Latest news with #PhilipLong
The Herald Scotland
28-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
National Trust for Scotland chair on storms, Covid and saving seabirds
Before reaching this, his final few months as chair of Scotland's largest membership organisation, there would be devastating storms, headline-grabbing controversies, and growing challenges driven by climate change. From battles over battlefields, to ever-expanding wind farms and controversial housing developments pressing up against the nation's treasured landscapes, the past few years had it all. Pitmedden Garden near Ellon in Aberdeenshire, one of 38 gardens in the care of NTS (Image: National Trust for Scotland) Beyond the buildings, in carefully manicured gardens and wild nature reserves there was also the heartbreak of avian influenza. Cutting a deadly swathe through seabird colonies in Trust-run landscapes including St Kilda, St Abbs and Fair Isle, it left dedicated NTS rangers devastated. At one stage, redundancy fears loomed for staff. A handful of much-loved properties were sold and questions hung over the future of others - some suggested even the First Minister's official residence, Bute House, might be moved on. It was, by anyone's reckoning, a baptism of fire. Read more: Yet Sir Mark's announcement this week that he will step aside in August after six rollercoaster years comes accompanied not with regret, but with something of a glowing report card. The Trust, it seems, hasn't just weathered the storm - quite literally in the case of January's Storm Éowyn, which toppled more than 10,000 trees across its properties - but has emerged stronger, more resilient, and crucially, more popular than ever. Between March last year and February this year, over 5.6 million visitors passed through the Trust's sites. It is a record-breaking figure, up by 1.1 million on the previous year and the highest in its 90-year history. Glencoe National Nature Reserve led the charge with more than one million visitors, closely followed by Glenfinnan Monument and The Hermitage in Perthshire, each drawing around half a million people. St Abb's Head near Eyemouth is among eight nature reserves in the care of National Trust for Scotland (Image: National Trust for Scotland) Given where the Trust found itself in spring 2020 - with doors locked, all 492 permanent staff at risk of redundancy, and warnings that some 'non-heritage' land and property could face sale - the turnaround has been remarkable. Reflecting on two terms as Chair during which he's led a Board of Trustees in the task of overseeing the work of NTS Chief Executive Philip Long and his team, it's impossible for Sir Mark to ignore the looming shadow of Covid. Before the pandemic, his hope for the Trust were clear: stabilise finances, grow membership, and start laying foundations for the 2031 centenary. 'I felt in some ways that NTS had a varied but occasionally troubled past,' he recalls of the period leading up to his appointment. 'And I was concerned that the Trust should be - and be seen to be - financially viable.' Then lockdown came. 'It looked pretty grim to begin with,' he says. 'It was highly disruptive. No one could visit our properties, and quite a lot of people's jobs, at least temporarily, ceased to exist.' A £28 million income loss was on the cards and an emergency public appeal for £2.7 million was launched. NTS property The Tenement House tells the story of Glasgow family life (Image: National Trust for Scotland) Yet as Scots reconnected with nature and heritage on their doorsteps, something shifted. Government support helped, as did the generosity of donors, the loyalty of Trust members and its army of volunteers and staff. 'It was much less bad than we had feared,' Sir Mark reflects. 'NTS worked very hard to sustain membership and to keep in touch with people, to reassure them about the future. I think on the whole, it recovered reasonably quickly.' Indeed, the crisis would in some ways breathe new life into the organisation. It parted ways with its controversial president, Neil Oliver, whose outspoken views on politics jarred with some members. It also began the delicate process of exploring uncomfortable histories linked to colonialism and slavery, bringing long-sidelined stories to the forefront. While many Trust buildings are rooted firmly in the past, in recent years the organisation's voice become increasingly present-day and outspoken, particularly around contentious planning issues that threaten to overwhelm natural landscapes or encroach on historically significant sites. Plans for a horse trotting track near the Battle of Bannockburn site were turned down last month after NTS objections There was, for instance, the Trust's high-profile rallying cry over a proposed horse harness racing track on land at Bannockburn, scene of the 1314 battle and NTS heritage centre. Now, as Sir Mark prepares to hand over the reins, he is clear: the Trust's voice should continue to grow louder in the face of Scotland's conservation challenges. Seabirds, and the looming issue of offshore windfarms, are high on his mind. From the puffins of St Kilda to the gannets of St Abb's Head and Fair Isle's Great Skua colony, the Trust is custodian to some of the country's most important seabird colonies. The dramatic cliffs of St Abbs Head attract seabird colonies (Image: National Trust for Scotland) While few would argue against the need for renewable energy, Sir Mark is mindful of the risks it can pose to nature. 'We all recognise the importance of tackling climate change and supporting actions like offshore wind,' he says. 'But we also have to be aware of the terrible toll that can be exacted on seabird populations by these enormous offshore wind installations. 'We need to work with others in the field to ensure we get the maximum benefit with the minimum harm.' The Trust has spoken out loudly against the proposed windfarm at Berwick Bank, off its St Abbs Nature Reserve, pointing out that developer SSE Renewables, have predicted a far higher seabird mortality for it than for other UK windfarm. With up to 307 turbines across an area four times the size of Edinburgh and just 23 miles off important seabird colonies, SSE Renewables' own estimates suggest more than 31,000 bird collisions over its projected 35-year lifespan. NTS fears for its "seabird cities" of guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills that make their nests on the steep cliffs of its St Abbs reserve. Read more by Sandra Dick: It's becoming used to making its voice heard: the Trust helped secure a ban on industrial sandeel fishing in the North Sea, arguing with other organisations of its critical role as a food source for seabirds. Looking ahead, Sir Mark suggests it's likely the Trust will take a more active stance as new renewable developments and the vast powerline infrastructure they require begin to reshape Scotland's landscapes. 'We know that upgrading the connectors needed to carry electricity from offshore wind platforms to the rest of the country are likely to be increasingly controversial,' he adds. 'There may be - and in one case there will be - large overhead lines crossing Scotland. 'I think there's going to be a real discussion over to what extent it makes sense to underground part or the whole of some of these connectors. 'We are part of nature ourselves,' he adds, highlighting the Trust's gardens, land holdings and agricultural interests. 'It's a complicated relationship, but one we need to get right.' St Kilda's gannets in flight - seabird colonies at NTS sites were decimated by avian influenza (Image: National Trust for Scotland) Beyond seabirds and cables, there's Scotland's crumbling built heritage to consider. Sir Mark, former Director of both the National Museums of Scotland and London's Victoria & Albert Museum, speaks passionately about the Trust's work to maintain and safeguard properties, from Canna House in the Inner Hebrides, the one time home of Gaelic culture collectors John Lorne Campbell and his wife Margaret Fay Shaw, to the recent "surprising" visit he made to Thomas Carlyle's Birthplace in Ecclefechan. He has a particular fondness for the work of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, singling out the Trust's interior décor project at Holmwood House in Glasgow as a particular triumph. Meanwhile, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House and the original Willow Tea Rooms building – both in the Trust's care - remain close to his heart. They are success stories, but he remains concerned that more effort should be put into protecting the pair's achievements. Mackintosh at the Willow in Sauchiehall Street, a recent addition to the NTS portfolio of buildings (Image: National Trust for Scotland and Mackintosh at the Willow) For example, should NTS ever have a bottomless pit of money, Thomson's Category A Listed Egyptian Halls in Union Street would top his personal wish list of buildings he'd love to see saved. That, of course, is a dream. But, he adds: 'One doesn't need to say you are going to take on the whole responsibility of a building to say that we think that it's preservation is important and it's future needs to be assured.' Read more by Sandra Dick: Indeed, as he makes way for his replacement Chair, the current Electoral Commissioner Scotland and Convener of Court at the University of Strathclyde, Dame Sue Bruce, it's with a hope that the Trust's voice will grow ever stronger. She takes over at the end of summer, at a time of growing membership that is already closing in on the ambitious 500,000 target contained in the Trust's ten-year strategy, Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone strategy. Launched in 2022, it also targets investing £100 million investment in its sites, something Sir Mark states is already well on course. He goes confident for the organisation's future beyond it's 100th year. 'I feel really confident in my successor and the team that she will find in place,' he adds. 'I'm not worried about the future of the Trust. If anything, there are regrets about leaving it. 'The next few years will be exciting. Looking forward to the centenary in 2031, with a whole programme working up towards that at the heart of which will be a new centenary garden at Newhailes House, which will be fabulous.' NTS property Newhailes House near Musselburgh, where a centenary garden is planned to mark the organisation's centenary (Image: National Trust for Scotland) As for his own plans, there's time to enjoy his seven grandchildren, his Edinburgh bookshop, and to work on his forthcoming book about the landscape artist Algernon Newton. There's not much he would change about the last few years, one of the most tumultuous—and transformational—periods in the Trust's history. Except, perhaps, the obvious. 'It would have been wonderful if we hadn't had Covid – and fewer hurricanes would have been nice,' he laughs.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Record-breaking' number of visitors recorded by National Trust for Scotland
Scotland's leading heritage charity welcomed a record-setting number of visitors in 2024/25, according to new figures. Sites operated by the National Trust for Scotland hosted more than 5.6m people between 28 February 2024 and 1 March 2025, National Trust Chair Sir Mark Jones has announced. That is a rise of 1.1m from the previous year, as Glencoe National Nature Reserve welcomed around 1.1m visitors and Glenfinnan Monument and The Hermitage in Perthshire each hosted around 500,000 people. Sir Mark has announced plans to step down in August, six years after he assumed control of the conservation charity. He said: 'Looking back, I think we could say that the Trust emerged from COVID with less damage than might initially have been feared. Our members stayed with us and supported our emergency appeal. 'Staff worked hard and imaginatively to re-open as soon as the situation permitted and that has been good for the Trust's reputation, and for the retention of members and supporters, as we can see in the figures for subsequent years. 'Both visitor numbers and the financial performance of the Trust have been impressive over the last couple of years and Chief Executive Philip Long and all our staff and volunteers should feel proud that so many people choose to enjoy our beautiful places.' Read more: Glasgow subway strikes announced for this week after Unite the Union ballot Scottish parents group calls for end to war in Gaza after aid boat capture 'Scotland's young people need reform': Labour plea to fix broken education system Dame Sue Bruce will succeed Sir Mark as Chair. Currently the Electoral Commissioner Scotland and Convener of Court at the University of Strathclyde, she has a wide range of experience in senior executive and trustee roles. She said: 'Sir Mark has done an immense job and I want to thank him and everyone involved for the excellent order in which I find the Trust. I look forward to building on these achievements as the charity develops exciting plans for its centenary and the decades beyond. 'The National Trust for Scotland has been part of my life since childhood and I know first-hand the benefits to our wellbeing of spending time in beautiful and interesting places. I want members and supporters to feel this is their National Trust for Scotland and for our charity to become part of their daily lives too. "I relish the idea of taking on this role and returning to the charity that I am so fond of.'
The Herald Scotland
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
National Trust sites saw 'most-ever' visitors in 2024/25
That is a rise of 1.1m from the previous year, as Glencoe National Nature Reserve welcomed around 1.1m visitors and Glenfinnan Monument and The Hermitage in Perthshire each hosted around 500,000 people. Sir Mark has announced plans to step down in August, six years after he assumed control of the conservation charity. He said: 'Looking back, I think we could say that the Trust emerged from COVID with less damage than might initially have been feared. Our members stayed with us and supported our emergency appeal. 'Staff worked hard and imaginatively to re-open as soon as the situation permitted and that has been good for the Trust's reputation, and for the retention of members and supporters, as we can see in the figures for subsequent years. 'Both visitor numbers and the financial performance of the Trust have been impressive over the last couple of years and Chief Executive Philip Long and all our staff and volunteers should feel proud that so many people choose to enjoy our beautiful places.' Read more: Glasgow subway strikes announced for this week after Unite the Union ballot Scottish parents group calls for end to war in Gaza after aid boat capture 'Scotland's young people need reform': Labour plea to fix broken education system Dame Sue Bruce will succeed Sir Mark as Chair. Currently the Electoral Commissioner Scotland and Convener of Court at the University of Strathclyde, she has a wide range of experience in senior executive and trustee roles. She said: 'Sir Mark has done an immense job and I want to thank him and everyone involved for the excellent order in which I find the Trust. I look forward to building on these achievements as the charity develops exciting plans for its centenary and the decades beyond. 'The National Trust for Scotland has been part of my life since childhood and I know first-hand the benefits to our wellbeing of spending time in beautiful and interesting places. I want members and supporters to feel this is their National Trust for Scotland and for our charity to become part of their daily lives too. "I relish the idea of taking on this role and returning to the charity that I am so fond of.'
The Independent
12-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Idyllic home on remote Scottish island open to visitors again after 9 years
A tranquil island home has reopened to visitors after shutting its doors for nine years as essential restoration work was carried out. Canna House, located in Scotland's Inner Hebrides, is now open for people to visit. The National Trust for Scotland has completed extensive repairs to the former home of Gaelic scholars John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw. The conservation work aimed to preserve the house and its contents, including an internationally significant archive of Gaelic music, folklore, and culture. The repairs included the building's roof and windows, which were reinforced to withstand the Hebridean weather. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of the mid-20th century, with Gaelic song and language filling the air through audio devices. The house is designed to evoke a sense that "someone has just left the room", offering a warm, lived-in feel. Philip Long, chief executive at the National Trust for Scotland, said: 'All of us who have a love for Canna and an appreciation of the important stories this house holds will be delighted to see the incredible condition Canna House is now in. 'Caring for these places is not an easy task, but it is an important one and our charity is privileged to play a part alongside the creative residents, skilled contractors and many others who make projects like this possible. 'I hope everyone, whether they live here, visit often or, after reading this, come for the first time, enjoy the nature, beauty and heritage of this special place.' Mr Campbell bought the Isle of Canna and neighbouring Sanday in 1938, embracing the role of laird and farmer. Alongside his wife, an accomplished photographer and folklorist, they created an extensive archive of Gaelic songs, stories and linguistic material. Mr Campbell and Ms Fay Shaw lived in Canna House until their respective deaths in 1996 and 2004. In 1981, Campbell gifted Canna to the National Trust for Scotland (supported with an endowment from the National Heritage Memorial Fund), along with the couple's vast library, archives and sound recordings. This includes some 1,500 Gaelic folk songs and 350 folk tales, the first recordings of members of the Mi'kmaq nation and more than 5,000 photographic negatives and 25 reels of film spanning 50 years of Gaelic culture on the islands of Canna, Barra, the Uists and Mingulay. Highlights of the collection are a Dictaphone recording machine, which Mr Campbell used to capture Gaelic speakers in the Western Isles and Cape Breton; his wife's favourite Graflex camera and the Book of Pooni, dedicated to their favourite cat. The house recently reopened for pre-booked guided tours and the team is now looking forward to welcoming more visitors. Operations manager Angus Murray said: 'We've worked hard to create an atmosphere that reflects Canna House in its prime — a home full of music stories, and Gaelic, just as John and Margaret would have had it. 'As a team, we are excited to share this experience with a new generation of visitors to Canna.' The project to fully repair and refurbish Canna House cost £3.6 million. Costs were met by the support of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, a number of reserved funds held by the National Trust for Scotland intended for conservation projects of this nature, with the balance covered through funds generated by the charity's supporters, fundraising activities and commercial profits. Geraldine MacKinnon, speaking on behalf of the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust, said: 'The Isle of Canna Community Development Trust is pleased that Canna House has now reopened, enabling the public to access Canna House through guided tours and share the wealth of Gaelic culture it holds, along with the local historical and environmental heritage of Canna.'
