Autumn Winter 2016 | No. 18 The The magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Making the National Park more accessible for walkers and cyclists ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Luss at a Crossroads, Nature in the Park, Park News, Events and more WELCOME TO THIS AUTUMN EDITION OF VOICE, with features about different aspects of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and news on recent activities of the Friends and others working to make the Park a better place for people and nature. As the only independent conservation and heritage charity covering the National Park, we continue to try and make a difference through campaigning, fundraising and volunteering activities working closely with partners such the Park Authority, local communities and tourism groups. n this edition we include a special feature a great success. An attractive booklet and expressing interest in taking over the on a range of access issues including the exhibition featuring the wonders of Loch ownership and management of public ambitious five-year Mountains and the Lomond, through the writings of Tom and car parks and toilets in visitor honeypot People project that is making a positive the work of 300 schoolchildren attending the locations such as Luss, Balmaha and impact in the National Park with a number six primary schools around the loch, were Callander. of paths being improved by trainee path launched at Weirfest in June. The exhibition Pleasingly, Stirling Council has recently builders and contractors. We are pleased featuring the children’s work has been on stepped up investment in upgrading public to be supporting this project through the display for the summer months at Balmaha toilets in popular tourist spots such as Killin popular OUR park visitor giving scheme we Visitor Centre and has proved to be very and Tyndrum and hopefully the roll out of operate with 100 local tourism businesses. popular as has the booklet which provides a the Your Park camping initiative and the There is now a real momentum behind great introduction to Loch Lomond and is a revitalised Respect campaign, led by the improving access for walkers and cyclists useful educational resource for schools. National Park with the support of partners, in many parts of the National Park and it is Although the weather conditions were will help improve the situation on the encouraging to see a raft of local community variable over the summer months, the ground. But this will require effective back groups taking the lead in improving National Park has continued to be a up with adequate staffing resources across existing, and creating new, low level family popular destination for UK and overseas a large area at peak times in particular to friendly path networks with the support of holidaymakers and day visitors from supplement the already very stretched the National Park, the Friends and other different parts of Scotland. There are reports ranger and police services. partners. that despite the uncertainty created by the I hope you will enjoy reading this latest Brexit vote there has been a noticeable rise A series of paths leaflets, produced by local edition of Voice and that some of the in European and long haul visitors, no doubt groups for the Loch Lomond and Clyde Sea features will encourage you to get out and encouraged by the weak pound. However, Lochs area, have recently been funded by about to make the most of Scotland’s first the visitor infrastructure and support visitor the Friends from the OUR park visitor giving National Park over the coming months. management services in areas such as Loch scheme. The Friends also recently joined Why not try out one of the many new and Lomond have struggled to cope at busy forces with the Scottish Woodland Trust and improved paths featured in this edition times. Love Loch Lomond to invest in much needed of Voice and appreciate the stunning improvements to the muddy Whinneyhill There are also some underlying issues autumnal colours at their best? Thank you path at the southern end of Loch Lomond concerning the quality of visitor for continuing to support the work of the and, with the help of a range of partners, management which, in part, can be Friends. path projects in Glenbranter, Killin, Tyndrum, attributed to public sector cuts in frontline Lochearnside, Lochgoilhead, Balmaha and services and the unsatisfactory management All the very best. Luss are currently being progressed. arrangements for some facilities in public JAMES FRASER The Friends’ Tom Weir’s Loch Lomond ownership. Interestingly, in recent months Chair - Friends of Loch Lomond Wonderland HLF-funded initiative has been some community groups have been and The Trossachs The Voice is the magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the only independent conservation charity working to protect, promote and provide projects and services for this most precious part of Scotland – The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. To join us or to find out more about our work please visit www. lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk or use the form inside. Articles published in The Voice do not necessarily The Voice is published biannually in spring and autumn. Submissions on topics relating to Loch represent the views of The Friends of Loch Lomond Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are welcome. Please send submissions to the editor and The Trossachs. Charity No. SC015389 at the address below or email [email protected] Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs The Old Station, Balloch Alexandria G83 8SS The Voice is printed on 100% recycled paper supporting Telephone: 01389 298008 Email: [email protected] the re-use of forest resources and in accordance with www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk FSC standards only using post-consumer recycled wood Cover photo – Walkers enjoying the Great Trossachs Forest. Photo courtesy of Forestry and fibre Commission Scotland. Photo courtesy of National Trust for Scotland. Some beautiful photographs of the National Park are available to purchase as framed or canvas wrap pictures Designed and printed by from our online shop at www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk The Inglewood Press Ltd, Alloa, Scotland www.inglewood-press.co.uk 2 The Voice - Autumn-Winter 2016 www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk 3 ED10919_LE_TheVoice_OUTLINED.indd 1 07/09/2016 16:22 FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIENDS UPDATE • FRIEND Lee Stetson assists Rhona Weir officially Top National Park Accolades for Making a Difference open Tom and Rhona’s Garden Money Matters... Friends AGM – At a well-attended AGM at A long-serving member, a Loch Lomond hotelier and a dedicated volunteer have all Ross Priory in May, the Friends Chairman, been recognised with awards from the Friends for their work to enrich the lives of many James Fraser, reported that the Friends bank balance was in a healthy position thousands of people who visit Scotland’s most popular National Park. largely due to the very generous £50,000 legacy left by the Friends late President Dr At the charity’s annual general meeting, Hannah Stirling. Funds were also boosted held in May, accolades were given to former as a result of securing £10,000 from HLF for Friends Chairman and Treasurer George Boyd, Niall Colquhoun, manager of The the very successful Tom Weir’s Loch Lomond Lodge on Loch Lomond and The Inn on Loch Wonderland project that was completed over Lomond, and volunteer Irene MacKenzie, all the summer months. James reported the three having made a significant contribution continuing support from members and a range to the improving the visitor experience in the Tom and Rhona’s of businesses throughout the National Park National Park over many years. had also played an important role in ensuring Mountain Garden Opening the Friends could make a real difference with Hannah Stirling Award a range of activities and projects to make the Helensburgh man George Boyd became the Tom and Rhona’s Mountain Garden Parks Service, said: “It is a pleasure to be Park a better place for people and nature. second winner of the Hannah Stirling National was officially opened earlier this year asked to be involved in today’s events, Park Award. George has been involved with and marked the completion of the which mark the completion of a remarkable Gift Aid the Friends in various executive roles, having transformation of the site in Balmaha project in honour of an outstanding man. – As a result of generous donations been a member since 1998. Two years after which is home to the popular Tom Tom was born only a few days after the from members and members being willing death of the great John Muir and there is this he became Treasurer, a role he continued Weir Statue that has now been visited to sign gift aid agreements linked to annual a clear sense that Tom’s work in Scotland memberships of the Friends it has been to fulfil even after he became Chairman of the by over 150,000 people since it was charity in 2003. After three years as Chairman Pictured (left to right) are Pictured left to right are Friends Vice-Chairman John Urquhart; Volunteer of the Year was a continuation of the legacy that Muir possible to secure almost £5,000 from Irene MacKenzie; Business Supporters of the Year Anne and Niall Colquhoun; Friends Trustee Joyce Deans and unveiled in December 2014. he remained as a Trustee and Treasurer and in left in the United States, something which HMRC in gift aid rebates. This funding is Hannah Stirling National Park Award winner George Boyd) I know was fittingly recognised with his 2007 he was appointed as Vice-President.