The Nevis Partnership, the landscape charitable company dedicated to access issues for the Ben Nevis area, has been given a new lease of life as the Lottery has taken the first steps towards granting £1.8million to the Partnership. Last year the Partnership was forced to cease its work and laid off its employees due to lack of funds.
Although funding has not been formalised, the Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked the money and it is likely the Nevis Partnership will be successful when they put in their full application next year. Development funding of £75,800 has also been awarded to help the Nevis Partnership progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date. The development phase will get underway as soon as possible and will run through to 2014 when the main 5 year project is expected to start. A new manager and administrator will be recruited immediately to coordinate information gathering, specialist surveys of key species, development of a programme of training and learning opportunities and to strengthen links between schools, West Highland College UHI and local employers to provide work placements and work experience opportunities. Further specialists will be engaged where necessary to train and work alongside volunteers.
The Nevis Partnership says that, “The wide ranging project will increase public involvement and participation in the Nevis Area through improving access, information and training and expanding the number and scope of volunteer opportunities. Key highlights of the project will include much needed restoration of the lower half of the Ben Nevis Mountain Track, an archaeological excavation at the vitrified hill fort of Dun Deardail and extensive work to protect and extend habitats of endangered plants, animals, birds and butterflies. Details of all the partnership’s landscape and environmental work will be made available in various media formats and the importance of the Gaelic language to the interpretation and understanding of the area will be emphasised.”
Patricia Jordan, Chair of Nevis Partnership, said; “We are delighted with this endorsement of the Nevis Area, which will allow locals and visitors alike to become involved in a wide range of heritage projects in this important international location. We are also very pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the considerable achievements of the Nevis Partnership, which will now be widened to include other interest groups and organisations.”
Explaining the importance of HLF’s support, Colin Mclean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland said: “Ben Nevis is one of the best known and most climbed mountains in the UK. We are delighted to show our initial support for a project which will allow people to really enjoy the stunning natural heritage that Scotland has to offer, safe in the knowledge that they are not causing damage to the landscape.”