A new tartan which has been inspired by Grant Park in Forres will be on show at an event to celebrate the greenspace being gifted to the town 100 years ago.
Forres-based kiltmaker Andrea Chappell of Acme Atelier has created “the biscuit crumb tartan,” in a nod to the fact that Sir Alexander Grant who gave the park to the town in August 1924 was also the inventor of the digestive biscuit.
On Saturday, August 24, Grant Park 100, an event to celebrate the centenary will take place and Andrea will speak about her endangered heritage craft.
Andrea said:
“I am looking forward to sharing the story of the making of this tartan at the event in Grant Park.
“It is one of four tartans based on sites and stories within Moray that celebrate the region in each season of the year.
“The fact that the Biscuit Crumb tartan has been woven and created in the same year that Grant Park is celebrating 100 years, was just a lovely coincidence.”
Andrea took inspiration for her design whilst walking her dog through the park during the winter months, as she explained:
“This tartan reflects colours found in the park during the winter, when the bark and lichen on the line of lime trees entering the park are very wet, it turns the otherwise grey bark a burgundy brown and the moss and lichen bright shades of blue, green and an acidic yellow.”
The Biscuit Crumb tartan is now registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans.
Andrea is also passionate about sustainability and circularity, so this tartan has been created for her IV36 initiative, which she launched when her craft went on the HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2021.
Her initiative promotes the use of local resources that would otherwise go to waste, from consumer, commercial and agricultural sources in Moray, in order to return 20% of the profits from their sale to fund training for the next generation of kiltmakers locally.
This includes the use of donated goods, industrially damaged fabric and the local farmers’ fleece.
Grant Park 100 is an event for all the family with early bird tickets currently on sale through the website GrantPark100.com
It will boast two arenas which will stage a mini-Highland games with a twist, gun dog, sheep and falconry displays, the Forres and District Pipe Band and a car cavalcade from throughout the decades.
At 3pm, everyone will be encouraged to help create what may well be Moray’s biggest happy birthday singalong to mark the anniversary of the park being gifted.
There will also be an interactive science tent, being organised by AES Solar and the T exchange, and two marquees with stalls, displays of the entries to competitions , demonstrations and talks.
Music will also play a key role, with a stage being set up in the floral gardens with entertainment throughout the day.
More information about Grant Park 100 can be found at www.grantpark100.com
