As a charity, Friends of Nevis is run by a board of Trustees, all volunteers, elected by the membership. Charity Trustees are responsible for looking after the charity’s assets and for making sure that the charity fulfils its charitable purpose(s), which, in the case of Friends of Nevis are:
‘To safeguard, restore, enhance, manage and promote awareness, enjoyment and appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage and landscapes, including their wild country characteristics, of the Nevis area of Lochaber, in ways which are sustainable and contribute to the wellbeing of the local and wider Lochaber communities.’
We aim to meet our charitable purposes by providing volunteering and learning opportunities for our members, registered volunteers and members of the public, many in collaboration with Nevis Landscape Partnership. Further details of the responsibilities of Trustees can be found at OSCR | Charity trustee duties.
Trustees stand down at each AGM but are eligible for re-election. The current board comprises:
Peter Hatto, Chairman, a semiretired physicist and materials scientist, who is also chairman and joint principal shareholder of 3 Wise Monkeys Climbing. Peter’s interests include natural history, environmental issues and their societal impacts, and sustainability, in particular food, energy, water, and transport including cycling.
Alison Stewart, Treasurer, semi-retired from a career in scientific research and environmental management. Alison now works part-time as an environmental consultant. Her main interests include climbing, orienteering and dogs!
Martin Faulkner, Membership Secretary, is an environmental practitioner based in Lochaber and a retired NatureScot employee. Curious by nature, he’s spent much of his career helping people navigate complex, multi‑stakeholder decisions using systems thinking, and he was NatureScot’s main contact for the Nevis Landscape Partnership between 2004 and 2014. Away from work, Martin is rarely far from the outdoors—he enjoys wildlife (especially moths), hillwalking, cycling, sailing and gardening. He also supports Friends of Nevis to grow its membership, helping more people connect with the Nevis landscape through practical involvement and shared learning.
Tony Laidler, Events Secretary, is a retired microbiologist and a lifelong naturalist with particular interests in bird surveys and recording wildlife in his garden. Other activities include walking, cycling, gardening, indoor climbing and singing in a local choir.
Elizabeth Laidler, Trustee, is a retired NHS worker and a life-long lover of all things outdoors, including mountain biking, sea kayaking, walking, cross country skiing and wildlife watching. When time allows she relaxes at home with her sewing and knitting.
