As we stand at the end of a milestone year, we are celebrating and looking to the future. The Scottish Gathering 2026 is approaching, and in it’s wake, 100 Objects spanning 100 Years Exhibition is at Glasgow. It’s a chance to weave the threads of our shared history and plan for our future.
A radical legacy: From New Lanark to Glasgow Eastern
We are built on the utopian socialism principles pioneered by Robert Owen in New Lanark. Woodcraft, like Owen, believes that communal living and shared labour are the keys to a better society.
Following our International Camp in 1937, a “formal treaty” was signed between the London-based Woodcraft Folk and the Scottish Co-operative Educational Association (SCEA) by Henry ‘Koodoo’ Fair and John B. Fisher leading to many Woodcraft Groups starting in Scotland, first of which was ‘Glasgow Eastern’.
Henry ‘Koodoo’ Fair and John B. Fisher remained in close contact, and when in the late 30s and 40s the Co-operative considered starting a separate Youth organisation, the SCEA defended Woodcraft Folk who were at that time seen by some as too ‘radical’ and ‘political’.
Henry ‘Koodoo’ Fair returns
Woodcraft Folk flew in Scotland and in 1938 Koodoo returned to visit and found that many groups were already established:
Everyone will come together for Woodcraft Folk in Scotland to share what we have been doing in different parts of the country, build links, plan for the future (and socialise!). The programme will include a variety of workshops focused on gained confidence to help run a group.
Scottish Gathering 2026 will be on 30th January @ 6pm-1st Feb @ 1pm at Crianlarich.
From 14th February, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow will host our exhibition: “100 Objects Spanning 100 Years.” This is a rare opportunity to see the physical history of our movement—the badges, the banners, and the stories that have defined us since the beginning.
