JMT Environmental Makeover

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JMT Environmental Makeover

As part of a drive to reduce the charity’s ‘ecological footprint’, the John Muir Trust (JMT) has just carried out an environmental audit of its central Pitlochry Office. Conducted by the Business Environment Partnership, the audit results are due out in the New Year.

The JMT office in Tower House, Station Road (pictured here), contains eight full-time staff, as well as a number of part-time volunteers. “We are taking a long, hard look at the office heating, staff transport, water use and waste to find areas for improvement,” Helen McDade, Policy Officer for the JMT, told Comment.

Efforts have already been made to reduce the office’s impact on the environment.

Everything from paper and cardboard to plastic and kitchen waste is recycled and the roof was recently insulated to reduce heat loss. Staff also have a car-sharing arrangement into work.

“The Trust in its offices and properties is looking at all opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and staff are fully committed to achieve a year on year reduction,” said Helen.

The JMT moved its central office from Edinburgh to Pitlochry in 2005. “We think that Highland Perthshire, with its stunning landscapes, is the perfect setting for the UK’s leading wild land charity,” she added.

The Trust owns and safeguards eight iconic areas of wild land including parts of Schiehallion, Ben Nevis, the Red Cuillin in Skye, Quinag and Sandwood Bay. The charity also campaigns against threats to wild land and is currently contesting the Beauly to Denny power line, which proposes the construction of 600 pylons, up to 65 metres tall, to transmit energy from the North of Scotland to Central Scotland.

For more information about the JMT go to www.jmt.org