Case study: Putting something back

Keen hill walker Derek Sime has been volunteering a day a week in our Wild Space visitor centre since autumn 2015

I have been a member of the Trust since the early days in the 1980s, and as a keen hill walker am passionate about our hills and about wild land in general.

Volunteering for the Trust seemed like a good opportunity of putting something back once I had a bit more time to spare in retirement. It is something that I can do on a regular weekly basis (except of course when I’m away on hillwalking trips!)

It’s really good to meet the people who visit Wild Space, from all over the world – members, non-members and people from different backgrounds – and have a conversation with them about the role of the Trust and about Muir himself, as well as sharing experiences of the hills and wild places.

It’s also good to be able to speak to the John Muir Trust team at Pitlochry. As a member of The Munro Society, our two organisations have much in common when it comes to our wish to see our wild mountains protected.

By volunteering in Wild Space, I hope I leave a favourable impression with people visiting Pitlochry ­– both of the Trust and, in the case of the many visitors from outside Scotland, of our wonderful country.

Think about what type of volunteering you want to undertake, as well as the practicalities. There’s a wide variety of activities that you can participate in.

Photo shows Wild Space manager Alice with Derek (and his book 'Scaling the Heights' about measuring Scotland's mountains.)