Clackmannanshire Council Online

Youngsters Hear from Inspirational Seamus

A group of local teenagers will take part in a 'discover and explore day' at Gartmorn Dam this week, on their way to achieving the John Muir Discovery Award.

As part of the day they will also hear from inspirational Sauchie man Seamus Corry, who will be presented with his John Muir Conserver Award for the work he has done to enhance the environment at the Dam.

The group of young people are aged between 13-15 years and come from Sauchie and Tullibody. They are supported by Clackmannanshire Council's Youth Service.

You are invited to send a photographer to the Dam at 3.30pm on Saturday 18th May.

Seamus will be presented with his prestigious award by lifetime John Muir Trust member and John Muir Award champion Dick Clark. Seamus has progressed through three levels of the John Muir Award to achieve the Conserver Award, a national environmental award scheme operated by the John Muir Trust.

Mr Clark said: "Congratulations to Seamus Corry for achieving his prestigious John Muir Conserver Award. For the past year Seamus has invested a significant amount of time enjoying, and enhancing Gartmorn Dam for the benefit of biodiversity and his own personal development. Less than 2% of the 10,000 John Muir Awards that are achieved each year in Scotland are at the advanced Conserver level. This is testament to Seamus's dedication and commitment to wild places. I think John Muir would have been proud of his achievement."

Councillor Donald Balsillie said: "I would like to wish this group of young people the best of luck in going on to achieve the John Muir Discovery Award. I'm sure hearing about Seamus's experiences and dedication will inspire them in their future efforts. I'd like to thank Seamus for sharing his experiences of the Dam with the group."

Notes to Editor

About The John Muir Trust

• The John Muir Trust is the leading wild land conservation charity in the UK. We love wild places and are dedicated to protecting and improving them for people and wildlife. Over 10,000 members support us in our work. Find out more at www.jmt.org.
• The Trust owns and look after some of the finest wild areas in the UK including Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Sandwood Bay, part of the Cuillin on Skye, Quinag in Assynt and 3,000 acres on the remote Knoydart peninsula.
• The Trust manages Its properties according to its wild land management standards, which focus on habitat improvement and encouraging a more natural landscape and ecosystem. See www.wildlandmanagement.org.uk for more.
• The UK's remaining wild land is disappearing under development at an unprecedented rate with implications for our environment, economy and quality of life. The John Muir Trust is campaigning for greater protection for wild land across the UK through its Wild Land Campaign. Read more at www.jmt.org/wildland.
• Through the John Muir Award, the John Muir Trust encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. Since 1997, more than 160,000 people across the UK have achieved an Award. Read more about this educational initiative at www.johnmuiraward.org.
• The Trust takes its name and inspiration from John Muir (1838-1914), the pioneering, influential Scots-born American conservationist who was passionate about the wild. Muir dedicated his life to protecting wild places and he campaigned successfully for the establishment of National Parks to safeguard vast tracts of wild lands, including Yosemite Valley in California.