Volunteers Come Together for “Make a Difference” Day at Tom Weir Mountain Garden in Balmaha
On Wednesday, November 20th, a group of 23 volunteers gathered at the Tom Weir mountain garden in Balmaha for a “Make a Difference” day organized by Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The event was met with blue skies and sunshine, providing the perfect conditions for a day of hard work and community spirit.
The volunteers, who were all eager and enthusiastic, spent the day completing a general tidy-up of the garden and surrounding areas. They also planted 150 heathers, adding to the natural beauty of the landscape. John Urquhart, Chair of the Friends, expressed his gratitude for the volunteers and the National Park Authority for providing tools and equipment. He also thanked the Oak Tree Inn for providing a delicious lunch for the group.
Despite the amount of work accomplished, the volunteers were pleasantly surprised to find that there was hardly any litter to be picked up. This is a testament to the community’s dedication to keeping the area clean and beautiful.
The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs successfully applied for a Volunteering Matters Action Earth Grant, with funding provided by Naturescot. This grant has helped to cover the cost of the new plants.
After lunch, some of the volunteers joined John for a guided walk along the West Highland shore-side path, followed by a return trip over the Druim Nan Buraich. This allowed everyone to make the most of the gorgeous day and enjoy the stunning scenery.
It has now been ten years since the Tom Weir’s Rest picnic site was opened, and some of the wooden interpretation panels are beginning to deteriorate. The Friends are currently working on a plan to replace these panels and are seeking funding to do so. If anyone would like to donate towards this project or become a member of the Friends (memberships starting at only £20 per year), they can do so by visiting the website at www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.