Ambitious plans to safeguard the only farm built by Robert Burns have received overwhelming public support.
A digital engagement exercise found almost 90 per cent backing for proposals to preserve and improve Ellisland Farm beside the River Nith where the Bard wrote Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter.
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust want new generations of artists and musicians to work in the landscape that inspired the poet, and also to create holiday accommodation and event hire to make the site sustainable.
Under the Ellisland FutureVision project the 1788 cottage would be brought back to its original state, with other historic buildings converted to host educational and community activity.
Biodiversity would be enhanced by woodland management and native cultivation.
The digital engagement exercise found 96 per cent agreed that conservation and education work should be subsidised by activities such as tourism and events, an approach known as “conservation through use”.
And more than 92 per cent agreed that the cottage built by Burns for his young wife Jean Armour, which currently houses the museum and staff accommodation, should be returned to its original state to create an “immersive” experience for visitors.
The study also found that almost 96 per cent agreed that the barns and byres, which are well preserved but in need of urgent repair, should be restored to host workshops and events to celebrate the spirit of Burns in music, writing and culture.
While more than 86 per cent agreed with the trust’s proposals to create a newly-built visitor centre to house the important collection comprising the poet’s personal possessions and manuscripts.
The facility would also include a cafe and outside play space. The FutureVision project aims to boost the Dumfries and Galloway economy with a heritage attraction of national and international significance.
The proposals include artistic retreats in “tiny house” accommodation inspired by the hermitage, the bothy in neighbouring Friars Carse estate where Burns would retreat to write.
The new hermitages would be in converted historic outbuildings as well as off grid.
Joan McAlpine, project director at the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, told the Standard the overwhelming support demonstrated the value people placed on Burns and his legacy.
She said: “We are very grateful to everyone who responded to the digital survey and who visited us on site for the engagement day too.
“It is very clear that people understand the power of the poet in generating economic benefits for Scotland generally and Dumfries and Galloway in this instance. The public agree with us that this precious heritage should be preserved but also help new generations be inspired and improve the wellbeing of local people, especially young people.
“We already maintain access to the riverside walks created by Burns, which is a valuable public amenity.
“But this site is at risk and only an ambitious plan such as our FutureVision can secure it, by making it financially and environmentally sustainable.
“Since the new trust took over in 2020, we have reached out to the community with our open days, cultural events and school visits programme.
“But to build on that, we need significant investment to create a world class heritage attraction which will attract people to the area from around the globe.”
The trust will now begin fundraising to take the plans to the next level, including an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The digital engagement exercise was conducted by Dumfries based independent consultancy, Indigo Words, and funded by a grant from Dumfries and Galloway Council.
But a condition survey in the same report warned the historic buildings were at risk and required extensive repairs.
