2023 So Far - An Update from NLP

Despite the colder season, it’s still been a busy few months at Nevis Landscape Partnership – with lots of events, projects, and changes, it’s high time for an update!

Hello from the New Team!

There have been some big changes to the NLP team this year with some new faces and some familiar ones returning. Starting right back in January, we said goodbye to our administrator of several years, Sarah, and welcomed Alice on board who has been fantastic at keeping the rest of us right ever since she started.

In March, NLP’s manager Lizzie headed off to her next chapter, and our previous Participation Officer, Rory, took the leap and jumped roles. He’s had plenty to keep him busy in the office since starting but thankfully still manages to get out and about in his welly boots from time to time.

Lastly, with Rory changing roles we needed a newbie to join the team, so with a slight change in title but covering many of the previous responsibilities, we welcomed Ellie as our new Engagement Ranger. Ellie completed the Ranger Training course with us last year and went on to work as one of our Nevis Seasonal Rangers so the Glen and the Ben should be in good hands!

You can find the team's contact details on the NLP Team page here!

Trainee Rangers in Action

Our award winning NQ Countryside Skills with Ranger Training course has recently completed for this year after being in full swing since January. Now in its fourth year, nine new students have had some brilliant days out with Rory, Ellie, Ali from the John Muir Trust, Simon from UHI, and the teams at National Trust Scotland, Arkaig Community Forest, and the Woodland Trust. They’ve covered units in Woodland Management, Rural Estate Maintenance, Forestry Skills, done their John Muir Explore Award, and completed industry tickets in chain sawing, brush cutting, fencing, first aid, and navigation. The team finished up with work experience at the beginning of June and have headed out into the industry in jobs around Lochaber and the wider UK with organisations such as NatureScot, the Highland Council, and Nevis Landscape Partnership!

Check out their  Instagram account to see more of what they’ve been up to!

Litter Picking and Path Work Wonders

Friends of Nevis have been busy holding volunteer work parties since the start of 2023 and have been doing a fantastic job at keeping the paths maintained and the litter at bay. The spring litter pick was a great success, with 20 volunteers coming along for the day and collecting 25+ bags of rubbish from the Glen!

Engagement Ranger Ellie ran a path work party in May and was faced with the challenge of keeping up with four speedy Friends of Nevis volunteers, Jenny, Rory, Robbie, and Gavin, who made it all the way from Achintee to the Halfway Lochan, clearing all cross-drains, waterbars, and culverts in one day!

We’ve also hosted some path maintenance training for the Icelandic Conservation Volunteers and a volunteer path work day for Edinburgh University’s Dirty Weekenders group. Rory had a great few days out with the troops who did a brilliant job on Heart Attack and up from the Halfway Lochan, despite some of the cross-drains being frozen solid on the day!

Lower Falls Car Park is (Officially) Open!

After around four years of hard work, in May we celebrated the official opening of Lower Falls Car Park. Now equipped with solid parking spaces to accommodate cars, campervans, and coaches, a covered bike area, picnic benches, some fantastic interpretation boards, two composting toilets, and Lochaber’s best bus shelter – Tom Uppington from Alvance released the ribbon and declared the car park open after a heart-warming speech of thanks from Rory to all of our supporters, partners, and staff past and present who made it happen - in particular, previous NLP manager Lizzie Cooper, without whom it would not have been possible! And a big thanks to Spud the Piper who even kept us entertained despite the rain and increasingly midge air.

New Seasonal Rangers

As we approach the summer, we are gearing up for the busy season and an increase in visitor numbers up the Glen and on the Ben. So, we were very grateful to receive Better Places Funding from NatureScot for two seasonal ranger posts this year – we had a great response to our job adverts and applications were at a very high standard. After some tough decision making, we have appointed our two new rangers who started at the beginning of June. Watch this space for a proper welcome and introduction!

If you’re interested in getting involved, head to the Events section of our website to join a Friends of Nevis volunteer work party. We also always welcome support and  donations which goes towards the continued conservation of the fantastic Nevis area and all it has to offer, as well as welcoming new members to the organization, more info on which can be found here!