Another summer is done and dusted at Beith Trust and we’re so excited to show you what we’ve got coming next! But first, a look back to the summer. We’ve had an absolutely brilliant summer over the past few months; between our annual summer camp being fully booked nearly every day, our national playday event pulling in over 750 attendees, and our music festival in collaboration with the Eglinton Inn being a rocking success, it’s been a summer to remember. Now, we’re looking forward to the autumn months and the fun that comes with it. Due to popular demand, we’re hosting our annual pumpkin picking weekend again this October and a brand new, terrifying spooky walk! On top of that, we recently were awarded another 3 years of funding for our Lend an Ear project from Impact Funding Partners! This fund will allow us to progress our amazing lend an ear project and take it to new heights. There’s so much to look forward to so make sure you keep up to date with us on our website and socials!
Geilsland Estate
As another summer at Beith Trust comes to an end and we wrap up our summer camp, national playday, and summertime activities we begin to look towards the autumn months. We’ve got loads of different activities, programmes, and events in the diary including our coveted weekend of pumpkin-picking events for families, band factory experience for young musicians, and an exciting (and terrifying!) new ghost walk! Keep reading to learn more about these amazing events, and make sure you’re checking out our website and blog to keep up to date with our new developments.
Beith Astro
Beith Astro continues to thrive, going from strength to strength as a hub of vibrant activity. The Astro has recently finished up with our annual free summer camp for children in the Garnock Valley to enjoy and give their parents some free time throughout the summer holidays. With that activity all wrapped up we look towards the autumn months and the return of our loved nature play and to the introduction of our wonderful new forest friends programme! As always, the Astro is always looking for new volunteers with new ideas, passions and skills. If you think you’d be a good fit you can enquire here.
Music Project
Our music project is still going strong; we’ve got lots of different activities coming up and lots that we’ve just wrapped up. We have a fully stocked programme of activities happening across the summer; ukulele lessons, dance classes with Lizzie, youth open might nights, guitar lessons block two, and pipe band drum lessons. All happening in Beith! These activities are a great way to learn a new skill right on your doorstop. Book your space for any of our programmes below now!
Youth Club – Open Mic – Band Factory October
Eglinton Music Festival
The Eglinton Music Festival’s captivating sounds resonated in Beith on July 29th, turning an ordinary Saturday into a vibrant music celebration. Attendees, who purchased tickets for just £7 per person, relished a day filled with music, food and drinks. The event featured two distinct stages—the acoustic stage and the bands stage—featuring a mix of beloved classics and emerging artists. Despite the typical Scottish weather, the festival drew an impressive crowd, highlighting a strong sense of community. From well-known favourites to new talents, the Eglinton Music Festival demonstrated that music has the ability to bring people together and inspire, regardless of the conditions.
Community Programmes & Events
Do you live in the Garnock Valley or North Ayrshire? Looking for new activities, ways to get out the house, or new skills to learn? Then our community events and programmes are the ones for you! We have an array for different activities planned throughout the upcoming months at both Beith Community Centre and Geilsland Estate. Some of the highlights we have upcoming are our chit chat club, a free group focused on allowing people a safe, warm, space to enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee and chat with fellow community members. Another is our brand new Beith Trust Youth Club, also running from Beith Community Centre. This youth club is a perfect opportunity for 12 – 18 year olds in the Garnock Valley to kick back and relax with our free wifi, games, arts and crafts, and retro gaming set up. All for free! You can read more at the links below.
National Playday
Wednesday, August 2nd, marked our third annual National Playday celebration at Geilsland! It was a fantastic day with over 750 attendees, despite the weather being against us from the start. The event was buzzing with energy as families explored our haybale maze, embraced the arts and crafts corner, and enjoyed our friendly football games. We also had brilliant karaoke, and informational stalls from North Ayrshire Council and Lochwinnoch RSPB providing engaging insights and activities. It was a fantastic day and we can’t wait for next year!
To read more about what the national playday campaign means, click here!
Pumpkin Picking
Get ready for an unforgettable autumn weekend on October 28th and 29th at our Pumpkin Picking Events! A spooktacular time is in store for all ages as we celebrate the season with laughter, creativity, and a plethora of pumpkins! Follow clues across Geilsland grounds to find the perfect pumpkin to take home, craft ghoulish creations and decorations, dance to our spooky music and make some fantastic autumn memories.
Dates: October 28th & 29th
Time Slots: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Geilsland Estate, Beith, KA15 1HD
Book your Saturday tickets here or your Sunday tickets here!
Forest Friends at Beith Astro
Embark on a 6-week journey into Scottish nature with Children’s Forest Friends! This immersive program nurtures curiosity, nature bonds, and life skills in a secure outdoor environment. We’ll be exploring:
- Sensory experiences, wildlife tracking, and plant identification.
- Teamwork, creativity, and shelter crafting with natural materials.
- Responsible fire interaction and wilderness skills.
- Creative Learning: Nature-inspired art.
- Active Play: Outdoor physical activities.
Every Monday, September 4th – October 9th, 3:30pm – 5:30pm at Beith Astro. Spaces are limited and we’re running on a drop in system so first-come-first-served. Read more about this fun adventure here!
