Student receives naturalist prize

A young geography student and mountain bike enthusiast has scored the chance to follow in the footsteps of an acclaimed Scottish naturalist and travel abroad to further his studies.

Douglas Carchrie, 19, from Perth, is the first to receive the Dick Balharry Prize, a £3,000 travel bursary which was set up to give young people studying in a wide range of land management subjects, including estate management, forestry and agriculture, the chance to travel to further their experience, studies and employability.

The new educational award was set up by the National Trust for Scotland and the University of Highlands and Islands.

Douglas, a BSc (Hons) student at Inverness College UHI, will use the fund to travel to Vancouver in Canada on a four-week trip later this year, studying the management of mountain bike trails in environmentally sensitive areas.

Environmentalist David Balharry, Dick’s son, handed over the award, saying: “Father was an inspired and independent thinker with a huge passion for Scotland and people. This award, giving young people the opportunity to travel internationally is a fitting way to maintain his legacy.”

Douglas added: “I was really surprised to have won but am now excited about the adventure to come.

“I’m a passionate mountain biker and think the experience could really help my future career. I want to help Scotland protect its environment.”