Wild North East Scotland Members in 2026 

James Brownhill reflects on 15 years of a John Muir Trust Local Members' Group making a difference to North East Scotland's wild places – and invites you to get involved.

The history of the North East Scotland Local Group dates back to 1997 when conservation days were established with the Ranger Service at the local Glen Tanar estate on Royal Deeside, within Cairngorms National Park. Several busy years followed, with conservation days, evening talks and fundraising ceilidhs.

Career changes and parenting responsibilities resulted in leaders coming and going. In 2010, some local John Muir Trust Members, retired from paid employment (but not from work) and picked up the reins once again and re-established conservation days every month - summer and winter.

The reputation of the John Muir Trust volunteers for commitment and enthusiasm (whatever the weather!) spread further afield and quickly similar events were established with the rangers/ecologists at Balmoral Estate and National Trust Scotland (NTS) Mar Lodge.

Today over 20 events are held annually. A handful of these are “residential” in estate-provided accommodation held over a two-day period during which a considerable amount of work can be achieved.  

Projects undertaken are often typical of the estate nature conservation plans - tree/ hedge planting and maintenance, fence removal/building, footpath repair/maintenance, and many tasks associated habitat improvement, especially for black grouse and capercaillie. Work sites vary from secluded woodland and pine forest close to the River Dee to open moorland at an altitude of 500 meters or more. 

The conservation days are not just about the work, they are very much a social occasion bringing together people from the local communities and sometimes further afield, across all age groups including: students; professionals; retirees from diverse career backgrounds; and the host rangers themselves. 

Whatever the project of the day, there are always elements of work to suit the abilities of all participants who join in to “put something back”, “connect with nature”, “experience and learn new skills” or just “mix with friends”.

Some tasks, such as redundant fence removal, have instantaneous benefits not just visually but particularly to low-flying black grouse and capercaillie. Other tasks take longer to show but some recently planted woodlands are looking verdant and support a diversity of woodland species where few existed previously.

In 2025 over 20 events of one and two-days duration, roughly equating to over 1,000 hours of work with the ranger services at Glen Tanar, Balmoral and NTS Mar Lodge. The Group also arranged two visiting speakers, Chris Wardle of NTS and Jeremy Roberts from Cairngorms Connect who entertained and informed attentive and inquisitive audiences.

2026 will be a similar program open to anyone who wishes to join. Projects and tasks may be different in some cases, but whatever the task, whatever the weather, the John Muir Trust North East Scotland Group Conservation Days will all be memorable gatherings. 

• Keep an eye on the North East Scotland Local Members' Group conservation days for dates for 2026 coming soon. Meanwhile enjoy browsing some of some of the Group's achievements on Facebook.