Thank you to everyone who has given up their time to volunteer for Friends of Nevis this year.

 A special mention must go out to Helen and Steve, work colleagues, who have been travelling up 2-3 times a year from Kent.  This was their 10th year of helping Friends of Nevis.  It’s always great to see them and hear how they got on travelling up from Kent by bus and train.  Their journeys very rarely go smoothly but that does not stop them getting out into Glen Nevis or up the Ben, volunteering their time.  Some of the jobs Helen and Steve have got up to include clearing drains on various parts of the Ben, putting in picnic benches at the curling pond, helping sell raffle tickets, tidying up the curling pond dressing up as Caledonian Challenge Hiking Hound mascot to managing our Facebook page.  When they were recently up for the AGM it was a pleasure to go clearing drains on the Ben path with Helen and Steve.  From Friends of Nevis thank you Helen and Steve!
 All the best for 2020.  Cheerie Kirstie

St Andrews day dawned bright and  very chilly but 4 hardy volunteers, Elizabeth; Ali; Damien and Giles turned up to help Rory plant some more Scots Pine and some native Holly in one of our Glen Nevis Future Forests exclosures. Despite the frosty weather the soil was not frozen and around 100 Scots Pine and 15 Holly were planted. The ground in the exclosure was steep and bouldery so finding a spot with deep enough soil was a challenge at times.
Looking around however we could see remnant veteran and ancient Scots Pine still clinging on the steeper terrain and crags in the glen. These are 'Granny Pines' that supplied the seed for our pine seedlings. At one time these trees would have been more widespread but a mixture of historic felling for timber and charcoal combined with continued grazing pressure from deer and sheep has suppressed regeneration. The Scots Pine woodland is listed as a feature of the Nevis Special Area of Conservation / SSSI and is classed as being in 'unfavourable' condition, in part due to the lack of regeneration.
As well as being an important part of the management plan for improving the condition of the Pinewood, planting the right trees, in the right place,  is now being recognized as one of the tools of fighting back against climate change.

Wednesday 11th December: Toolshed day, Mattocks and Mince Pies. Drop in and help with an end of season tools clean up, service and tlc. Festive treats supplied.
Sunday 15th December: Bird Ringing at Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, drop in event from around 9am to 3pm. Drop in to see our feathered friends close up and chat to John and Kirstie, BTO licensed bird ringers.