Birdman of Pollok/Curaidh na Coille (2019)

A documentary produced by BBC Alba on Colin Macleod and the Pollok Free State.


"Colin Macleod was a modern-day land raider who gave a voice to the people of Pollok in the 90s. The M77 was being driven through their park, cutting the local community off from their only green space. Instead of Greta Thunberg or Extinction Rebellion, they had Colin Macleod. He started by staying up a tree for 9 days to grab press attention. This grew into a full-blown protest camp and the Pollok Free State was born.

The Free State became a community. It was an escape from the gangs, drugs and poverty of Pollok. Even though the motorway eventually went through, the Pollok Free State had become more than a protest camp. Colin and his fellow activists went on to found GalGael, a trust based in Govan which provides support to people with addictions or mental health problems, offering healing through reconnection with their culture.

Through colleagues, friends and family, we come to know Colin Macleod, a visionary whose work is still a beacon of hope.

Thog Cailean Macleòid a ghuth sna 1990an agus e a’ strì gus aithne a thoirt do mhuinntir Pollok nuair a chaidh an M77 a leudachadh. Cha robh leithid Greta Thunberg no Extinction Rebellion aca ach bha Cailean, a chuir 9 latha seachad ann an craoibh agus a thug Stàite Neo-eisimeileach Pollok gu bith.

‘S e fìor choimhearsnachd a bha seo agus ged a chaidh an rathad a leudachadh, bha an iomairt air cothrom a thoirt dhan choimhearsnachd a thighinn còmhla.

A’ tarraing air na dh’ionnsaich e, stèidhich Cailean agus a charaidean GalGael, iomairt a tha a’ leantainn chun an latha an-diugh"