The Nevis Fund – a call to action!

The Nevis Fund – can you help?

The area of Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis receives no statutory Government funding yet over 450,000 people visit the area every year.

Incredible, accessible landscape

We are lucky to have free access to this incredible landscape to enjoy the outdoors and help us live a healthier lifestyle.

But where does the money come from to improve visitor facilities, maintain the paths, and plant trees so this landscape stays beautiful and useable? Well, there isn’t a clear answer or solution.

Path maintenance work

Currently, the work that takes place in the Nevis area relies on donations or grant funding applications which local charities bid for, which is not sustainable in the long term. 

Recently the Nevis Landscape Partnership (NLP) has been working on a brand-new path project between Paddy’s Bridge and Steall Falls which will make up one part of the Glen Nevis Heritage Trail.

Circular trail of Glen Nevis planned

There are more parts of the trail that need work but eventually it will make up a full walk-able circle around the Glen. Our path officer Dougie has already noted increased footfall on the new path. This project is being funded by the Scottish Mountaineering Trust but to complete the work needed on the rest of the trail, more funding will need to be secured. 

Improving visitor services at lower falls

The Nevis Landscape Partnership’s next project focuses on improving the visitor facilities at Lower Falls in Glen Nevis and has come about from collaboration between the Nevis Landscape Partnership and the local community.

Together we made a successful bid for VisitScotland and the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism and Infrastructure Fund.  This is a very positive step for the Nevis Landscape Partnership and the local community and will be a great asset to Glen Nevis.

While this funding provides the resources necessary for improvement of visitor facilities in the Glen, the NLP is still working hard to secure more income to continue to do more great things. 

Launch of Nevis Fund

The launch of the Nevis Fund is a major landmark – bringing together the values, ambitions, and resources of four organisations operating together in the Nevis area:

• Nevis Landscape Partnership,
• Friends of Nevis,
• John Muir Trust,
• Highlife Highland.

Visitors and corporate supporters will donate to the fund to support footpath work, biodiversity monitoring, visitor facilities, and volunteering opportunities. 

Ways to support the Nevis Fund

We’re developing the ways individuals can support the Nevis Fund – at the moment it’s the contactless device at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre or by signing up to the Nevis at Night event – watch out for the rest…. Which we’ll be launching on our new Nevis Fund website which will be coming soon! 

What can businesses do to help?

Businesses can also support the Nevis Fund in a variety of ways – we recognise that every business is different, and we’re keen to work with you to find a way to work together.

Some of the ways your business can help are:

• host a donation station,
• a visitor giving box or contactless giving device;
• make a regular annual donation and choose a donation amount to suit your business,
• donate a percentage revenue so for example £1 on every booking, or an amount on on every product sold.

Benefits of support

Businesses who are Nevis supporters will receive an invitation to a ‘Support Nevis day’ where you and your colleagues can make a difference by getting involved in footpath or conservation activity to help us maintain and conserve the Nevis area.

You will also receive a logo to use on your site to show you’re an ethical operator in the Nevis area, supporting the work on the ground; a Nevis Journal upon each publication; and material to share with your clients/customers such as Ben Nevis safety leaflets and the quarterly Nevis Journal. 

Call to action

We are asking everyone to get involved:  Whether you are an individual or a business, whether this is your home town or a holiday destination – How can you support Nevis?

The Nevis Fund website will be launched soon, but if you would like to find out more about how you or your business can SUPPORT Nevis, please email info@nevispartnership.co.uk