European Rural Parliament Welcomed to The Cabrach: A Day of Insight

In October, The Cabrach played host to an international gathering the likes of which this place will have never seen before. As part of the 6th European Rural Parliament (ERP), The Cabrach Trust welcomed 40 delegates, representing 18 countries, for a full immersion day centred on the Trust’s rural regeneration vision for The Cabrach, combining an exploration of key projects and investments which have been progressed across recent years.

This practice sharing visit formed part of a wider four-day assembly hosted in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, where over 400 rural representatives from more than 40 European nations came together to champion the needs, strengths, and enduring potential of our European rural communities.

The ERP is a long-standing movement designed to bring rural voices to the forefront of associated European policy. It exists to amplify lived experience, strengthen collaboration across borders, and promote real partnership between communities, civil society, and government.

This year’s gathering highlighted a message that resonated strongly across every conversation: rural communities are not short of ideas, commitment or capability, but they are short of the support and partnership required to deliver change. That call for collaboration sat at the heart of the ERP 2025 Declaration, and was the core message of this year’s assembly.

For The Cabrach Trust, hosting a key part of the ERP programme offered an unrivalled opportunity to share the strategy and ambition which underpins our work and to demonstrate the power of community owned, community regeneration.

The day began with an introduction to The Cabrach’s story and our Theory of Change: a long-term pathway focused on community regeneration through community, heritage, and culture projects, progressive land stewardship and nature recovery initiatives, and sustainable socioeconomic investments. Delegates explored what regeneration means in a place shaped by a long, proud history, alongside decades of depopulation, and how our projects are being built with and for the community.

To give visitors a close-up view of the breadth and depth of activity underway, the group was divided into two themed “walk & talk” groups.

Distillery & Heritage Centre

Led by our Chief Executive, one group explored our one-of-a-kind social enterprise The Cabrach Distillery CIC; the flagship investment of our regeneration strategy thus far. The discussion centred on how this development is creating permanent skilled employment, driving sustainable land use, attracting visitors to the area, and delivering an essential long-term income stream to underpin wider community ambitions.

Discovery Trails, Buildings & Learning in Nature

The second group, led by our Community & Development Manager, walked through projects that celebrate The Cabrach’s landscape, heritage and culture. Delegates experienced our growing network of Discovery Trails, walked our ambitious nature recovery initiatives, and learned about our education and wellbeing programmes, including rural skills training, outdoor learning, community workshops, exhibitions, and cross-sector collaborations.

Across both groups, conversations flowed around shared challenges and shared solutions. Delegates reflected on the importance of place-based regeneration, of valuing culture and identity, and of enabling communities to lead their own futures.

The visit closed with shared sense of connection: between countries, between rural movements, and between people working every day to ensure places like The Cabrach not only survive but thrive.