“In a small community like ours, people volunteer for all kinds of things. It’s that diversity of interests and passion that makes things happen.”

Every year on 22 April, millions of people celebrate Earth Day. Originating in the US in the 1970s, the movement has since become a worldwide celebration of our planet and an acknowledgement of the need to protect it.

Over the years, themes have ranged from plastic pollution to biodiversity, but this year the focus is particularly timely – it’s all about the power of grassroots initiatives in sustaining environmental protections, despite increasing pushback. ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ acknowledges that the movement does not depend on any single government, but instead relies on communities coming together to protect our planet through actions that support climate stability, clean air, clean water and clean energy.

The story of Morvern is a powerful example of what can be achieved by a community with a shared vision.

Big ambitions

The Morvern peninsula is located in the West Highlands of Scotland. Defined by its remote rural and coastal position, it is surrounded by sea on three sides. The village of Lochaline is the largest settlement with a population of only around 300 people, yet it is a very lively place. There are over 15 registered charities, all with a strong tradition of community involvement and all contributing to the overall vision of the community.

Morvern Community Development Company, one of the registered charities, started with practical necessity. Given the distance to the nearest town, Fort William, one of the first community projects was to get a petrol pump installed. The community went on to develop a community allotment, a pontoon, a community hub, and three one-bedroom homes.

Morvern Community Woodlands purchased woodland for the community in 2014, and RSPB launched the ‘Saving Morvern’s Rainforest’ programme in 2024, bringing green jobs to the area and establishing a tree nursery. CAOLAS (Community Association of Lochs and Sounds), established in 2015, have a successful project growing native oysters under the pontoon to help clean up the loch. Morvern’s small population means that people volunteer across a variety of projects.

A shared vision

Over the years, the community in Morvern made substantial progress, and with a community-owned hydro scheme due to be commissioned in 2021, a new plan was needed to map out the next ten years and prioritise projects. That’s where Planning Aid Scotland came in. We supported Morvern Community Council to develop a Community Action Plan, Live Life Morvern.

Prior to our involvement, substantial community engagement around climate change had already taken place, organised around COP26 which was held in Glasgow in 2021. COP26 provided an anchor for local talks which were held each day during the conference on topics including composting, foraging, butterflies, insulation and passive housing. It soon became clear that people were genuinely interested in the environment, so sustainability and climate resilience became a core focus of Live Life Morvern.

Annie emphasised how critical the plan was for local buy-in. A shared, objective document developed by the community gave everyone a common reference point, even when views differed. The success of Live Life Morvern, which went on to win the Scottish Planning Innovation Awards in 2024, led to the development of a Local Place Plan. Planning Aid Scotland supported this process, helping to ensure locals have a say in future development on the peninsula.

The hydropower scheme

The hydropower scheme was a significant achievement for the community. The Barr River Hydropower scheme is the UK’s largest 100% community-owned hydropower scheme. Located deep in the forest, 11 miles from Lochaline, it is expected to generate enough energy each year to power over 1,000 homes. The scheme was commissioned in 2021, after over five years of hard work.

The scheme harnesses local water resources to generate clean energy, contributing to Scotland’s ambition to reach a just transition to net zero emissions by 2045. Energy is sold to the national grid, generating income for the community. These funds have enabled Morvern Community Development Company to employ staff in a variety of roles. With assets now worth around £7 million, having dedicated staff has been essential to ensure good governance. As Annie notes, it has brought both independence for the area but also a great deal of responsibility.

“What I would say is that any community development, particularly with a climate focus, it takes time and commitment, which do not necessarily fit with national or regional timescales or the support that is available. So whilst we can be ready, others are not always ready for us.”

“It’s not all plain sailing”

Morvern has also faced its share of challenges outside of the community’s control. Their reliance on the Corran ferry was felt when it was out of action for a year, resulting in significant disruption and a 75-mile round trip to Fort William. An oil slick from a fishing boat and, more recently, Storm Amy caused havoc for the community. Despite the challenges, Annie acknowledges that the rural community always rallies around.

“During Storm Amy, the phones weren’t working and around 40 trees had come down, blocking access. We had no electricity for five days. Yet somehow, we all knew everyone was safe, had hot food, the essentials. It was heart-warming how people just looked after each other.”

What’s next?

Morvern Community Development Company is now looking ahead to its next big project, 14 new affordable homes. But as Annie acknowledges, it’s not just these big developments that make a difference to the area. Smaller-scale activities like a new wood-fired sauna from which you can watch seals and otters, and a 5k fortnightly loch run make Morvern a wonderful place to live and visit.

At the end of the day, sustainable development is at the heart of it all – working together to create productive and liveable places that protect the very thing that makes them so special, the environment.

If you would like to hear more about this project from Annie herself, you can watch a recording of the webinar on our YouTube channel.