2024 in review

John Muir Trust Chief Executive David Balharry reflects on a year of challenge and progress.

Not the end of the World is a counterpoint to a creeping sense of gloom based on press headlines that seek to promote an “overdramatic worldview”. In her book Hannah Ritchie explores how media headlines can skew our understanding of progress and obscure good news. The Trust’s journey in 2024 has parallels.

We began the year with a financial deficit, faced the challenge of tightening our belt and the consequential negative media commentary. The hidden story is that we finished the year on budget, with cash reserves in the bank, a new and experienced Leadership Team in place, and positive stories to tell about the protection of wild places.

Looking back, it is clear that the turmoil of 2024 enabled us to address some of the core challenges many charities are facing. Three in particular seem to be common across the charity sector and are worth highlighting: a significant shift in the funding landscape; a need to empower target audiences rather than to take paternalistic approaches; and the increasingly complex digital landscape that has emerged post pandemic.

The financial deficit we faced early in 2024 required tough decisions and careful adjustments in spend and prioritisation, to address those core challenges. A year on, we will start 2025 with a team of staff capable of delivering an ambitious programme and ensuring that spend and strategic approach are optimised in all that we do.   

In early spring 2024 we reached out to supporters through our Vital Appeal. This was the Trust’s most successful appeal ever and we are enormously grateful to everyone who donated. A heartfelt thank you for your support and encouragement, which arrived when it mattered most.

As all charities, we are operating in a particularly challenging environment. There are endemic risks around economic and political uncertainty, fierce competition, and the challenges of shifting baselines. For the John Muir Trust this last point in crucially important as we see the world of marketing exploiting the word ‘wild’ and societal expectations of wild places being eroded as our understanding of natural processes is increasingly compromised.

This problem sits at the heart of our strategic trajectory. During the year we made significant progress in promoting data-led arguments, driving legislative change, and inspiring people to engage with wild places. Our data-led approaches are being showcased with the development of a 'Wild Places Index', a globally applicable tool that will assess the integrity of natural processes and landscapes and help guide management.

On legislative change we hit an important milestone when our Carbon Emissions Land Tax proposal was included in the Scottish Government budget. Across Scotland deer management is starting to change, supported by recent and potential legislative change which was driven by the Trust working with other organisations. On our properties the deer reductions of the last two years are now allowing year-on year-growth of tree seedlings. Seeing this growth brings joy and hope for the future.

We continue to inspire more and more people to engage with an understanding of wild places.  The launch of the redesigned John Muir Award in 2025 will be a major milestone, in addition we are developing closer links to the John Muir Birthplace Trust and looking at the role of long-distance paths, including the John Muir Way.  Our exciting development with partners at Charterhouse Heritage Park in Coventry aims to connect city communities with this wild place on their doorstep. While at Glenlude in the Scottish Borders we continue to provide engagement opportunities for many.

It is a credit to the calibre and determination of the staff and Trustees who pulled together to engage in strategic thinking and planning during a year of transition, wrestling with the challenges of change, and significant unknowns. We enter 2025 as a more resilient organisation with a highly motivated team determined to deliver the best for wild places.

Wishing you a wonderful festive period and very happy New Year.