Field Notes: Local heroes clean up Nevis

Field Notes: Local heroes clean up Nevis - John Muir Trust

Nevis Conservation Officer Nathan Berrie works with our community partners to test drive our first post lockdown conservation work party

With the easing of lockdown travel restrictions, many people are venturing to the Nevis area to take their first deep gulp of the fresh Highland air after months of staying at home. It has been fantastic welcoming so many new faces to the area and seeing them engaging with the nature for the first time in months. However, this sudden increase in visitor numbers brings several challenges.

Siblings Rachel and Matt pick up litter on the summit of Ben Nevis. Conveniently, as they live in the same household, they didn’t need to physically distance from each other. (photographs by Nathan Berrie)

In previous summer seasons we have had the help of our fantastic volunteers to do various tasks around Nevis, mainly Ben Nevis litter picking. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, hosting volunteering opportunities has not been possible. However, as the Scottish tourism and hospitality sector re-opens, we are now able to take the first steps towards positive actions for the outdoors by trialling working with volunteers back on Ben Nevis.

Last week we welcomed a small group of volunteers to join our first post-lockdown work party. By collaborating with Rory from the Nevis Landscape Partnership, we were able to follow government advice to keep our staff, volunteers and members of the public safe on the hill.

The weather was not ideal for our work party, but spirits were high! We spent two days on Ben Nevis working in teams to clear litter and carry out basic path maintenance.