VOLUNTEERING in Scotland’s two National Parks reached an important milestone this month as the unique five-year conservation project, The Mountains and The People, reached the magical number of 1,000 volunteer days.

Led by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland, based in Balloch, the partnership project brings together Scotland’s two National Park Authorities, Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, alongside Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

READ MORE: National Park Authority receives Walk at Work award.

Since the project launched in the summer of 2015, volunteers have been working hard to protect mountain habitats from the impacts of erosion across both of Scotland’s National Parks.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘a walk with a spade’ conservation volunteering days are the backbone of the project and include volunteers walking sections of mountain paths whilst undertaking basic path maintenance, drain clearance and habitat repair as they go.

In celebration, a team of volunteers took to the hills to complete a ‘drainage run’. It might have been a wet day, but that made perfect conditions for checking for problems on the path and afterwards a slice of cake was enjoyed by all which was kindly donated by It’s All About Cake in Garelochhead.

John Miller, one of the regular volunteers, said: “This work gives me a chance to give something back for all of the pleasure I have had. It’s very satisfying working in a small team of enthusiastic people – and the views are stunning!”

Tom Wallace, The Mountains and The People activity project manager, added: “We are indebted to our volunteers who are always enthusiastic and hardworking, and do a fantastic job to help protect our mountains.

“We’re looking forward to the next 1,000 volunteer days.”