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New Ranger Centre reflects commitment to Ben Lomond protection
03/07/1998
Scottish Environment Minister Lord Sewel today paid tribute to the environmental protection work of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) when he officially opened its new countryside ranger centre at Ardess Lodge, Ben Lomond.
Lord Sewel said:
"The breadth of a ranger's responsibilities on an extensive countryside property such as Ben Lomond are vast. This impressive new building will enable the ranger to reside here permanently and epitomises the determination of the NTS to continue protecting Scotland's most treasured places.
"Ben Lomond has benefited greatly from the commitment of the NTS. More than 10 years have been spent reducing the broad band of degradation around the main path to the summit - work recognised recently by an award from the British Upland Footpath Trust.
"Work on this scale is expensive and the NTS is to be further congratulated for securing sponsorship from the Scottish Mountaineering Trust and the Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as grant-aid from Scottish Natural Heritage."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The NTS purchased the property at Ardess Lodge in 1984 but it was not until the recent creation of the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park - officially opened by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 11 November 1997 - that the need for a ranger in permanent residence became necessary.
2. The new centre at Ardess Lodge will provide a management base for Ben Lomond within the Memorial Park and a home for ranger Alasdair Eckersall and his family.
3. Ben Lomond is one of Scotland's areas of outstanding natural heritage and is under constant pressure from high levels of visitor numbers.
News Release: 1380/98
3 July 1998