The Portpatrick Trust have supported the Portpatrick Folk Festival with moral, physical and financial help. Please take time to read on about what this worthy organisation is trying to achieve.

The Portpatrick Trust is now seeking donations from individuals and organisations who are “friends of Portpatrick”.

The Trust was formed principally to try to acquire Portpatrick Harbour for the Community of Portpatrick.

The visitor to Portpatrick probably just assumes that the Harbour – which includes not only the inner dock but also the whole sea front masonry, slipway, the North & South piers and the Dorn Rock – belongs to the village or the local Council.

It doesn’t. It is privately owned by a businessman in Hampshire.

As a Community we are concerned that Portpatrick Harbour is progressively dilapidating and silting. The South Pier is being further eroded and shortened by every major winter storm. The Harbour was once the only non-tidal haven for a hundred miles north or south but silting has reached the stage where that can no longer be claimed.

We consider that it is unlikely that a private owner, however well disposed, could afford the necessary remedial and conservation measures. That is because the costs involved could never be recouped by commercial revenues that the harbour can generate.

Over the last three years the Portpatrick Trust, with assistance from Dumfries and Galloway Council has been able to develop a strategy for acquisition, repair and conservation that will secure the future of the harbour for the Community – because in reality the harbour is the heart of this community.

We are at a stage now where we have to build up a working fund to enable us to continue our efforts.

As we develop further we will be keeping all friends informed of progress through various media such as www.portpatrick.co.uk.

DURING THIS FESTIVAL WEEKEND WE HAVE COLLECTING TINS IN THE MAIN VENUES. PLEASE HELP.

Additional Info:

The Portpatrick Trust Company Number 267540

Scottish Charity Number SC 035754