Welcome to our latest news and events round-up, keeping you connected to the work we’re doing to protect, restore and stand up for wild places.
This month, one of our Trustees - Professor of Biosphere–Atmosphere Interactions at the University of Leeds Dominick Spracklen - shares his views on what makes wild places wild and gives an insight into an exciting nature restoration project that he's involved with in the Lake District. Meanwhile, in the Scottish Borders, work has started on Gathering Shelter at Glenlude. Read more below.
If you have a day or so spare this summer, consider joining one of our hands-on volunteer conservation days. If you fancy joining our team for a summit clean on Nevis, or would rather stick to a beach clean down at sea level on Skye, we would love to count on your help.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Wild Places News
Protecting and restoring wild places
This summer consider spending a day volunteering in some of Scotland’s most beautiful wild places. Our conservation days are a great opportunity to meet other Trust volunteers, as well as learn about and contribute to our peatland and native woodland restoration projects. Book a conservation day on Skye or at Nevis.
Thanks to the incredible efforts of our recent volunteer conservation work party at Steall Gorge in Glen Nevis, all the cross drains on the path have been cleared; many of the ditches re-dug; two bags of litter were collected and foliage that forced people of the path has been cut back.See more images of the Steall path maintenance in our Nevis Manager's report.
Monitoring habitats in Nevis: "Of note, we found cotton grass, sundew, tormentil, ling heather, cross-leaved heath and cladonia. We were also lucky enough to record some mountain everlasting (pictured here) - a hardy perennial plant that is able to survive harsh mountain conditions." Read more of fundraiser Liv Adams' findings when she visited the Nevis team.
Advocating for wild places
What makes wild? "I’m miles from the nearest road and even further from the closest village. It feels very remote. But is it really wild? The grassy slopes are almost bereft of flowers. Even heather and bilberry – which should be everywhere – cling only to the steepest, craggy ledges. There are no trees or shrubs to be seen." Read our Trustee - Professor of Biosphere–Atmosphere Interactions at the University of Leeds - Dominick Spracklen's view of wild places.
Connecting people to wild places
Work is set to begin on a traditionally-built timber-framed gathering shelter to help people engage with wild places at Glenlude. Made possible thanks to funding from our Members and supporters, the gathering shelter will make the site accessible to even more people - while remaining true to the landscape and the Trust's conservation ethos. Read more.
Wild Moment: Artist Holly Hayward shares her latest painting and words, inspired by recent safe rescue/release of a male swan and relocation of a separate brood at Ellesmere. This area of Shropshire is known for its local meres and wildlife. If you are inspired to share your own Wild Moment - a poem, a story, a photo, a painting - please get in touch to find out more.
Thank you for your continued support of the John Muir Trust. We look forward to sharing more updates from across our work in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, our work continues every day. Visit our website for the latest stories, campaign updates and news from across the Trust.
Help our team with urgent upcoming tasks at Strathaird on Skye, including: removing Sitka spruce seedlings and a beach clean at beautiful Camasunary Bay.
Wild places are closer than you think. This autumn, we'll be inviting families to discover the nature on their doorstep with our new Summer of Wild Places campaign. Through simple activities inspired by the John Muir Award, we'll help you slow down, look closer and discover the wild places waiting just beyond your front door. Because the wild places we experience today are the ones we'll care for tomorrow. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Becoming a Member of the John Muir Trust will help us protect the wild places in our care, campaign on the urgent issues facing wild places and connect more people with them.
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