Change of Director: The Last Word

I have the decanter - time to go!

Yesterday was my last day at the helm of the Trust and Anne Gray takes over, first thing on Monday.

We have travelled a long way during my era and it is more than time that some else took over to move the Trust forward.  It will be for Anne to determine how the Trust's particular mix of strengths and weaknesses can best be brought to bear on the myriad of challenges that face us.

I will be continuing to support the Trust as a consultant from the HT back benches, and I will be leading on some projects, until there is an opportunity to hand these over.

So what of our successes during my tenure:

• Our strapline that the Trust is 'Promoting Integrated Moorland Management' seems to be more relevant now than it was when first adopted, early in my time.  
• The use of a collaborative, partnership approach to issues has become central to the way that the Trust operates.
• The Trust's independent position has allowed us to be accepted as a facilitator / coordinator / safe pair of hands in many roles.
• Some reserves have been built up to provide the Trust with a little financial flexibility.

The standout area of less success is that the stand off over raptor persecution has continued and the vitriolic debate around this issue runs unabated.

• Until a way can be found to sort this issue, or at least find a way round it, progress will be restricted.  The trenches seem to be as deep as ever.
• The grouse moor fraternity must find a way to root out the few bad eggs that jeopardise the hard, often exceptional work of so many others.
• The bird lobby must be prepared to compromise to encourage change from others.
• Progress will benefit all interests.
• I remember well my thoughts on leaving a meeting of the North of England Raptor Forum where I had given a presentation about burning.  My view was that I had not met such a knowledgeable, committed enthusiastic group since I had been at a gamekeepers meeting.  Why can we not all pull in the same direction?

This is my last post on the Heather Trust blog.  Anne Gray will takeover as the author from Monday.  I have set up a new blog VallumVoice where I will continue occasional ramblings - please join me.

Thank you to all who have supported the Trust during my tenure: the HT Team, Board members, HT members and the others that have supported the Trust's work in many ways, such as through the Country Market & Sporting Sale (still looking for Lots for 2018) or by attending our events. There is much still to be done and with your continuing support The Heather Trust will be in the thick of it.

Finally, my thanks go to Anne Gray for rising to the challenge.  I wish her well.

The Director Changeover

Anne Gray has started work for the Trust and the handover is in progress.  She takes over as Director on Monday, 5th March.

This photograph was taken, this afternoon, outside the HT office in the hills to the north of Dumfries.  Clear skies, sunshine and great views, after snow this morning.

Director Handover

With the New Year, I am gearing up for the handover to my successor, Anne Gray. We all go through this exercise at various points in our career, but we tend to forget that the process always seems straightforward at the outset but it then slowly dawns that there is a lot to organise and prepare. I am aiming to get as organised as possible to give Anne a good start.

Anne will join the Trust on Monday 12th February (now less than 4 weeks away!), and after a handover period, she will take over as Director on 5th March.

I will take up the role of consultant to support the Trust, and Anne as Director. To give her a chance to get established, initially, I will be maintaining my current role with Scotland’s Moorland Forum, both in running the Forum’s meetings and managing the commissioned work. I will also be continuing to represent the Trust’s input to the groups where I am chairman or have the lead. For example, I will continue as chairman of the England & Wales Wildfire Forum, and the Uplands Management Group, and as the coordinator of the Bracken Control Group.

The aim of the handover period is to ensure a smooth transition of the responsibility for running the Trust to Anne so that the Trust’s service to its members, supporters and clients is not interrupted. As Anne gets established, I hope that my support will allow the Trust to operate on as many fronts as at present, and hopefully even some new ones that Anne will introduce.

New Director for The Heather Trust Announced

The Board of The Heather Trust is delighted to announce that Anne Gray has been appointed to succeed Simon Thorp as Director of the Trust. 

Anne has been working in rural development for over 10 years, most recently for Scottish Land & Estates.  She will join the Trust in mid-February and take over as Director soon afterwards.  Simon Thorp will continue to support the Trust as a consultant.

More detail will be published in the New Year.

The Heather Trust seeks a New Director

After 15 years as the Director of the Trust, the time has come to introduce some changes, and I am planning to step down as Director. I see this as an opportunity to introduce new blood and thinking into the way that the Trust operates, and for the Trust to refresh itself, introduce new ideas and move forward strongly, possibly in a new direction.

The search for my successor is about to start and a full handover will take place after a transition period, with the aim of completing this early in 2018.

After the end of a transition period, I will provide support for the Trust as a consultant. I will continue to manage a number of clearly defined tasks, which will include my role as the Director of Scotland’s Moorland Forum, with support from Anne Stoddart as Administrator, at least until the end of the current agreement in March 2019.

I am circulating details of this opportunity through the Trust’s networks and social media, and an advertisement is available here. I invite all members and supporters of the Trust to spread the word about this opportunity to people they are in contact with.

Expressions of interest are being invited by 12 noon on Tuesday, 10th October, and I will be pleased to speak to anyone who would like an informal discussion about the role. The Chairman and other Board members would also be pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in this position. To avoid placing personal contact details in the public domain, please use the Contact Form on the website to request details of how to contact me, or a member of the Board.

The Heather Trust's Annual Report

The Trust has published the 2017 Annual Report and printed copies have been sent to all members and some other people with influence in the UK moorlands and uplands.

The report contains our usual slightly eclectic mix of updates about the work of the Trust, articles by team members and a range of guest articles.  With a view to spreading the word about our activities, we would be pleased to hear from members  with suggestions of people who should receive a copy.  We are also able to circulate an electronic copy of the Report as a PDF.

We will be placing the Report on the Trust's website, after the AGM, which this year is being held in Aberdeenshire on 5 October.

End of the Country Market & Sporting Sale

From L to R: Claire, Clara, and Anne (with help from labrador Rolo) drawing the 
winning ticket for the Prize Draw

Yesterday saw the end of the 2017 Sale, and I would like to thank all our donors and bidders.  Your generosity has earned over £29,000 for the Trust, which is vital funding that allows us to continue our work throughout the UK.

The Sale is fun, but it is also a large amount of work for the HT team, which peaks on the day of the Sale.  I would like to thank them for their efforts in making this possible, and in particular to acknowledge the input from Patrick Laurie and Claire McGhie, who ran the Sale, and the support provided by Clara Jackson.  Patrick's artwork produced 'Gareth the Grouse', who successfully promoted the prize draw.  It is very much a team effort.

There are a few unsold Lots that will be available for a bit longer.  Please have a look at the website.

Ronnie Graham, from Barony Country Foods, Lochmaben, near Dumfries, won the Prize Draw. He will be able to enjoy the luxury of bed & breakfast accommodation at the unique Roxburghe Hotel near Kelso, together with race tickets for four people at Kelso Races and chauffeur driven transport in a gorgeous 1952 Bentley to the friendliest racecourse in Britain.

If you missed out as a bidder or donor this year, we will be starting our campaign for the 2018 Sale in the Autumn.  Please keep in touch.

The Country Market & Sporting Sale - lift off!

The build up for The Heather Trust's Annual County Market & Sporting Sale is in full flow. Bidding for the Lots on the dedicated website will be available to bid for from 21st April and the Sale closes at 12 noon on 5th May.

This year's Prize Draw offers the winner a luxury day out for four people at Kelso Races, an overnight stay in the sumptuous Roxburghe Hotel, and a chauffeur driven Bentley to provide transport. Tickets are available to purchase now and at only £10 can you afford not to buy one, or even several! Gareth, a Patrick Laurie creation, is promoting the Prize Draw, and to meet him, follow the link to the Sale's Facebook page. Go Gareth!

The Sale provides us with the essential financial support to maintain our input into the many varied and important debates about upland and moorland issues across the UK.  It is also a lot of fun - please  give us your support and spread the word amongst your contacts.

John Phillips

John Phillips died on 2nd December and I attended his funeral in Largs, yesterday. His obituary can be viewed on the Trust's website.

It was good to see many members of the Trust at the funeral and there were reminiscences of the type of incidents and activities that John will be remembered for, from throughout his 82 years.

It was John's vision that led to the formation of the Joseph Nickerson Heather Improvement Project that became The Heather Trust in 1994, and I took over, as Director, in May 2002.

John is described in many ways, but it is clear that his impact was significant, and he is remembered widely even now.  His passing marks the end of an era.

Scottish Game Fair

The Heather Trust will be appearing in strength at the Scottish Game Fair this Friday, 1st July.  Our chairman, Antony Braithwaite, Anne, Patrick and I will be there throughout the day and the highlight of our day will be the Golden Plover Award, which takes place at 4.30pm.

We do not have a stand, but if you are going to be at the Fair and would like to meet one, or even all of us, please let me know so that we can arrange something.

Country Market & Sporting Sale - ready for the final fling?

The Country Market & Sporting Sale is poised for the final flurry of activity. We have a large range of exciting Lots on offer that have been attracting bids since the launch of the Sale on 22 April.  There has been some furious bidding for some Lots and we are expecting a large amount of activity between now and the end of the Sale at 7.00pm on Sunday 8 May.

Don’t miss out!  Have a look at the Lots on the Sale’s website and get bidding. There is something for every interest and every budget.

Country Market & Sporting Sale 2016 - going live!

Starts: Midnight, tonight.

Closes: 7.00pm on Sunday, 8th May.

See the Website for details

We have a wide variety of great Lots and thanks go to all the donors for making the Sale so attractive once again.  Patrick and Samantha have done a great job putting it all together, and Patrick's artwork has added a unique quality to the promotion material.  We are all available to help answer any questions. 

Previously we have closed the Sale at 12 noon on the final Friday, but to accommodate those who can only bid at weekends, we have extended the Sale through until 7.00pm on the Sunday evening.  

You will hear much more about the Sale between now and 8th May so there will be no excuses for not bidding!  Please spread the word around the people you are in contact with.

The AGM in Wales: Compromise, Cooperation and Communication

Team Photo on Rhiwlas Mountain

By Patrick Laurie

It turned out to be a beautiful day for the Heather Trust’s AGM and discussion meeting yesterday, at Bala in North Wales, with miserable black clouds breaking up by mid-morning to reveal bright sunshine and wonderful views across the wild hills towards Snowdonia.

Almost forty members, delegates and supporters from a wide range of backgrounds including BASC, RSPB, Natural Resources Wales and FWAG Cymru gathered at the Gorwelian Centre for a morning of presentations, which explored the history and future of moorland management in Wales. Ant Griffith of CLA Cymru spoke passionately about the value of the Welsh Uplands, and Will Duff Gordon and GWCT’s Teresa Dent explained the significance of the Nature Fund, which has really sparked off a new wave of upland interest amongst a range of different Welsh stakeholders.

The thrust of the day was extremely positive and progressive, and the value of compromise, cooperation and communication was emphasized in order to ensure that Welsh moorland provides the best outcomes for the widest range of different interests, from farming and sporting to conservation and peat. 

After an excellent lunch, there was an opportunity to visit the Rhiwlas Estate, with owner and land manager Richard Price, who had offered an impression of the estate’s past and future during the presentations in the morning. Gaining height over the large extent of moorland to the North of Afon Tryweryn, the convoy of vehicles trekked along a rough mountain track between Welsh Mountain sheep and a cornucopia of reddening whinberry plants. 

Discussions near the top of the hill ranged from the potential impact of proposals to change rights of access in Wales to the breeding ecology of hen harriers, and the theme of cooperation ran as a constant thread throughout. It is hoped that Rhiwlas might one day be able to provide some grouse shooting again, and the balanced nature of the exchanges tried to ensure that everybody’s voice would be heard as management work begins to pick up over the coming months.

As always, the broad spread of attendees demonstrated the Trust’s “broad church” approach to land management, and we look forward to keeping in touch with our growing number of contacts in Wales as they approach the various exciting, fascinating challenges the next few years will present.

Heather Trust at the Scottish Game Fair

The Trust will be appearing in force over the next three days at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone.  With thanks to GWCT, we have a stand in part of their main exhibit with the World Pheasant Association.  Anne, Patrick and Samantha will be here and we will be delighted to see you.  Several Board members will also be present.

The highlight of tomorrow will be the award of the Golden Plover Award at 4.30pm.

We hope that any member or supporter who is at the Fair will come and see us.

Country Market & Sporting Sale

The bidding on the auction website is becoming fierce.  If you have not yet looked at the fantastic range of Lots on offer, or if you are biding your time waiting to submit the killer bid, your time is running out.  The Sale closes at 12 noon tomorrow.

Please show your support for what the Trust does by bidding furiously.

Country Market & Sporting Sale - closes at 12 noon on 1 May 2015

I need say no more than is summarised in the strikingly-coloured announcement below.  The bidding on some Lots is getting fierce already.  Also, make sure you do not miss out on the Prize Draw and the opportunity to win a stalking holiday for two in Dumfries & Galloway - all for a stake of £10.

The income all this raises for the Trust provides us with the ability to tackle the important issues that are unfunded.  Please get stuck in.

It is not too late to show your support for what we do by donating something for us to sell!

Friday: Edinburgh - HT Board Meeting

The final leg of the week took me from Boat of Garten to Edinburgh through a snow covered Aviemore.  There was some doubt about trains running to time, but they ran perfectly.

The HT Board meeting was held in the salubrious surroundings of the New Club, from a room which has an unimpeded, magnificent view of Edinburgh Castle.

The Board members rattled through a busy agenda.  I presented a summary of activity since the last meeting and we agreed plans for 2015.  It looks like being a very busy year with work being spread across England and Scotland.  Also, there is hope that my recent visit to Northern Ireland has re-kindled some good links; it is a part of the UK where the Trust's message could have some beneficial impact, and it is very close to our base in Dumfries.

For 2015, the Board agreed that I should continue to focus the Trust's efforts on five areas of work: heather management, heather beetle, bracken control, Scotland's Moorland Forum and peatlands.  In addition, Patrick Laurie and Sam Harrison will be running the Country Market & Sporting Sale, which will close at 12:00 on 1 May 2015.  In addition to backing me up, Anne Stoddart will be producing the Annual Report in August, and Clara Jackson who will be managing members and their subscriptions.

A New Chairman for The Heather Trust

Antony Braithwaite

At the AGM last week, we said good-bye and thank you to Malcolm Hay after seven years as our Chairman and welcomed Antony Braithwaite as his successor.  In accepting the position, Antony acknowledged the work of his predecessor that had helped to guide the Trust to the most influential time in its 30 year history.  He hoped to continue the upward trend and to ensure that the Trust was well respected and influential throughout the UK.

Finzean House meeting

The AGM was held in the marvellous setting of Finzean House, near Banchory in Aberdeenshire.  This is the home of Donald and Catriona Farquharson and the family turned out in force to support first the AGM and then the discussion meeting that followed.  The discussion meeting was attended by 29 people and was hosted by Andrew Farquharson, who manages the Finzean Estate.  The Estate was the winner of the Golden Plover Award this year, which the Trust awarded in conjunction with Adam Smith (Director Scotland for GWCT and a HT Board member), who was also present at the meeting.  Dr Dick Birnie opened a few eyes with his presentation about peatlands and why the owners and managers of land need to take note of the output of the research into these important areas.

Finzean Estate visit

The whole day was blessed by glorious weather and we were able to make good use of this in the afternoon, when Andrew Farquharson led us on a visit to inspect the estate's management of the heather against the continuous cover woodland. The whole day served as a great demonstration of why the Finzean Estate was a worthy winner of the Golden Plover Award.

A "Bottom-up" approach but with far less crap please!

Let me draw your attention to a gentle rant published by Peter Thompson on his GWCT Blog.  He may be referring to a lowland river system, but his concerns about bureaucracy stifling progress and the lack of a link to any action rings true in any location.

A policy, initiative or project, no matter how good or bad it is, will only achieve something when it leads to some action. In relation to land, this means that the owner or manager of the land must understand what is being suggested and agree to act on it. Progress can only be measured by action on the ground.

Ideas come easy; implementation can be more difficult. The owners and managers of land are the delivery agent and for success must be involved in the development from the start.  However, owners and managers are busy people and are not sitting around waiting for the next shiny initiative to be delivered to them.  We need to make it easy for them, and everybody else, to understand what is being proposed by implementing a cutting the crap.

Retirement of a Moorland Icon

Today marks the retirement of Martin Gillibrand, who has been a force, an irresistible force some would say, to be reckoned with in the English uplands since before most people can remember.  There some impressive statistics in the Lancashire Evening Post article about his outstanding contribution to the English uplands during his period as Secretary of the Moorland Association.

I have watched him in action through long hours of debate in the Best Practice Burning Group, which  Marin was instrumental in setting up.  We have completed 36 meetings together and we are still counting and still talking. Every time that progress looked like it was flagging Martin was ready with his verbal whips to spur us into more action. He will be missed in these meetings, even though there remains no shortage of issues to debate.

I wish him well in his retirement and I look forward to continuing a close relationship with the Moorland Association through the new Director, Amanda Anderson, who has taken over from Martin.