FALKIRK (BAINSFORD AND LANGLEES)
Led by fieldworkers Steve Byrne and Amy Lord, the People’s Parish Project in Bainsford and Langlees, part of the civic parish of Falkirk, took place from Spring 2021-24.
Partnering with the Corra Foundation, Bainsford Parish Church, Langlees Primary School, and others, community members engaged in a variety of action research, including:
Weekly coffee sessions with different discussion topics and story-gathering
Singing workshops
ABC of Local Distinctiveness, mapping using National Library of Scotland maps (collecting local place-names not on maps), and shoebox memories
Walking Ethnography, photography, collecting and archiving local materials with local historian Ken Shirra
Oral history interviews (individual and group)
Place Standard
Interaction with local processes such as the Community Action Plan and hall development plans
A brainstorming ‘Ideas Day’
Community Growing (community garden, school garden, planters)
The project culminated with three key productions:
Tattie Day – celebrating potatoes harvested from community beds
Doon the Loan: oral history and photography exhibition of iconic local places, with Camelon Pipe Band and other musical contributions. The event took its name from a popular local walking route.
Bibliography of local books, websites and resource
Fieldworkers
Steve Byrne, Amy Lord
Partners and Contact Organisations
Corra Foundation, Dawson Sports Development Association, Bethankit Lunch Club, Bainsford Parish Church, Dawson Centre, Langlees Primary School, Forth Environment Link, Falkirk Council, CVS Falkirk, Bainsford Community Hall Group, Coo Park United AFC, Carron Connections
Aims
To creatively connect communities to their local culture: intangible cultural heritage, history, literature
To stimulate participation and bring together local activists and organisations
To record aspects of local culture - songs, stories, dances, traditions
To affirm the work of local practitioners