So much of the education of our environment is through science but for all that it provides, it does not offer a way to engage the heart. In Search of the Lost Pines aims to change that. We will take you on a journey: from the centuries of industrial devastation, then in the shadow of Beinn Dorain, the footsteps of Duncan Ban MacIntyre, on to the lone survivors and the lone man paddling his canoe across the lochans of Rannoch moor searching, before the gathering of people who believe there is a future, the planting of hope in welcoming earth and the creation of new horizons: our world rests on the lost pine.

 

And who are we? I’m the poet Jim Mackintosh and have written a series of poems in Scots and English especially for this event. I’m joined on stage by a group of the finest award winning musicians: Ali Hutton on pipes and whistles, Ewen Henderson on fiddle, Owen Sinclair on guitar, Duncan Lyall on double bass, moog and keys, and all of their music, some composed especially for the event, is woven with the beautiful Gaelic songs performed by Ceit Langhorne.

 

In our small way, we hope that our music, our song and our poetry which we humbly offer up to you provides a new way of expressing solidarity with your endeavours and demonstrates that our journeys are interwoven, that science and art are partners in the pursuit of the common wealth of our shared surroundings – we stand with you In Search of the Lost Pines.

 

Jim Mackintosh