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media release 9 July 2003 THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND LAUNCHES £2 MILLION ‘MOUNTAIN RESCUE’ PROGRAMME
Today, Cameron McNeish launched a £2 million rescue programme to protect Scotland’s mountains from the backlog of path erosion built up over the last few decades. Run by the National Trust for Scotland, the five-year programme involves upland footpath maintenance work in some of Scotland’s most popular hill-walking and mountaineering areas including Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond and Glencoe.
"Scotland's mountain footpaths are under tremendous pressure, not only from the vagaries of the Scottish weather but from unprecedented numbers of hill-walkers and mountaineers,” said Cameron McNeish. “Paths that were created to serve several small stalking parties a year are now being pounded, and eroded, by thousands of pairs of boots. This is, in effect, a bitter-sweet scenario, for while the damage done to our footpaths is costly to repair, these hill-walkers and mountaineers contribute directly to fragile local economies. We want to encourage these walkers back to Scotland, not put them off because of muddy, dangerous paths, so I applaud the concept of the Mountain Heritage programme and congratulate the National Trust for Scotland on its far-sighted initiative."
The programme recognizes the need to take a long-term view, which is essential for the enhancement and protection of Scotland's precious mountain heritage. Specialist contractors will repair the backlog of environmental damage created over the years while the longer-term protection of the mountains will be ensured through the development of the Trust's new in-house team. Once the more severe erosion has been repaired, ongoing maintenance can be provided by the newly created Scotland’s Mountain Heritage team. The team will act as a 'flying squad' shuttling between mountains to fix path erosion problems at an early stage when the amount of resources needed to make the repairs is minimal. This will also prevent the build up of large-scale damage, which requires expensive and intensive repair techniques.
As a charity, the Trust has had to work hard to raise the necessary funds for this project. Thanks to significant donations from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£983,000), Scottish Natural Heritage (£375,000) and the Scottish Mountaineering Trust (£20,000) the majority of the £2 million needed has been obtained allowing the programme to get off the ground. The remainder of the funding will be raised through the Trust’s Sole Trading appeal, which hopes to raise the remaining £600,000 by 2008.
“As part of our work to protect Scotland’s natural heritage we are delighted to be able to launch this important programme which will minimise the impact walkers and climbers inevitably have on our mountains,” said Robin Pellew, Chief Executive for the Trust. “The protection of Scotland’s Mountains in the long term is a daunting task, but the Trust hopes that at the end of this five-year programme the project will have provided a template which will ensure they are protected for people to enjoy, today and into the future.”
John Markland, Scottish Natural Heritage’s Chairman commented: “We are delighted to be supporting this important project. Scotland’s mountain paths have suffered from decades of trampling underfoot and the more we can do to tackle the worst paths and prevent deterioration on the others, the better. The early action on paths by the maintenance squad will prevent needless damage to vegetation and landscapes and save huge restoration bills later. This is good news for the natural heritage, for hill-walkers, for footpath funders and for the many who simply enjoy looking at these magnificent mountains.”
Colin McLean, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for Scotland, said: “Our mountains are a priceless and much loved part of our heritage. Their stark beauty attracts an ever-growing number of walkers, mountaineers and tourists each year. This extremely worthwhile project aims to reduce the impact of public access so that visitors may continue to enjoy the outstanding natural landscape for generations to come. We are delighted to have been able to play a very significant role with funding.”
If people are interested in supporting this work through the Sole Trading appeal they should visit www.nts.org.uk for more details.
ENDS
For further information contact Francoise van Buuren, on (0131) 243 9384.
EDITOR’S NOTES:
The National Trust for Scotland is an independent charity established in 1931. It is Scotland’s largest conservation body with 260,000 members and is funded by subscriptions, legacies, donations, visitor admission fees, grants and investments. The Trust cares for over 120 properties, including more than 74,000 hectares of countryside. The Trust works in partnership with local communities, educational establishments, the private sector, central and local government and their agencies to protect and promote Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy.
In the last 15 years the Trust has invested some £2 million in mountain footpath improvements, with much of this sum coming from Scottish Natural Heritage, the European Union, mountaineers themselves through the Scottish Mountaineering Trust and through National Trust for Scotland appeals. The Sole Trading Appeal was launched last year in order to raise a total of £2 million towards the funding of this work over the next five years. Donations to the Sole Trading Appeal can be made by a Give as you Earn scheme where weekly or monthly donations are deducted from salaries or company pensions before tax, or by a one off donation through Gift Aid, which allows the Trust to reclaim any tax paid on the donation made.
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