NEWS

To celebrate, the Trust are embarking on a one-week cruise round the Western Isles and a two-week cruise to explore Europe's Celtic ports.

Both cruises will sail onboard Quest for Adventure, the second year the Trust have chartered the luxury liner. Ports of call include the remote Knoydart peninsula as well as spectacular archipelago St Kilda and, appropriately for a 60th anniversary cruise, diamond-shaped Isle of Rum.

Cruise Director Elaine Bruges said:

“We are immensely proud to be celebrating 60 years of seafaring success for the National Trust for Scotland. The cruises have become an integral part of the Trust's calendar. They help to fund projects that protect the islands and coastal properties, but more importantly they mean we get to share some of our finest properties, such as St Kilda, with members and supporters of the Trust.”

The National Trust for Scotland cruises first launched in 1953 on a journey round Scotland's gardens. Late in 1952 an advert from the Trust's Gardens Committee appeared in the members' newsletter advertising a cruise that would 'greatly simplify access to the more remote gardens...most of which entail difficult and tedious journeys by road.' The next newsletter announced that the ship was fully booked with a waiting list long enough to fill it twice.

The Trust continued to offer garden cruises in petite luxury ships until 1961 when the British India company offered them the chance to charter one of their school ships. With dormitories sleeping up to 800, meals served in canteen-style metal trays, and fares costing £12.50 for a bunk, a new style of cruising was born. The Trust called it 'The Bargain Sail' and gave it the slogan 'know your country', welcoming onboard people from all ages and walks of life. Lord Wemyss, former Chairman and later President of the Trust, used to lead the cruises, and slept in the staff dormitory along with ornithologists, musicians and experts brought onboard to offer lectures, entertainment and deck commentaries. The Weekly Scotsman described it as 'a splendid concept' and 'a new dimension in holidaymaking.'

Since 1953 the Trust have chartered 10 different ships, taking over 40,000 passengers to a multitude of different islands and coasts. St Kilda, Islay, Rum and Lewis are some of the favourites, and the 2013 itinerary is designed to hark back to the spirit of the original cruises, sharing some of the country's most beautiful inaccessible landscapes.

Following a turnaround day at Greenock on 24 May, the Trust will embark on their two-week cruise Celtic Connections, sailing to the Isle of Man, Brittany and Galicia.

Back in March 2012, it was announced that the pathogen, often referred to as Sudden Oak Death or Ramorum Dieback, had been found among Arduaine’s larch trees. FCS placed a Notice on the Argyllshire garden under Article 31(4) of the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 requiring that all the larch, regardless of whether they are showing signs of infection should be felled or killed by January 2014. This would have resulted in the immediate loss of around 1,000 larch trees, taking out the garden’s shelter belt.

However, following aerial observation by the Forestry Commission over the last two seasons, it became apparent that the progression of ramorum disease at Arduaine has not been as rapid as elsewhere in the UK.

Spore trapping by the Scottish Government’s Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) division in late summer/autumn 2012 also found no indication of substantial levels of spore production among Arduaine’s larch trees.

On this basis, FCS is content that subject to continuous, almost daily onsite monitoring by the Trust’s expert garden staff, the remaining larch trees do not need to be felled unless or until early symptoms of infection become apparent.

Aerial surveillance will also continue as a further precaution. If there are any changes suggestive of ramorum becoming more active, FCS will join with Trust staff in reviewing what action is necessary to protect the garden and adjacent woodland owners.

Maurice Wilkins, Head Gardener and Property Manager at Arduaine, said:

“Visitors will have noticed very little change to the wonderful setting and plant collections at Arduaine despite the issues we have been dealing with.

“We are optimistic that this very welcome news from Forestry Commission Scotland means that some of the more drastic actions we had expected to take are now no longer necessary and that there is even less to concern visitors.

“We are very grateful for the swift and prudent actions of FCS and all of the help and support they have given us.”

Calum Ross, Chair of the Arduaine Garden Support Group and the owner of the Loch Melfort Hotel which neighbours Arduaine Garden said:

“This is great news for the area.

“While we knew that visitors were highly unlikely to be responsible for transferring the pathogen’s spores, we were worried that publicity about Ramorum might have been off-putting to some.

“This latest development should prove to everyone that there is absolutely nothing to prevent people enjoying the garden and this wonderful part of the world, and I urge them to come here and offer their support to one of the most unique of Scotland’s gardening gems.”

The Scottish Government has today outlined its future plans to help manage Scotland’s historic environment in the single greatest change for the sector in twenty years.

The National Trust for Scotland, the country’s largest heritage charity which looks after more than 100 sites of built, natural and cultural significance in Scotland, says it is keen to see the government’s support for heritage put on a sustainable footing and is planning a full response to the consultation document.

Head of Policy, Diarmid Hearns said:

“We have been involved with the discussions leading to today’s proposals and welcome the opportunity to contribute further to the development of these.

“There are clearly more opportunities for the public, voluntary and private owners to work together to ensure that Scotland’s heritage is conserved and enjoyed. There must be more sharing of experience and knowledge, and collaborating on specific projects. A good example of this is the Battle of Bannockburn project – a joint initiative between the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“The new body will combine the functions of the well-regarded Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and we feel it is important that these are continued to the same high-quality as before. We would also look for the new body to continue to act as the final guarantor of the protection of Scotland’s historic heritage, ensuring consistency and quality in local decision-making.

“We understand the reasons for shifting to a Non-Departmental Public Body with charitable status. In the interests of protecting Scotland’s heritage, however, we trust that there will be co-operation, not competition when it comes to fundraising efforts.”

The National Trust for Scotland will submit a full response to the consultation in due course.