Onhunt forPark heroes

Members of the public are being asked to nominate hard-working volunteers for the National Park UK volunteer awards.

Nominations opened last week.

They aim to thank people who give up their own time and dedication to keep Scotland’s national parks maintained. The categories include individual, young person (under 25s), group and project awards, with each winner receiving a £1000 bursary towards their future volunteering projects.

A spokesperson for the Cairngorms National Park said: “Perhaps it’s someone who helps maintain local footpaths, or a volunteer who surveys habitats or plants trees in their spare time or maybe your local Health Walk leader? And they don’t have to be volunteering directly for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, just so long as their volunteering efforts take place within the park boundary.”

Nominations for any of the country’s national parks, including the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, close on Friday, September 22 at noon. To nominate, visit www. nationalparks.gov.uk/ volunteerawards.