Forres Local

A local festival celebrating arts and culture has broken all records in its opening weekend, reporting that ticket sales have exceeded targets and thousands are expected to fill the venues over the 10-day event.

Kresanna Aigner MBE, Festival Director, said: “It’s wonderful to finally see art on our walls, on the streets and in parks, in care homes and in venues and spaces that are not normally used for arts and culture. For me personally, to see so many smiling faces and people enjoying themselves, of all ages, makes me both happy and proud.”

Read more reaction at https://forreslocal.com/record-turnout-and-for-arts-festival-openers-with-96-of-tickets-already-sold/

Findhorn Bay Arts

Pictures by Paul Campbell and Marc Hindley

As fuel prices continue to soar, diesel has reached an eye-watering £2 a litre in Forres!

Pupils from Forres Academy and its primary schools took centre stage today during the ceremonial cutting of the first turf at the new £88m school being built in the town.

Moray Council Leader and Chair of the Education, Children and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “Today was a really special moment for Forres and for Moray, and it felt absolutely right that our young people were the ones cutting the turf."

Read the full story at https://forreslocal.com/youngsters-cut-ceremonial-first-turf-of-new-forres-academy/

Revealed? The mystery surrounding scaffolding that has appeared on the Divie Viaduct has led to speculation that the structure is in need of some repointing and others that there is filming being done there.

A sneaky peak around the side you can't see from the viaduct reveals a large facade containing three cages overhanging the 100+ feet drop and a logo you might be familiar with. 😉

Now, where have I seen that compass design before? 🤔

Did you see the eclipse? Heavy cloud cover made it difficult, but our photographer Marc Hindley waited for a crack in the clouds and captured this crescent from a bird hide on Findhorn Bay.

Morayvia in Kinloss proudly unveiled its latest exhibit yesterday – the culmination of seven years hard work by dedicated volunteers – Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XJ723, commemorating the bravery and professionalism of its crew during the Sea Gem disaster on 27 December 1965.

The unveiling ceremony at Morayvia was attended by around 80 invited guests, including representatives from the Royal Air Force, 39 Engineer Regiment, veterans’ organisations, civic leaders, supporters of Morayvia and members of the families connected with the historic rescue.

Responding in appalling weather conditions in the North Sea, the crew demonstrated exceptional courage during one of the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Service’s most significant peacetime rescue operations.

The ceremony reached its climax as the Royal Air Force Ensign was lowered to reveal the names of the crew of Whirlwind XJ723 on that day.

Find out more about this remarkable new helicopter, now on show at Morayvia: https://forreslocal.com/morayvia-unveils-restored-whirlwind-xj723-to-honour-the-heroes-of-the-sea-gem-rescue-in-1965/

WEDNESDAY 29 July — The MidLife Mingle will be back at Cafe 1496 from 6-7:30pm for light-hearted banter around Menopause. No need to book just turn up.

More information below ⬇️

The Forres Midlife Mingle is back this Wedneday at Cafe1496 in Forres.
What it isn't: a support group in the scary sense.
What it is: a few women, a few cups of tea, and somebody saying the thing you thought only you were thinking.

📅 Wednesday 29 July
🕕 6–7.30pm
📍 Cafe 1496, High Street, Forres

For menopause, midlife, brain fog, rage-cleaning, mystery tiredness, and all the other nonsense nobody properly warned us about.

A spectacular programme of more than 100 events over ten days was launched today in front of the beautiful Findhorn Bay.

The 6th Findhorn Bay Festival running order, featuring music, theatre, dance, visual arts and community, from local, national and international artists, is now available online and in print.

Running from Thursday 24 September to Sunday 4 October, the multi-award-winning festival has become one of Scotland's most distinctive and applauded cultural events, transforming unexpected spaces and spectacular landscapes across the towns and villages surrounding Findhorn Bay into stages for world-class artistic experiences.

Read more about who's coming, what to see and where: https://forreslocal.com/festival-promises-100-events-of-discovery-celebration-and-connection-in-2026-programme/

Findhorn Bay Arts

Picture: Marc Hindley

A neglected and overgrown garden on Forres High Street is being transformed into a welcoming educational and wellbeing space by local gardening fanatics.

Avid gardeners Steve Storrs and Steve Clemson have, with the help of volunteers, cleared decades of brambles and weeds growing in the close next to Ashers Bakery on the high street, with a vision to transform it into natural space for the community to enjoy.

Ashers Secret Garden will not only be a place to chill out, but an educational space for anyone interested in nature, with workshops planned in horticulture and crafts


Green Fingers Of Forres Community Gardens

Read how the vision is becoming a reality: https://forreslocal.com/secret-gardeners-create-natural-space-community-town-centre/

Picture shows, left to right, volunteer Billy Hardie, Steve Storrs and Steve Clemson

A team of engineers and architects met at Leanchoil this morning to kickstart work on the property's refurbishment into a health and wellbeing centre.

After a Scotland-wide competitive bidding process, the Leanchoil Trust have announced Inverness-based architects LDN are the successful bidders for the phased refurbishment contract.

LDN Architects partner Stuart Mackellar is pictured here with representatives from structural and civil engineers Cameron & Ross and building services engineers CDMM before a tour of the building.

Read more: https://forreslocal.com/ldn-architects-bring-team-to-leanchoil-after-winning-refurbishment-bid/