Thank you for your coverage of the Arran Wildlife Festival in last week’s edition. It was certainly the most successful festival so far. Through your letter page on behalf of the organising committee, I would like to thank the many organisations and individuals who contributed to its success.

The volunteers and leaders from the Arran Natural History Society, the British Trust for Ornithology,  Butterfly Conservation Scotland, the Community of Arran Seabed Trust, the Forestry Commission Scotland, the Hen Harrier Viewing Project, the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust, the Marine Conservation Society and Cool Seas Roadshow, the National Trust for Scotland, the North Ayrshire Council Rangers Service, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Arran Adventure Company, Arran Power and Sail, Holy Isle Ferries, Kilmory Community Bus, Ocean Breeze RIB Tours, plus David Callan (Ayr Photographic Society),  Neil Clark (Curator of Palaeontology at the Hunterian Museum), Steve Ewart, Robert Lambie, Charlie McAllister, Jason McManus, Dan Sealy (US National Parks), and Robin Whitla.

The venues and event sponsors including the Auchrannie Hotel, the Arran Brewery, Arran Store for the Photography Exhibition, Blackwaterfoot Lodge, Brodick Country Park, Corrie Hall, Dippen House, Dyemill Lodges, Glenartney Hotel, Kildonan Hall, Kinloch Hotel, Lochranza Distillery, Marvin Elliott for the Wildlife Art Exhibition, Ormidale Hotel, Ormidale Pavilion,  Shiskine Golf Course Tearoom, Visit Scotland Tourist Office and Whiting Bay Hall.

The major sponsors including the Argyll and Islands Leader Programme supported by European Funding and the Scottish Government, Awards for All supported by the Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, Arran Natural History Society and North Ayrshire Council.  Also the sponsors from the local business community: Auchrannie Hotel, Caledonian MacBrayne, Glenartney Hotel, Paragon Solutions Web Design, Scottish Co-operative and Stagecoach, and the many individuals and businesses who became Friends of the Arran Wildlife Festival.

There would have been no festival without the participants and our thanks go to the many locals and visitors who came along and enjoyed one or more of the many events of the festival. Our thanks also to all the local primary schools for taking part in the Cool Seas Road Show.

Finally the organising committee would like to publicly thank our co-ordinator, Lucy Wallace, for her first class organisation of this complex festival. Throughout the festival her enthusiasm shone through.

The committee will be meeting soon to review the festival. Any suggestions or feedback would be welcomed.

Our thanks to everyone concerned.

Jim Cassels

Chairperson of the organising committee of Arran Wildlife Festival