28 May 2009                                         

A pioneering project with the potential to raise thousands of pounds for local conservation projects in the National Park has been launched by the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. The project links tourism and conservation, working with businesses to allow visitors to contribute to the conservation of the National Park. Funds raised are then matched up to conservation, heritage or community projects submitted by local groups and organisations into a projects ‘bank’.

The idea behind the scheme is very simple and similar projects are successful in other parts of the UK. However, this is the first time such an area-based scheme has been tried in Scotland. Typically funds are raised by voluntary contributions from visitors. This may be in the form of an optional additional charge for a bed night or a meal, but the scheme is flexible for novel approaches to be developed by businesses too.

The project is being managed by Alice Blazy-Winning, who has moved to the area after working on the Forestry Commission Scotland’s successful 7stanes mountain biking project in southern Scotland is enthusiastic about what the project can achieve. ‘This is a great opportunity to help protect and enhance the National Park’, she said, ‘Not only that, but everyone benefits with the scheme. The National Park is a great place to live and work, and this project means businesses and visitors can now make a contribution to keeping it that way.’