An Teallach project wins €60,000 in European funding to support long-term path and peatland works
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A European funding package has secured essential conservation works on a popular Wester Ross mountain until at least 2025.
The “It’s Up to Us” path maintenance and habitat restoration project on An Teallach, the popular Munro above Dundonnell, won €60,000 which took its fundraising total to more than £200,000 – two-thirds of the way to its £300,000 target.
The three-year partnership conservation project, being led by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) and Mountaineering Scotland, was awarded the grant from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).
It is one of four international conservation projects to receive a total of €180,000 in the charity's latest funding round, securing essential contract works on An Teallach until at least May 2025.
Duncan Bryden, chairman of OATS, said: “An Teallach – Gaelic for the (Blacksmith’s) Forge – towers alpine-like above Little Loch Broom. One of Scotland’s great mountains, it delivers a special mountaineering experience for many people.
“OATS are delighted and grateful that EOCA member companies recognise the mountain’s special needs and have given this fantastic award to the It's Up to Us project to help restore paths for both people and nature. It is a great example of businesses from the outdoor sector giving back to wild places."
EOCA is a charity organisation set up in 2006 by the European Outdoor Group (EOG) to enable businesses from the outdoor sector to work collectively. It supports and funds a growing number of grassroots conservation, protection, and regeneration projects around the world – except in North America where the Conservation Alliance does similar work.
Since 2006 EOCA has invested more than €5 million in 194 projects across 65 countries throughout the world.
On its website, EOCA highlights the only UK project to win a grant award in this round: "It's Up to Us will bring together those who care for mountains and conservation to help raise awareness and funds to fix the path erosion scars on An Teallach, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, through path restoration using natural local rock materials.
“The 1250m of upland path and 1300m of light touch path works will protect the hill from further loss of biodiversity and allow habitat recovery in the eroded area. The project will use habitat restoration techniques to recover 4.95 acres of the lost upland peatland habitats."
Stuart Younie, Mountaineering Scotland CEO, said: “The award of this grant from EOCA is fantastic news. It makes a significant contribution to our fundraising target, but just as important to our campaign is to have an established European charity which has supported projects all over the world, recognise the value of the work being carried out on An Teallach to restore nature and protect the environment.”
Catherine Savidge, general manager at EOCA, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the project which was chosen during a thorough selection process that took almost six months, finally being selected by EOCA member companies for funding. We very much look forward to hearing reports on how the work is progressing, protecting fragile habitats in this special area.”
