Reinvigorating Kilchrenan Playing Field
24 April 2026
“As many of you will know, over the past year there has been a growing conversation in Kilchrenan about the future of the playing field — what it is today, and what it could become. Through community discussions, workshops and the Community Action Plan, a clear idea has emerged: that this space could be so much more than an underused field — it could be a place where people come together, where children play and explore, and where nature is valued and protected.” - Kilchrenan Village Hall Board of Trustees
A Community Asset with a Story
The Kilchrenan Playing Field has long been part of the fabric of the village. Gifted to the community in 1989, it was shaped by local effort — levelled, drained, seeded and fenced through the hard work and generosity of people and businesses in the area.
Over the years, it has been used in different ways — from children playing and running freely, to hosting a marquee for a local wedding, and even providing access for emergency helicopter uplift when needed. It has also been a place for community gatherings, including an annual bonfire and fireworks on 1st November. It has always been a flexible, shared space.
Like many rural places, the role of the field has changed over time. When the local school was active, it provided a natural hub of daily activity, with children regularly using the field for play and informal recreation. Since the school closed, that regular rhythm of use has gradually declined. The space has remained valued, but less actively used.
Now is the time to begin the next chapter in the story of the field — one that brings it back into active use and allows it to flourish as a space for the community.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Through the 2025 Community Action Plan, 97% of respondents supported the creation of a play area and wildlife space in Kilchrenan. That strong mandate has been built upon through workshops involving children, families and other members of the community.
From those conversations, a clear vision has emerged:
A Wildlife Garden and Community Space
Nature. Play. Activity. For all ages.
This is not about creating a traditional playpark, but something more natural, flexible and inclusive — a space where:
- Children can explore and play creatively
- Wildlife habitats are protected and enhanced
- People of all ages can be active outdoors, supporting health and wellbeing
- The community can come together in a shared space
It is a vision rooted in the landscape, in community ownership, and in a desire to create something lasting.
Starting Small – Thinking Long Term
Reinvigorating the field is not about doing everything at once. Instead, it will be developed through a phased, community-led approach.
This summer marks the first step.
We are planning the launch of Go Wild Loch Awe – a program to bring children and families together for outdoor sessions inspired by the local environment. The 2026 theme, “Birds, Beasts & Bugs”, will explore wildlife through activities such as bug hunts, bird spotting, den building and nature crafts.
To make this possible, we hope to prepare the field through simple, practical improvements — clearing and cutting back, adding basic seating and temporary shelter, and introducing signage to make the space welcoming and easy to use.
It’s a modest start — but an important one. Because once a space is used, it comes to life.
Community at the Heart
One of the most encouraging aspects of this project has been the level of community support.
Over 20 local volunteers have already stepped forward to help prepare the field and support its ongoing care. Children and families have been actively involved in shaping ideas, and there is a strong sense that this is something being created by the community, for the community. This matters. Because the long-term success of any community space depends not just on funding or design, but on people caring about it, using it, and looking after it.
More Than a Field
At its heart, this project is about more than improving a piece of land.
It is about:
- Creating opportunities for children to connect with nature
- Providing a free, local space for families to spend time together
- Supporting wellbeing and social connection
- Enhancing biodiversity and valuing the natural environment
- Strengthening the sense of community in Kilchrenan
In a rural and dispersed area, these things are not always easy to access — which makes them all the more important.
Connecting the Community
Looking further ahead, there is an opportunity to strengthen the connection between key community spaces.
Over time, we plan to explore the creation of a simple bridge linking the Village Hall and the playing field, providing a safe and direct route between the two. This would make it easier and safer for children, families and visitors to move between activities, while reducing the need to use the road.
More broadly, this forms part of a longer-term ambition to better connect the village’s shared spaces — including the Village Hall, the playing field, the pub, the planned kirk heritage centre, and, in time, whatever the future holds for the school site.
Individually, these places are important. Connected, they have the potential to create a stronger, more accessible and more vibrant community hub at the heart of Kilchrenan.
Looking Ahead
This summer is just the beginning.
The longer-term ambition is to continue developing the space over the coming years, building on what works, responding to how the community uses it, and gradually realising the vision of a Wildlife Garden and Community Space for all ages.
There is still much to do — but there is also a strong foundation in place.
A clear vision.
A committed group of people.
And a shared belief that this space matters.
Watch This Space
As plans progress, there will be opportunities to get involved — from volunteering, to attending events, to simply coming along and using the space.
We will also be inviting the community to take part in an on-site design session in the coming weeks, to continue shaping how the field develops.
This is a project in motion.
And we would love you to be part of it.
Together, we can reinvigorate the Kilchrenan Playing Field — and create something that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
