Part of operation Goodbye Magpie is to live a 'feel-good' life. So, although I am being super thrifty at the moment, I am still 100% committed to giving money to charity. One of the charities myself and JW support is the John Muir Trust, which pledges to protect our wild land and places.
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| Chocolate Cake Awaits! |
The Trust was recently bequeathed a piece of land near Traquair in the Scottish Borders, called Glenlude. And in order to let folks know what they were up to with this latest project, an offer was made to members to have a day out at Glenlude. Not one to miss out on an adventure, we signed up to see first hand how the Trust was going to return this one-time Forestry Commission land, into a wild haven just one hour from Edinburgh's busy city centre.
After getting a lift down with David, one of the Trust's new members of staff (saving on petrol and emissions; thanks David!), we ended up in a wooden hut in the middle of a pine plantation. Hot coffee and chocolate cake welcomed us, which made for a very good start to the day!
A short intro talk from another member of staff, Sandy, and we were off tramping up the hill with Karen, the brand shiny new ranger for Glenlude. We found out that the lady who bequeathed the land was called Sheila and along with the grounds, she had also left Heather the horse to the Trust! I was glad to hear that Heather now has a friend and both roam freely on the land. A happier horse you couldn't find I'm sure.
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| Forestry Scar; the Trust will avoid this. |
We also discovered that the pine plantation at Glenlude is going to be worth a lot of money when it matures. So rather than chop it all down in a oner, scarring the landscape for years, the Trust plans to take it out slowly and sensitively and use the cash from the sale of the timber to fund the re-introduction of broadwood trees. The broadwoods will support a much wider range of wildlife and will be 100 times better than the regimented rows of spruce trees which currently line the property.
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| Naturalistic Ponds teaming with life |
A run of naturalistic ponds were already installed by Sheila before she died. They are now teaming with amphibian life and the Trust is able to monitor the frogs, toads and newts that spawn and live there, as well as all the other plants, bugs, butterflies, birds and beasties that inhabit Glenlude.
The Trust have a 25 year plan for the property, which includes taking down all but the border fences; using natural brash fencing to protect young trees from deer; managing the deer population; replanting areas and allowing other sections, such as the willow section, to regenerate itself.
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| A clutch of pheasant eggs; undisturbed. |
The plan also includes getting teenagers involved in Glenlude through the John Muir Award. Indeed, as I write this a group of intrepid 1st Year students from Ayr should be camping out on the new 'natural' campsite, complete with an old stone fell (sheep pen) fire circle (I just hope the rain hasn't dampened their spirits and the campfire too much!)
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| The Composting Loo! |
The one thing the school kids might find very interesting during their stay, is the composting loo! I know I did. I take all of my prejudices back, composting loos are very hygienic after all!
It was genuinely fascinating to hear about the plans to return a heavily commercially forested piece of land back into a wild place within 25 years. Our annual membership fee is certainly being well spent! I'll give that a score of 10 on the 'feel-good' factor!
Find out more about the John Muir Trust here:
http://www.jmt.org/
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