Monday March 2nd 2026
Fallago Harp School
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
No strings are attached to a near-£24,000 grant donated to the Borders-based Scottish School of Harp Making.
The funds will be used to help purchase the essential tools, specialist equipment and raw materials required to establish the school’s full-time, two-year harp-making course in Stobo, west of Peebles.
The Fallago Environment Fund shares the benefits of the Fallago Rig windfarm in the Lammermuir Hills with projects that enhance the natural, cultural and built heritage of the Borders.
The grant comes at a critical time for Scotland’s oldest instrument.
Harp-making is on the red list of endangered heritage crafts with only three makers remaining in Scotland, all of whom are approaching retirement age and without young staff or trainees to carry their specialist knowledge forward.
The Scottish School of Harp Making has been established by Master Craftsman Mark Norris to preserve and pass on the rare skills of heritage harp-making to the next generation.
At the same time, the school will create a pool of professional-quality harps to support and encourage young players.
Under Mark’s guidance, students at the new school will undertake an intensive, two-year programme in harp craftsmanship and design.
Each student will create six professional-quality harps per year, learning traditional construction methods while developing the expertise required to sustain future businesses in harp-making.
An optional third year will allow students to specialise further and receive support in establishing their own enterprises, helping to ensure that skills remain rooted in Scotland.
The Fallago Environment Fund grant will help the school to source and purchase specialist tools and materials and to install appropriate health and safety equipment to ensure the workshops operate to the highest standards.
Harps created by the students will form the foundation of the Scottish Harp Hub, an initiative designed to make harp playing more financially accessible.
Most of the instruments will be made available at affordable rental rates, with a quarter offered as free loans to those most in need.
A small number will be sold to generate bursary funding, widening access to both harp-playing and harp-making training.
Over its first decade, it is hoped that the hub will build a collection of over 100 harps, creating a sustainable income stream that will help secure the future of both the school and Scotland’s harp heritage.
Representing the Fallago Environment Fund, His Grace The Duke of Roxburghe said: “This project not only preserves an endangered heritage craft but also creates a sustainable ecosystem that will connect makers, players and communities.
“We’re pleased to see this important initiative being developed in the Scottish Borders and delighted that funds generated by the Fallago Rig wind farm are helping to secure the future of Scotland’s oldest instrument for generations to come.”
Mr Norris, said: “Through the school and the hub, we believe the Borders has the opportunity to become recognised as a national centre for Scottish heritage harp culture.
“As well as teaching people to build these beautiful instruments, we hope to increase the number of young people playing the harp, both locally and nationally and to encourage performances in community settings and at events. We’re extremely grateful for Fallago Environment Fund’s support.”
The Fallago Environment Fund is administered by Tweed Forum. Grant applications are assessed twice a year, with application deadlines on September 1 and March 1. Further information can be found at www.tweedforum.org/fallago or by calling Tweed Forum on 01896 849723.
The fund is financed by Roxburghe Estates, Federated Hermes and EDF power solutions UK and has donated over £2 million to over 170 projects across the region since its formation in 2013.
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