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Studio 1, Hillend Mill, Kirkgunzeon, Dumfries, DG2 8LA

Registered Scottish Charity SC029475

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Journal

Wild Heart Sessions: Iona Lane

By Emily Cropton

20 August 2024

On Sunday we welcomed Iona Lane to Corehead Cabin for the second of our Wild Heart Sessions in collaboration with Borders Forest Trust.

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Iona is a folksinger and songwriter whose work is inspired by the natural world. Iona's music often draws on stories from her travels and on Sunday we enjoyed new songs that Iona has written this year during three residencies on three Scottish islands; Eigg, Mull and Sanday.

Through a delicate balance of beauty, sadness and humour, we were taken on a journey across the land and sea meeting stranded whales, strong women, ebbing tides and big skies. During 'The Call of the Curlew' Iona invited the audience to join in, amplifying her call to action for a bird species which has reduced in population by 50% in the last 30 years and which remains on the UK's red list for conservation. Iona dedicated her final song to Borders Forest Trust and the vital work that they are undertaking to restore healthy habitats and ecosystems in southern Scotland's Wild Heart.

We left Corehead with Iona's poetic lyrics reverberating around the valley. Iona's work is delicate and playful yet powerful and moving, sending an important message to us all about the need to care for our human and more-than-human communities.

A big thank you to the Wee Crook Cafe in Tweedsmuir for the delicious scones – they went down a treat!

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