Friends of Loch Lomond and Trossachs mark 40 years

A conservation charity for Scotland’s first national park marked its 40th anniversary with a  tree-planting event.

The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs was formed in the Balloch Hotel in 1978 when it gained 200,000 signatures  to prevent a major pumped storage hydro scheme which threatened Ben Lomond.

Last week schoolchildren from Hermitage Academy and Balloch & Haldane Primary helped to plant 40 trees in Balloch Castle Country Park to mark the event.

MSP Jackie Baillie presented the pupils with young conservation volunteer certificates and Gillian Neil of West Dunbartonshire Council’s ranger service and Jim Biddulph, secretary of Balloch & Haldane Community Council, were present to support the event.

Jackie said: “I was delighted to take part in this event and it was great to see the enthusiasm of local schoolchildren planting trees around the edge of the walled garden, which was at its spectacular best bathed in glorious autumnal colours.

“This was a very fitting way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the pioneering Friends conservation charity who have done so much over the years to protect and enhance the special qualities of Loch Lomond and the wider area for the benefit of people and nature.”

The Friends were at the forefront of the campaign to secure national park status for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and have worked on access, conservation and heritage projects throughout the national park.

Each year the group supports projects with funding raised through the OUR park visitor giving scheme and donations from many individuals and businesses.

Current projects include:

• Restoring and improving access to the Lauder monument in Cowal
• Creating a family-friendly path linking Helensburgh, Luss and Arrochar
• Improving and maintaining the site of Tom Weir’s Statue at Balmaha
• Supporting the Mountains and People ‘frontier’ mountain paths restoration programme
• Delivering an eco-tourism programme of activity
• Campaigning for better visitor management arrangements and infrastructure at tourist hotspots

Chairman James Fraser said: “It is a fine testament to the late and energetic Dr Hannah Stirling MBE, the late Professor Gavin Arneil and other founding members that the Friends is still a vibrant organisation, as relevant today as it was back in 1978, upholding the original vision of trying to make a difference and helping to care for what is a very special place enjoyed by millions of people from home and overseas.”