West Harris Trust teams up with John Muir Trust 6/9/12
The West Harris Trust and the John Muir Trust (JMT) have signed a partnership to help develop manage the 6,400 hectares on the west side of South Harris, which includes some of Scotland's most spectacular coastal landscapes.
The partnership, which had already been agreed in principle by the directors of both
organisations, was formally sealed during a two-
There he met Murdo MacKay the chair, Duncan MacPherson the development manager and Neil Campbell a director of the West Harris Trust, and spent time looking at the coastline, high ground on the estate and some potential development sites for hydro and housing.
As part of the agreement, the John Muir Trust will undertake to advise West Harris Trust on conservation, ecology, land management, landscapes, visitor management, interpretation, footpaths and public access.
It will also assist with securing funding for conservation-
Individuals and groups wishing to undertake the John Muir Award willbe supported.
In turn, the West Harris Trust will work with the John Muir Trust to identify and map the core areas of wild land on the estate and, where feasible, manage them in line with JMT standards
It will keep JMT informed of conservation, visitor access and interpretation work on the estate as well promote the JMT to its members and other bodies.
Stuart Brooks said: "West Harris Trust provides an excellent examples of where the John Muir Trust is working with communities within a framework that respects the integrity of the wild land.
"It has clear economic as well as environmental objectives – and so far they are managing to balance the various interests very well. They very much welcome the support they have received from Mick Blunt and the John Mur Trust."
Murdo MacKay, Chair of the West Harris Trust said: “ The West Harris Trust welcomes this agreement that secures a close working relationship with the John Muir Trust.
“We look forward to working closely with Mick Blunt and the John Muir Trust over the coming years as we progress with our plans for the sustainable development of the estate.”