Speaker Colin Bayes

Rotary club of Stirling meeting of 5th May 2017

.President Alan Rankin welcomed members, reminding them of the annual fund raising venture at Gardening Scotland which takes place next month at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, and expressing his deep regret that the Stirling team failed to retain the Wilkeden Golf Cup at Carnoustie.

The talk was given by Colin Bayes who, as a chartered environmentalist, is Chair of the Delivery Group at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Park Authority.  He dealt with the interesting and topical subject of camping management in the park.  Most people who use the park are aware that there are hotspots where popular areas for camping have been turned into eyesores by those who seem to lack respect for the  amenity, but Colin told horror stories of campers abandoning tents, fires and waste of all kinds including the discarded appurtenances of drink and drugs, often chopping down trees for firewood and defacing the permanent furniture with graffiti.  Uncouth and aggressive behaviour were often also a feature.

The Authority sought to rationalise camping in the Park while not being restrictive in a way which might discourage considerate campers.  

The worst areas for “antisocial camping” have been East Loch Lomond, parts of Loch Venachar and Loch Lubnaig, but it can be anywhere the road and loch / river are in close proximity.

The strategy of the Authority has been to upgrade the facilities in the areas which it considers suitable for camping, restricting free of charge camping to these areas, but still allowing “wild” camping on purchase of a permit.  The official campsites have been provided with delineated parking bays, both for cars and camper vans, cooking areas and wood for burning.  Helpful signage and the increased presence of Park Rangers completes the picture.

The initiative appears to have been very successful based on user surveys carried out by questionnaire, and whereas some disquiet was expressed relating to freedom to roam etc. by one or two outdoor pursuits bodies it seems very much that the result has been a solution to a quite untenable situation.

The vote of thanks was given by SVP Stewart Wilson.

Crawford Gordon