in Eagle Town!

Highlights included some amazing evening talks from Hamza Yassin (pictured below) and Peter Cairns of Scotland: The Big Picture, who addressed a 300-strong audience at Upper Annandale Parish Church on Saturday evening with Moffat Town Hall hosting authors Jim Crumley and Lee Schofield on the Friday evening.

Friday 6th dawned clear and bright for the first fully booked Borders Forest Trust walk of the festival, from Gameshope to Carrifran, while Ewan Miles of Nature Scotland guided the first 'Moffat Nature Explorer' Tour, which was also fully attended. SSGEP's Rick Taylor delivered a beginner level Raptor ID course to a full house at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel and ITV Borders Look Around popped along to film the morning's events, chatting with Rick, volunteer Joanne McInnes and Dave Smith, owner of The Buccleuch Arms Hotel.

We were blessed with fantastic weather again on Saturday 7th for the walks, wildlife tours, motorcycle ride-out with the Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikers, meet an eagle event with Rhuallan Raptors at the Buccleuch Arms and the Enviro-Day at Moffat Town Hall!

Over 700 people visited George Thomson of Rhuallan Raptors on Saturday to meet Reicher, a male Golden Eagle and Nelson, a male White-tailed Eagle (also known as a Sea Eagle) at the Buccleuch Arms, giving visitors a rare opportunity to compare both species at close quarters.

The Festival address followed on the heels of the Enviro-Day, opening with a fantastic performance from local piper Ryan Kennedy before speeches from David and Oliver Mundell and senior students from Moffat Academy as well as a performance of 'Mighty Wings, Coming Home', a song written especially for the festival, by Moffat Primary students. Then it was off to The Old Well Theatre to enjoy 'a thrill in the dark' with Derek Greenacre and his fabulous Victorian Magic Lantern Show.

Piper Ryan Kennedy was kind enough to perform again to welcome visitors to the evening talks at the Upper Annandale Parish Church. 300 people joined Hamza Yassin and Peter Cairns of Scotland: The Big Picture for two fascinating and inspiring talks in the beautiful setting of the church, which also featured the art works of two local artists, sculptor Charles Bodowski and Linda Lyons of The Art Workroom.

The day ended with live music at The Balmoral Hotel from returning festival favourites, Rick & Yiota.

The festival closed with visitors enjoying the hospitality of Moffat House for Sunday Lunch and a presentation from SSGEP's Rick Taylor, updating diners on the progress of the young golden eagles over the past year. Then it was into the bar for drinks and live music to wind down after another fantastic festival in 'Eagle Town'.

With the festival behind us, the project is now looking to the future, which is currently very uncertain for the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (see video above) and find more information about our current funding appeal HERE

The Moffat Golden Eagle Festival would not be possible without the support and generosity of the local community. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the many individuals, organisations, groups and businesses who's support has been integral to the success of this event since the inaugral festival in 2021.

This year's festival was supported by:

• Dave Smith and his team @ The Buccleuch Arms Hotel

• Jane McCulloch and the team @ Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust

• Donald, Cheryl and Rev. Elsie McCrae @ Upper Annandale Parish Church

• Claire Black and the team @ The Old Well Theatre / Moffat Library.

• Leys Geddes & Moffat Community Council

• Idy Davison @ Moffat Promotions

• Moffat Academy / Moffat Primary

• Moffat Mountain Rescue

• Visit Moffat

• The Balmoral

• DarkSky Spirits

• Borders Forest Trust

• Moffat Farmers Market

• Moffat House

• David and Oliver Mundell

• Ewan and John Miles @ Nature Scotland

• Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes

• Charles Brodowski (sculptor)

• Linda Lyons (artist)

• Ryan Kennedy (piper)

• Derek Greenacre (Magic Lantern Show)

• Yiota Giannakopoulou (musician)

• Elysha Ramage @ Hartfell Running Club

• Joanne McInnes (Project Volunteer)

• All of the Exhibitors @ The Enviro-Day

• And anyone else we may have missed!!

This year's festival was funded by:

• Annandale & Nithsdale Community Benefit Company - Foundation Scotland

• The Buccleuch Arms Hotel

• Moffat Community Council

• Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust

THANK YOU