Trust us

I was sorry to read of Geoff Martin’s decision to resign his National Trust for Scotland membership (Letters, 17 March). However belatedly, I would like to reassure him that the Trust is committed to its nature conservation purpose and activities throughout Scotland, most recently demonstrated by achieving National Nature Reserve status for Glencoe and Mar Lodge Estate.

While we have had to make necessary operational changes, the intention is that the Trust’s activities will also include creating and developing nature conservation opportunities at the Threave Estate in future. Through new approaches to staffing, planning and use of expertise across the organisation, there will be no diminution of our responsibilities and commitments to natural heritage within Dumfries & Galloway.

The job of Ranger is a vital role and we see it as being very important in continuing to provide public benefit and expertise across the country. Any localised changes are based on an assessment of specific needs in the area and do not necessarily represent the national picture.

For Scotland as a whole, the Trust is now recruiting extensively across its property portfolio, with many exciting projects in hand and planned for the future.

PATRICK DUFFY Chief Operating Officer The National Trust for Scotland Cultins Road, Edinburgh