The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, an independent conservation and heritage charity, have celebrated an incredibly successful year, raising over £90,000 for projects throughout the National Park.
The voluntary visitor donation element of the charity’s Friends of OUR Park scheme has been an important source of funds for access, conservation and heritage projects. Businesses have employed the use of opt-out visitor donation opportunities linked to accommodation and food bills, which has been the most successful fundraising technique.
The charity was able to re-introduce several core activities, including Make a Difference Days, a Young Friends outdoor programme and two major Visitor Management Projects. Additionally, two editions of the popular Voice magazine were printed and distributed.
A grant provided by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Year of Young People Legacy Fund enabled the Friends to co-ordinate activity days in the National Park for local young people. These activities included watersports, climbing and learning bushcraft and other skills, as well as learning about nature and the environment.
At the Friends’ AGM recently, several changes were made to the Board. Chairman James Fraser and Trustees Dr Joyce Deans, Bill Dalrymple and Paul Saunders all retired from the Board, having provided a total of 45 years’ loyal service to the Friends. John Urquhart moved from Vice Chairman to Chairman, while Dr Roddy Yarr, Executive Lead Sustainability at the University of Strathclyde, and Mr Stewart Gibb, also on the Board of Helensburgh & District Access Trust, joined the Board as Trustees.
During the meeting, Chairman John Urquhart provided an update on the campaign for a major re-think of the plans for the A82 upgrade on Loch Lomondside, while Gordon Watson, the National Park Authority Chief Executive, discussed current and future priorities of the National Park.
Presentations were made to the retiring Trustees to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to the Friends.
The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, an independent conservation and heritage charity, have celebrated a successful year after raising over £90,000 for projects throughout the National Park.
Voluntary visitor donations, linked to accommodation and food bills, have been the most successful fundraising technique employed by businesses supporting the charity’s Friends of OUR Park scheme.
The charity has re-introduced core activities, including Make a Difference Days, a Young Friends outdoor programme and two major Visitor Management Projects. Furthermore, two editions of the popular Voice magazine were printed and distributed.
A grant from West Dunbartonshire Council enabled the Friends to co-ordinate activity days in the National Park for local young people.
At the Friends’ AGM recently, Chairman James Fraser and Trustees Dr Joyce Deans, Bill Dalrymple and Paul Saunders all retired from the Board, having provided a total of 45 years’ service. John Urquhart moved from Vice Chairman to Chairman, while Dr Roddy Yarr and Mr Stewart Gibb joined the Board as Trustees.
Chairman John Urquhart and Gordon Watson, the National Park Authority Chief Executive, discussed the campaign for an A82 upgrade and current and future priorities of the National Park, respectively. Presentations were made to the retiring Trustees to recognise their dedication to the Friends.
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