At its meeting on the 8th February the Board of the Friends of the Pentlands confirmed the position of Andrew Marsden (vice Chairman) as the new Friends of the Pentlands Chair. Hamish Clark will continue in a titular role and formally hand over the baton at the FoP AGM on 7th June.
2022 Events Programme
The provisional Events Programme for the first half of 2022 is now on the Events Page
Information about Volunteering opportunities
A new section has been added under Volunteering with information about the various activities that our members can get involved with.
Publications Section updated
The Publications section of the site has been overhauled with separate pages for Newsletters, Information Leaflets, the FotP Calendar and each book we publish.
The Pentland Post Newsletters have been uploaded.
Annual General Meeting 2021
Following recent improvements in the health situation and changes in Scottish Government rules and guidelines, the Friends of the Pentlands have begun a phased restart to some outdoor activities, particularly work parties, litter-picking and gardening at Harlaw Visitor Centre. Other activities, regrettably, remain suspended for the time being.
Further changes will be made as soon as it is safe and legal to do so.
For the latest information, please contact the Secretary, Dennis Smith, at dennissmith@pentlandfriends.org.uk.
The Friends of the Pentlands Annual General Meeting for 2021 will be held at 7.30 on Tuesday 18 May, using Zoom.
It will be followed by a talk by Helen Brown on ‘The Water of Leith and its Conservation Trust’.
For further information, please contact the Secretary, Dennis Smith, at dennissmith@pentlandfriends.org.uk.
Covid-19 guidelines
Friends of the Pentlands – Annual Review 2020
Below we have extracted the Chair’s Foreword from the 2020 Friends of the Pentlands Annual Review. The full pdf version can be downloaded below.
Thinking back to the start of 2020, little did we know the momentous effects the COVID pandemic would have on our lives and the world. For Friends of the Pentlands the COVID restrictions have had a big impact on the Pentland Hills and on our activities. The Pentland Hills, particularly near built-up areas and the main access points, became even more popular with regular and new visitors attracted to their special surroundings to enjoy the benefits of exercise and recreation. This inevitably meant more wear and tear on paths and tracks and downsides such as the anti-social behaviour of a small minority and problems from inappropriate parking.
COVID forced the cancellation of several FoP activities throughout the year and others had to be curtailed and adjusted. Our work with special and primary schools, the escorted Wheelchair Walks, Tea and Cakes days and the programme of walks and talks all fell victim of the restrictions and necessary precautions. By working in small groups and complying with COVID guidance, litter-picking, gardening, arboretum maintenance and workdays became possible following the easing of lockdown. Path inspections, usually carried out by teams of two, were also able to go ahead and all inspections were completed on schedule by the end of the year, with relevant information added to the asset register.
Our volunteer teams produced two editions of the Pentland Post, our annual calendar and developed our Facebook profile. Board meetings and the AGM were conducted virtually, with many of us adding familiarity with Zoom to our CVs. Thanks to all the leaders and volunteers who in difficult circumstances contributed to FoP’s continuing role in the Pentlands.
At the start of 2020 FoP discussed ways of celebrating the memory of our late Chair John Stirling and three possibilities were highlighted for further investigation. Due to COVID restrictions progress has been slow but we plan to move forward as soon as the rules permit.
We were very fortunate to receive two large donations in 2020 as detailed in the Treasurer’s Report. This gives us a substantial surplus to fund new projects and initiatives of long-term benefit to the Pentlands. The first project supported from one of the donations – a turning head for mobility scooters and wheelchairs at the Bavelaw Marsh bird hide – has had all the negotiations and agreements completed and will be constructed early in 2021. Over the year we received many appreciative comments, through all kinds of media, in praise of the Pentlands and of our work in particular. This has been reflected in an encouraging growth in membership numbers, from 382 at the end of 2019 to 404 a year later.
Six Trustees who were appointed to the Board at its inception and served continuously for eight years were required under the constitution to stand down by the end of 2020. On behalf of all members my thanks go to Allan Ainslie, David Syme, Malcolm Patrick, Margaret Granger, Neil Macaulay and Rod Greenwell for their contributions and service to FoP. Dennis Smith was appointed to the Board at the AGM and took over as Secretary, and Iain MacLeod is our new Treasurer. The appeal continues for members to consider filling remaining vacancies on the Board.
A final thanks to Dennis Smith for compiling and editing another interesting and attractive Annual Review.
Despite continuing uncertainty during 2021, the ongoing interest and support of members should see FoP resume as many activities as possible in the course of the year.
Download the full Friends of the Pentlands Annual Review 2020