A Year Powered by People: Volunteering in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
by Pádraig ‘Pod’ O’Grady, Volunteer Advisor, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority
I look at the numbers from our volunteer programme and feel a mix of pride and disbelief. Last year our volunteers gave more than 13,000 hours of their time across almost 600 opportunities. If you prefer a more cinematic comparison, that is the same as watching Jurassic Park more than 6,000 times. I promise I did not test this myself, but I did enjoy the thought.
And like any good blockbuster, the big numbers are only part of the story. What matters more is the cast: a community of people who choose to come together for a shared purpose. People from different backgrounds and different stages of life who want to spend time outdoors, learn something new and help care for a place they love.
In the last year, this community has grown again, with an 11% rise in hours and a steady flow of new volunteers, including young people joining through our Youth Action Pathway. There’s no theme music or CGI involved here, only people turning up week after week and making a real difference.
What we Achieved Together
Those hours translate into real outcomes for nature and for people. Volunteers helped plant more than 56,000 seeds, trees and saplings. They cared for more than 50km of paths. They supported the removal of invasive species, such as Himalayan Balsam and Rhododendron to protect vital native habitats. These are practical actions that strengthen the Park’s resilience and help nature recover. They also support access for the many people who come here to walk, explore and spend time outdoors.
This work sits at the heart of Future Nature, our strategic commitment to giving nature more space across communities, farmland, forests and other land uses. Many of the projects within Future Nature rely on people power. Without volunteers, much of this simply would not happen at the scale required to achieve the long-term restoration we must achieve to tackle the joint climate and nature crises.
The People at the Heart of it
Volunteers come for many reasons. Some want to learn new skills. Some want to meet others. Some simply want to spend more time outdoors. Whatever the motivation, the choice is theirs and the benefits flow for all. Volunteers gain connection, confidence and nature gains from their time and for the National Park Authority, we make vital progress towards our vision of a National Park that is carbon negative, and nature positive.
Brand new volunteer Carmen López told us: “Becoming a volunteer ranger is going to be one of my highlights this year and I am SO looking forward to spending days outdoors, engaging with people that enjoy the national park as much as I do and in great company.
“I am very excited for all the things I’ll be learning from my peers.”
And from volunteer Stuart Johnstone (who is out at least once a week): “I volunteer to connect with new people while working on environmental projects that safeguard the landscape for future generations.
“Immersing myself in this stunning setting significantly boosts my health and mental wellbeing.”
Some of our Personal Highlights
One of the most memorable moments of the last year has been the Scots Pine restoration work in Strathfillan, where volunteers planted young trees grown from seeds they collected two years ago. With so little of the original Caledonian forest left, this work is vital. Watching volunteers return to plant trees they nurtured from seed shows what long‑term stewardship really looks like, and just how massively rewarding it can be.
Volunteers also supported the maintenance of the West Highland Way, contributing many hours to help care for one of Scotland’s most iconic routes. Their efforts keep the path safe and accessible for the thousands of people who walk it each year.
And through beaver surveys last winter, volunteers helped map the distribution of a species that has been reintroduced to Loch Ard Forest over several years, supporting long term ecological recovery and strengthening our partnerships with organisations across the region.
Looking Ahead
As the year progresses, our focus remains on supporting the volunteer community that has shaped so much of what we’ve achieved together. The projects will change, the seasons will turn, and new challenges will appear, but the heart of the programme stays the same. People coming together with a shared purpose and making a real difference through their time and energy.
We aren’t recruiting at the moment, but if you’re thinking about volunteering, there are many organisations across the area who would be glad to hear from you. They share our values and work closely with us, and they offer a wide range of ways to get involved.
Cormonachan Community Woodlands
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust
Wherever people choose to volunteer, the experience offers something valuable. It builds confidence, connection and a sense of purpose, and it supports the places and communities people really care about. From myself and my colleagues, I extend a huge thanks to everyone who has given their time and volunteered with us.