South Lanarkshire sees lift off after successful balloon festival
Tens of thousands of people flocked to South Lanarkshire to enjoy Scotland's only hot air balloon festival at the end of August!
Article Source: Banks Renewables
Last Updated: 5 September 2023 15:58
Images Credit: Les Hoggan
Strathaven Balloon Festival brought together more than 40,000 people to John Hastie Park in Strathaven, where 15 balloons took flight. The two-day event - held on August 25th to 27th - featured everything from hot air balloons to alpacas and has become a fixture on Scotland’s festival calendar.
The festival is completely free to attend and was made possible through £16,000 of funding from wind farm developer Banks Renewables over the past year - directly contributing to the security, first aid and parking of the event.
Martin Mclaughlan, a member of Strathaven Balloon Festival said: “The weekend was a major success and we’re delighted to have given thousands of people something a little different again this year by offering a family friendly day in Strathaven.
“It’s become an important weekend in the local calendar and one that the whole area looks forward to every year. Not only does the day allow people to have a fun-filled weekend but it also brings the community and local businesses together, working together to pull it off.
“We, of course, couldn’t have done it without Banks Renewables and everyone else who funded us along the way. The funding allowed us to set up a full park and ride service and ensure the event is completely safe and secure.”
The festival has been running since 1999 and started with just four balloons. It now welcomes hot air balloon pilots from across the globe to fly the Strathaven skies. Several locally based businesses, like Banks, pulled together to offer support and funding so that the festival could run this year, amid economic struggles.
The majority of the £16k Banks Renewables funding came directly from its Kype Muir Community Partnership Fund (KMCP), which was set up to provide financial assistance to community groups, voluntary organisations, and communities local to the areas surrounding Banks’ Kype Muir wind project.
Sustainability and external affairs manager at Banks Renewables, Robin Winstanley said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues, free festivals and activities like Strathaven Balloon Festival offer families the opportunity to attend a brilliant event without worrying about money.
“It’s become a very important event for us at Banks to support and we’ve really enjoyed being a part of it. The team at Strathaven Balloon Festival put in months of hard work to make it happen and we’re delighted that local renewables projects like Kype Muir can ease that load.”
The KMCP fund is part of Banks Renewables’ Connect2Renewables initiative, in which the family firm commits to maximising the economic and social benefits of all its wind farms in South Lanarkshire.
Applications for community funding are determined by the Kype Muir Community Panel (KMCP), a group that consists of community councils local to the Kype Muir Wind Farm and developers, Banks Renewables.
Kype Muir and the neighbouring Kype Muir Extension are set to deliver community benefits equating to more than £770,000 each year in funding made available to surrounding community projects and groups that benefit local people.
Both sites hold a total of 41 turbines which have a combined installed generating capacity of over 150MW of electricity per annum. This is enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 100,000 homes, or more than 200,000 people.
To find out more about the Kype Muir Wind Farm Community Fund visit: www.banksgroup.co.uk
Sponsored Links
Latest Lanarkshire News
The Royal Yacht Britannia Exhibition and Retail Experience are shipshape and ready to welcome visitors
2025 marks the next chapter in The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust’s legacy with the opening of a brand-new, world-class visitor centre with exhibition and retail experience.
READ MORE
Pavilion Festival rounds off biggest event yet with Happy Mondays and STREETrave Classical
Pavilion Festival has rounded off its biggest ever event with over 16,000 music fans enjoying three days of non-stop live music and feel good vibes on Ayr’s iconic Low Green.
READ MORE
Cineworld announces first ever 4DX Family Day
For one day only, families can experience Moana, Paddington, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in immersive 4DX at all 34 Cineworld 4DX screens nationwide.
READ MORE
Brand new show Something About Lennon opens UK tour this month with Scottish dates
Celebration of the iconic late Beatle's life and music will be performed at 26 venues nationwide.
READ MORE
Celebrate Fathers Day in Style with Dobbies Sunday Lunch and Planting Experience
This June, Dobbies Garden Centres is presenting a brand-new way to celebrate Father’s Day, combining a hearty Sunday roast with a hands-on grow-your-own herb planting workshop.
READ MORE
East Kilbride film fanatic honoured at London ceremony
Martin Durning (31) of East Kilbride was presented with a Movie Munchies Award at the inaugural ODEON Extras awards in London on Wednesday 30th April.
READ MORE
Blue Light Awards Scotland to honour emergency services heroes
Nominations for the Blue Light Awards Scotland, recognising the courage, commitment and community spirit of our Blue Light Services, are now open.
READ MORE
Funding awarded to seven projects for tree planting in cities and towns across Scotland
The Urban Forestry Programme is supporting projects in urban areas to help more people experience the benefits of trees.
READ MORE
Rory McIlroy Confirmed for Genesis Scottish Open
Newly-crowned Masters Tournament champion Rory McIlroy is set to compete for a second Genesis Scottish Open title!
READ MORE
Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red in cinemas May 15
To celebrate 40 years of legendary music, Simply Red are releasing their concert film 'Holding Back the Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, Live in Santiago' on the big screen.
READ MORE
This May bank holiday weekend sees 3 day festival take over Ayr Beach and the sun is set to shine!
Pavilion Festival 2025: From Big Top, live music to secret gigs - here's what to expect!
READ MORE
Fun for all the family at the 36th annual Scottish Game Fair
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair is back for its 36th year at Scone Palace, taking place 4th - 6th July 2025.
READ MORE
Free Glorious Grass gardening workshop for children at Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres are welcoming children across the UK to join in on the fun this May to uncover all there is to know about grass at its free Little Seedlings Club workshop.
READ MORE
Amazonia celebrates cracking Easter arrival
Staff at Amazonia, a temperature controlled tropical indoor attraction within M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, received a special surprise with the arrival of the first ever hatched red footed tortoise.
READ MORE
New Bluey collection comes to cinemas for the May Bank Holiday
Bluey at the Cinema: Let's Play Chef Collection will be playing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Saturday 3rd May, just in time for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend.
READ MORE
New and exclusive Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience comes to Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies' 160-year heritage.
READ MORE
Stories of inspiring young women sought by charity
The Young Women’s Movement, Scotland’s national organisation for young women and girls’ leadership and rights, is seeking nominations for its tenth annual 30 Under 30 list.
READ MORE
Hat trick of nominations for M&Ds
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park has been nominated for three awards at the Scottish Entertainment & Hospitality Awards.
READ MORE
Aldi brings their famous Supermarket Sweep to East Kilbride
Aldi Scotland's Supermarket Sweep challenge is back again for another year, giving customers in East Kilbride the chance to raise funds for Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
READ MORE
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next weekend with a supersized celebration
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April for its biggest event yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before!
READ MORE
Trusts join forces to explore complexities of the Battle of Culloden
The National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust have teamed up to give an insight into the complexity of the Battle of Culloden in a pair of podcasts this April.
READ MORE
Love Your Lawn with Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a very special FREE Grow How event in stores across the UK this May in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK to mark Dementia Action Week.
READ MORE
Exclusive child planting event in honour of National Childrens Gardening Week
Dobbies Garden Centres are celebrating National Children's Gardening Week by welcoming families along to its Children's Planting and Afternoon Tea experience on Saturday 31st May.
READ MORE
Easter Kilbride: Have breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Di Maggio's East Kilbride launches inaugural Easter Bunny event, here's everything you need to know to book a morning of egg-cellent fun with your little ones!
READ MORE
BBC Introducing comes to TRNSMT Festival, bringing 20 rising stars
Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has announced the BBC Introducing Stage, previously River Stage, will showcase 20 of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.
READ MORE
The hoppiest time of the year at the National Trust For Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland is hopping into spring as it hosts 40 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care in April!
READ MORE
Local business creates woodland walk for community
A nature walk has been created through woodland in Motherwell thanks to local company Lisini Pub Ltd and the council.
READ MORE
Top comedian and Scottish brewer team up in search of best Scottish banter for upcoming book
Innis & Gunn joins forces with top Scottish comedian Marc Jennings to find Scotland's funniest pub stories for 'The Book of Pub Banter & Confessions'.
READ MORE
Spring into gardening: Dobbies free April workshops
Garden Centre invites gardeners to get hands-on with wildflowers and springtime celebrations.
READ MORE
JADE and Myles Smith join TRNSMT 2025 lineup
Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has revealed five new artists to the Glasgow Green billing, including two of the hottest UK acts right now, JADE and Myles Smith!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links