Bute Heritage Hunt was an online film-based project designed to introduce aspects of local heritage on Bute and inspire self-guided exploration for families and young people, during the easing of the first phase of COVID lockdown in July and August 2020.
Success of the initial films prompted a funding extension which allowed a second series of 7 films to be made between September 2020 and March 2021 in response to the expressed interests of local people. An accompanying interactive Google Map was also produced
In response to local requests, as a finale to the project a town heritage tour was created which combined historical facts with drama sketches delivered by young people and highlighted local stories and a number of contemporary heritage issues including the role of slavery in local places, the importance of public libraries, and the development of women’s rights, through thoughtful and humorous presentation.
Assisting with the project was final year secondary pupil Zander Paterson. Over the course of the project Zander developed his existing interest in heritage and tourism, and developed new skills in project planning and research. He enjoyed exploring and sharing new stories about the local history of Bute, and learned new ways to talk about history through film, presentation and performance. This new learning fitted in well with his school studies in travel and tourism and in recognition of his valuable contribution we put Zander forward for an Archaeology Scotland Heritage Hero Silver award which he was awarded in January 2022