The Big Canopy Campout

Join us for a weekend of camping, conversation, discovery and community in Glenan Wood as we take part in the international Big Canopy Campout.

This is a family-friendly, community-led gathering for people who care about woods, nature, culture and connection. Rather than a packed programme, we’re creating a simple framework for people to come together, share skills, explore the woodland and enjoy time outdoors.
Whether you’re an arborist, naturalist, storyteller, musician, woodland enthusiast, local resident or simply curious about Glenan, you’re warmly invited to join us.

What to Expect
The weekend will be shaped by those who attend. We hope to create a “stone soup” style event, where everyone is welcome to bring something to share — whether that’s knowledge, stories, practical skills, music, conversation or simply a willingness to help create a welcoming atmosphere.

Activities may include:

• Community meals cooked on a large wood-fired paella pan
• Informal music sessions around the camp, with local musicians and visiting players welcome
• Hosted conversations exploring woodland stewardship, community ownership and our relationship with nature
• A pre-dawn UV walk to discover biofluorescent lichens and other hidden wonders of the woodland
• A BioBlitz-style wildlife survey using the iNaturalist app
• A guided walk exploring the history, culture and ecology of Glenan Wood
• Contributions from the Argyll Countryside Trust, sharing their work on the West Cowal Rainforest Restoration Project and future plans for Glenan
• Open space for participants to offer their own workshops, demonstrations, walks or discussions

The programme will remain flexible, allowing us to respond to weather, interests and opportunities that emerge throughout the weekend.

Bring Something to Share
One of the aims of the gathering is to bring together a community of interest around woods, trees and nature connection.
If you have a skill, story, workshop idea, practical demonstration, song, game or activity you’d like to offer, we’d love to hear from you. Contributions don’t need to be formal or polished — in old school ceilidh style some of the best moments come from spontaneous sharing.

Families Welcome
Children are very welcome, and we hope the woodland setting will provide opportunities for exploration, creativity and adventure across generations.  Please note that parents and guardians remain responsible for their children throughout the event.

Tickets
The sales of the tickets go towards running the event, anything above that will go toward the continual restoration and protection of Glenan woods.

To keep the gathering accessible, tickets are:

• £15 per adult for the weekend
• £10 membership rate for the weekend.
• Free for children
• A limited number of free places are available for folk thatbmight wish to volunteer…. helping with setup, takedown and essential behind-the-scenes tasks

By keeping costs low and sharing resources, we’re aiming to create an event that is welcoming, affordable and community-powered.

About Glenan Wood
Glenan Wood is a place of ecological, cultural and community significance. This gathering is an opportunity to spend time in the woodland, learn about its past and future, and connect with others who care about the role woods can play in supporting both people and nature.
Come for the whole weekend or simply to slow down, listen, learn, share and enjoy being beneath the canopy together.

Please note there are no ‘facilities’, this is a weekends wild camping in the meadow and woods.  Toilets and sinks are available at the nearby Calmac ferry terminal.