Environmentalists inspire at national park gathering

Toad patrols, wildlife blogs, beach cleaning and repairing mountain paths are just some of the events happening across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Communities from across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs recently came together at the Community Partnership’s annual event ‘A Green Revolution – building sustainable communities now’ in Arrochar to learn about and celebrate local people raising environmental awareness, promoting environmental conservation and making their community more sustainable. This year’s awards were presented in memory of two special people

– Celia Burn, Community Partnership and Kilmaronock Community Trust, and Liz Evans, Cormonochan Woodlands Association, Lochgoil, renowned for their personal contributions to raising environmental awareness and deep rooted community involvement.

Winning first place for the Celia Burn Community Environmentalist of the Year was the Scottish Wildlife Trust Callander Group, an inspirational community group doing outstanding work in environmental education and wildlife conservation. Receiving a highly commended award in the same category was Sheron Hambly, who has been instrumental in organising numerous litter clearing events around Lochgoil.

Joint first place award for the Liz Evans Young Environmentalist of the Year went to two young men in recognition of their contribution to environmental conservation. Aidan Cronin from Callander recently completed his junior ranger’s certificate and sits on the National Park Youth Forum. Struan Burch of Dunblane joined the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park volunteer programme to experience a gap year enjoying the outdoors.