VOLUNTEER WITH US

(Ross Hughes, Assistant Leader, shares his experience of the Ben Lawers Thistle Camp which took place at Perthshire from 15th to 22nd August)

As a relatively new member to the National Trust Volunteer Team, I have to admit that I was feeling a little nervous of what awaited me at Killin. However as soon I met the team I realised that I had been fretting over nothing. Their enthusiasm and interest in both our tasks as well as the local environment was brilliant.

On Sunday morning our group helped local area rangers complete a new section of path through the enclosure below the Visitor Centre. We removed old fencing, dismantled a dry-stane dyke, dug new drainage ditches, built a new gate and repositioned several tonnes of earth. The end result is a fantastic showpiece for what volunteers can achieve - and that was just the first three days! This pathway now allows visitors to walk up to the Centre through the protected heather moor land which, in contrast to the sheep-grazed slopes, dazzles the eye with bright heathers and marsh plants - and provides hungry volunteers with succulent Blae Berries and Cow Berries for their efforts.

On our day off we went to the Crannog Centre at the other end of Loch Tay, an experience that gave many of us deeper insight into the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands and allowed us to get our hands dirty once again. Thursday saw us clearing dead wood from a small section of plantation, whilst on Friday we took some rare mountain willows out onto the large enclosure on the east side of Meall Nan Tarmachan. Trust Rangers here are hoping to strengthen the genetic diversity of the local plants by bringing in young willows grown at their base.

During the week we encountered a real slice of Scotland, from Red Deer, Roe Deer and Ospreys to breathtaking views and dramatic weather and, of course, great hospitality.

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