I’m greatly concerned that one of Scotland’s most successful environmental campaigning groups could soon be wound up because of a lack of volunteers to run it.

The Scottish Wild Land Group’s officials are standing down at their next AGM and the organisation will be wound up if no successor volunteers come forward. The current Steering Team Co-ordinator, Treasurer/Membership Secretary, and Wild Land News Editor are all standing down and not seeking re-election.

The Group has been active (with others) in many key issues in Scottish wild land protection, including protecting Knoydart from a proposed army training range; campaigning against ski developments in the Cairngorms; arguing for Land Reform including community buy-outs and access legislation; fighting tax-break forestry in the Caithness Flow Country; pressing for only smaller / community controlled renewable energy developments, not megaprojects; and,opposing the massive impact of the planned Beauly-Denny power-line project.

Alistair Cant, the Co-ordinator of the group which was formed in 1982, told me: “We have all served for 14 years or more and it is time for new blood to come in and refresh SWLG. We have planned a handover period and everything is going well, but we need fresh volunteers to run this well-respected body.”

The group’s AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday November 29 at the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling. After the usual business, if there are no new nominations for the official posts then a motion will be proposed to wind up the group. If approved, all remaining assets would be distributed to charities with like-minded aims.

Alistair also said: “The new post-holders could come from our existing membership, or from supporters, or other committed individuals. So please, if you wish to work to protect and enhance wild land in Scotland, come along to our AGM - all are welcome.”

With so many threats to the wild land areas of the UK we simply can no longer afford the luxury of remaining silent. I would encourage anyone reading this to become involved and fight for these areas that give us so much pleasure and solace. We are seriously in danger of losing many of these areas and we need as many people as possible to stand up and fight for them. Remember the words of John Muir; “Do something for wildness, and make the mountains glad.”

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