Tom Weir Mountain Garden in Balmaha Thrives Thanks to Dedicated Volunteers

“Volunteers Gather to Make a Difference at Tom Weir Mountain Garden in Balmaha”

On Wednesday 20th November, a group of 23 volunteers arrived at the Tom Weir mountain garden in Balmaha to participate in a “Make a Difference” Day organized by the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The beautiful blue sky and warm sunshine added to the already enthusiastic and willing group’s positive attitude.

The main task for the day was a general tidy-up of the garden and its surroundings, as well as planting 150 heathers. John Urquhart, Chair of the Friends, expressed his gratitude towards the volunteers for their hard work and also thanked the National Park Authority for providing tools and equipment. The Oak Tree Inn also played a crucial role in the day’s success by providing a much-appreciated lunch for all the volunteers. One noteworthy observation was the lack of litter, rendering the litter-picking equipment unnecessary.

The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs successfully applied for a Volunteering Matters Action Earth Grant, with funding provided by Naturescot, which aided in the purchase of the new plants.

After lunch, some of the volunteers were treated to a guided walk along the West Highland shore-side path by John. The group returned to Balmaha via the Druim Nan Buraich, making the most of the beautiful day.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the opening of Tom Weir’s Rest picnic site, and it has been observed that some of the wooden interpretation panels are starting to deteriorate. The Friends are now planning to replace these panels and are currently applying for funding to do so. Interested individuals can contribute towards this project by donating on the Friends’ website, www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk, or by becoming a member for as little as £20 per year.

Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ serves as a platform for distributing news and press releases from various organizations and individuals.