The Culbokie Community Trust was set up in 2014 to develop a new gathering space and community hub in the village of Culbokie, a community of 1,250 people on the Black Isle, in the Highlands of Scotland.

In 2025 a Parks4Life Community grant was received by The Trust to help support their Community Events on the Green project to bring the community together in this space.

The Trust have created a new greenspace, Culbokie Green, which combines biodiversity with paths, seating and play areas. This is looked after by a volunteer group – The Green Team- a weekly volunteer work party to help look after Culbokie Green for both people and wildlife. Meeting every Thursday afternoon between 2 and 4pm carrying out a variety of jobs for a variety of energy levels and talents.

In 2025 a Parks4Life Community grant was received by The Trust to help support their Community Events on the Green project.

The Green also has a public toilet and volunteer base for the Green Team. We plan to build a multi-purpose business and community space and a community café in future phases.

A grant from the Parks4Life Community Fund enabled the Trust to organise three community events during the autumn of 2025. Events were designed to bring the community together to enjoy the Green…

• 9^th August – Fun and Games on Culbokie Green – event involved races, challenges, circus skills – along with refreshments – a bit like a Highland Games event.
• 17^th August – Big Pollinator Count – with help from Highlife Highland Rangers this involved searching and recording bees, butterflies and other pollinators as well as some stone painting and refreshments
• 25^th October – Halloween on the Green - this event involved fancy dress and pumpkin lantern competitions, a treasure hunt, some spooky games, a drama performance with a broomstick flying squad – along with pumpkin soup, apple punch and s’mores.

“Funding from Parks4Life really brought Culbokie Green to Life in 2025. Multi-generational families gathered to enjoy the fun of the events and mingle with other families and children in the village.”

The events helped to strengthen the bonds of the community by engaging 250 people in interesting, educational and stimulating events in the village centre greenspace. Families, children, young people, parents and grandparents all took part in this multi generational event.

In addition, two of the events involved an organising committee of 4 volunteers who were able to make a significant contribution to the community. A further 35 volunteers of all ages and from many walks of life, benefited from being part of a community team helping run the events on the day.

“A slick volunteer organising group bonded over multiple cups of tea in the planning stages and a whole army of volunteers, from many different walks of life, helped to manage all the different activities on the day. Overall we’ve strengthened our pride in the village and also the social ties and support networks that are so essential for community wellbeing.”

Key to success of the events was fantastic partnerships with Culbokie Players during the Halloween event , Highlife Highland for the Big Pollinator Count and the Halloween on the Green was part of the Community Land Scotland ‘Community Land Festival’

The were two big challenges for the events!!

Firstly, the time commitment to deliver successful events. People are happy to help but it’s much more difficult to find willing volunteers to take a lead with organising.

Secondly, for the three outdoor events was the weather. Fortunately the weather was kind(ish) for all three events which ran outdoors. The village hall was pre-booked as a backstop for the late October Halloween event – but wasn’t needed on the day.

The work of the Trust is ongoing – hoping to to build the multi purpose business and community space in 2026/7 whilst also looking to run another Halloween on the Green event in 2026.

Find out more about Culbokie Green and the work of Culbokie Community Trust through their Facebook Page.

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