Activities with Holyrood Park Rangers and John Muir Trust

Links with the Holyrood Park Rangers and the John Muir Trust (www.jmt.org) provided another fantastic opportunity for members to go out and about earlier this year.

Some members met with 4 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) at Holyrood to share what they learned while doing their award. The challenge of the award is to discover, explore, conserve and share a wild place. David Clyne, Holyrood Ranger, shared his enthusiasm and knowledge of the history and geology of the park. Members climbed Arthur’s Seat (twice!) cleared bracken and documented the work they did in words and pictures.

Sarah Boyack Minister for Transport and the Environment met them for a cup of tea in the Parliament and they have the invitation of a return visit and tour from Lord James Douglas Hamilton who is another MSP.

The event was scheduled as part of Scottish Environment Week February 5-9. Thanks to Helen McDade and Kate Simpson from the John Muir Trust, and Judy and Lilly of the Ranger Service for their support and their interest in supporting further John Muir Award Groups.

The John Muir Trust was formed in 1983 to protect and conserve wild places and to increase awareness and understanding of the value of such places.
The Trust works closely with local communities. It believes that sustainable conservation can only be achieved by recognising special qualities of wild places and understanding the human factors and other aspects which contribute to the landscape we think of - and value - as wild.

The John Muir Award (www.johnmuiraward.org) is an environmental award scheme focussed on wild places. It has a long association with Garvald Edinburgh culminating most years in our own Annual Awards Ceremony. The Trust encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. It is non –competitive and open to all. The John Muir Award is the educational initiative of the John Muir Trust.