What a full and varied programme of events at Dunblane’s ECO Fest this year! ECO Fest’s 2026 water-themed festival supported and celebrated the environment and sustainability, as local charities, churches, community hubs, universities and a network of experts involved St. Mary’s, Dunblane and the wider community in a range of talks, walks and workshops.
ECO Fest opened on the 5th May with energy and a lively discussion on providing a nature-friendly alternative to the proposed Western Arc housing development. Evening events throughout the festival included how to reduce your carbon footprint, an eco-travelogue around Scotland, a talk on green economics, a board game evening on flood management, and an engaging presentation by Dunblane Wildlife with vivid photos taken by local members and including the group’s Swift Boxes initiative.
Though the weather was on the wetter side for Eco Fest Saturday, the day was well attended, with higher numbers recorded than in previous years and with a wider range of ages. A local jazz group attracted an enthusiastic audience, while hearty catering by the Boys’ Brigade and a very enthusiastic response to Anjali Nimto’s Indian street food ensured that no one went hungry.
The wide range of groups in St. Mary’s Hall attested to ECO Fest’s popularity with local charities and community projects. New this year included the Giving Tree offering recycled electrical goods, Brooches by Annie displaying upcycled jewellery, and Weigh Ahead offering plants and promoting its packaging-free options.
Stalls giving information about the local allotments and about the Dunblane-Malawi Project were also welcomed. There was the usual very good representation by the Council recycling unit, local wildlife groups, including the Dunblane Beekeepers with live bees, spot-the-queen and delicious honey tasting, and by Forth Rivers Trust and Forth Environment Link.
Feedback was very positive from stall holders. Many said that they thoroughly enjoyed the friendly and helpful community feel of ECO Fest Saturday and look forward to participating in 2027. They added that engagement with locals was lively and morale-boosting, and that the opportunity to network between stalls was very useful. We are thrilled that ECO Fest can provide this arena for community and sustainability to merge.
A chance conversation two years ago led to a partnership with Jane Petigree, Music Director at our sister church in St Andrews and head of the Music Centre at the University. So this year, the Eco Fest schools event became part of a research project on the value of listening to the sounds of nature and Jane also led an Eco-singing workshop followed by a reflective and joyful Creation Celebration service on ECO Fest Day.
ECO FEST Sunday was an opportunity to further reflect on, and celebrate, Creation and our place within it. Eco-Congregation Scotland’s chaplain, Revd David Coleman preached at the morning service in the church while our youngsters and their families enjoyed a water-themed Forest Church on the Rectory lawn. And in the evening, Christian Aid week was launched with an ecumenical service at neighbouring St Blane’s Church.
Scotland’s Open Gardens Scheme opened three beautiful Dunblane gardens to visitors in aid of Strathcarron Hospice during the afternoon and Mothers’ Union members provided the opportunity to enjoy nature’s bounty in the shape of a Strawberry Tea and delicious home baking!
The festival wouldn’t have happened without the support of many volunteers who hosted and stewarded events, who controlled traffic, helped with setting up the hall and restoring it to order. We look forward to ECO Fest 2027 and very much hope our partners and supporters will join us again next year.
Note: ECO Fest was initiated and is still largely organised and run by a small team of volunteers from St Mary’s, Dunblane. For more information visit the link below or the Dunblane Eco Fest Facebook page.
Peter Holmes and Eva Dominguez
