Saturday morning opened to a low fog over the hills, a wintery breeze, and the industrious buzzing of tents and stalls being set up for this year’s Hill to Grill, Cairngorms Connect’s annual event celebrating local forests and local food.

By the late morning, the smell of grilling venison burgers  wafted through the stalls and the first groups arrived for morning activities.
The activities were in high demand. NatureScot staff led groups out on ‘Meet the Forest’ guided walks, to learn about what lives and grows in the wood. Folk on the fungi-focused guided walk, led by Liz Holden,  returned with a basket full of foraged mushrooms, cheeks flushed in the cold air. A highlight was the guided cycle, led by H&I Adventures, where you could explore a little deeper into the woods on two wheels. Returning this year were Strathspey Storywalks, where Sarah brought tales to life amongst the trees, and encouraged people to tell their own.

Back on site, more people began to arrive. Some came by car, some walked in with their dogs, and some cycled in on the Bike Bus, run by the Spin Project and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The air filled with chatter and laughter.

^{Images: a busy Deerstalker's stall, where antlers are being shown off; Liz Holden holds a mushroom aloft on her guided walk. Photos: Pete Short}

The deerstalker stall, run by partnership deer stalkers was popular. Visitors got hands on with antlers and learnt about the importance of deer management for ecological restoration. The venison butchery demonstrations also drew a big crowd. Our fantastic butcher, Nikki, deftly carved the deer into steaks, ribs, silversides, all whilst engaging everyone with the details and techniques of the process.

The Cairngorms Connect stall hosted a section of a Cardboard Contour map, where you could play a game to plant a sapling around Loch A’an. The Saving Wildcats stall gave people the chance to learn about the new Wildcat kittens, and the success of the cat releases this year. Next to it, you could speak to rangers from the RSPB Scotland, under the huge wings of a incredible handmade stuffed Golden Eagle, familiar to regular visitors to the Loch Garten Nature Centre!

By this time, lunchtime approached. On the menu was, of course, wild Cairngorms Connect Venison. The first stop was to grab a juicy venison burger, cooked fresh by Highland Hog Roasts. Those still hungry could head over to the food demonstrations tent, to try venison stovies and venison tacos, handmade in front of you by Catriona Frankitti.

To accompany the venison lunch, you could sample some fresh-pressed apple juice - and even press some yourself at the apple-pressing stand.
New to this year was the full indoor schedule, held in the community centre hall. There were a series of film showings, including the new Cairngorms Connect short film Tha Sinn an Seo (We are Here), created alongside young people from the local area.

There were also talks from scientists involved in Cairngorms Connect. Christina Hunt talked about woodland expansion, and how this could be helped by deer management. Rosie Irwin Holbrey brought in a show-and-tell of different objects involved in wildlife monitoring, showing the crowd amazing photos picked up on camera traps.

In the afternoon it was time for some folk music performances by Jordan Neil and Amy Henderson. Adults and toddlers danced reels in the aisles as the raucous sound of the accordion filtered outside, drawing in a trail of listeners. Dogs had a lie-down between chairs amongst the warmth and bustle.
Back outside, the sun peeked out, filtering low afternoon light over the field. In the woodworking area, children were taught how to craft small pieces of furniture and the grass was sprinkled with soft wood shavings.

^{Images: a young boy is hard at work crafting at the woodworking stall; a group is led on a guided walk of the forest. Photos: Pete Short}

Roots and Shoots Nature Crafts invited young people to create bees, which hung on string, flying with the breeze. Young and old could head along to make Goldeneye nest boxes, which can now be put out in the Cairngorms Connect partnership area.
The day ended with perhaps one last burger, and a final wander around before people began to head off home, ears buzzing with music, clutching stickers, full of good food.

This really was a day of connection with people helping from across the Cairngorms Connect partners, supported by the incredible efforts of volunteers, including the Cairngorms National Park Volunteer Rangers.

It was also a day of community, where people could come together despite the cold, eat delicious venison, and celebrate the incredible landscape that we all share.

The event is made possible thanks to staff and volunteers from the Cairngorms Connect partners: Forestry and Land Scotland, Naturescot, WildLand Ltd and RSPB Scotland, with support from the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme. A big thank you to everyone involved, and to the Nethy Bridge Community Centre and Abernethy Highland Games for their support.

Feeling inspired to join us at a Cairngorms Connect event? Come along to a free film screening and night of music in Carrbridge!