Caring for Skye’s wild places

Trust Members and supporters enjoy a magical evening with our Skye and Knoydart Manager, John MacRae.

Around 40 people - including a number of Trust Members – joined us for an evening celebrating 30 years of caring for Skye’s wild places at the end of March.

Our hosts - the Sleat Nature Group - introduced the Trust's Skye Manager John MacRae by saying he had a unique insight into managing the Trust's Skye estates as he is also a crofter himself.

After giving a brief summary of the Trust's origin in 1983, our key milestones, current mission and values, and unique position as the only environmental charity in the UK with a focus on wild places, John concentrated on the land we care for on Skye. 

The Trust purchased Torrin in 1991, Strathaird in 1994 and Sconser in 1997. As well as the work he does managing these wonderful wild places, John talked about the challenge that comes with increasing numbers of visitors.

Sconser - our busiest site - sees 650 - 1000 people per day visiting the Collie Mackenzie statue at the Sligachan Gateway during peak times. We hope to give these visitors a unique taste of this wild place without compromising the peatland we are trying very hard to protect (see photo above) by adding a 400 metre all-abilities path. In time, we aim to add interpreation points around the loop.

Meanwhile at Strathaird and Torrin we are seeing more and more wild campers and visiting campervans. With this in mind, we will be upgrading the Bla Bheinn toilets in April and early May and John warned the audience to expect some disruption while the works take place.

The evening talk finished with a couple of slides featuring Li & Coire Dhorrcail - the very first property the Trust bought. Although in Knoydart, not Skye, this was where the journey really began for our Members.

After his presentation, the audience asked questions about a variety of topics including: how we plan to deal with INNS (invasive non native species) particularly pernettya (prickly heath), fuchsia, cotoneaster and rhododendron; as well as John's innovative wool path that he based on other such 'floating' paths/railways/roads (e.g. Rannoch Moor railway line) that is still looking good; and how they can get involved in volunteering.

Huge thank you to everyone who has supported our work in Skye’s wild places over the years.

• Find out more about our work on Skye and volunteering oportunities.