An Aberdeenshire charity has resumed work on Bennachie after their storm-damaged facilities were replaced.
Bailies of Bennachie were forced to halt their work due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then Storm Arwen, which destroyed countless trees and blocked off paths.
Work parties usually spend hundreds of hours on the hill doing jobs such as maintaining footpaths, improving drainage, re-building dykes and cutting back vegetation.
However, Storm Arwen caused irreparable damage to their container due to a number of fallen trees.
Offshore service business OEG Offshore UK Ltd has now donated a brand new container to the environmental charity to help them carry on their “excellent work.”
Operations director at OEG Offshore, David Hunter said: “We were sorry to hear of the damage to the container and wanted to help the Bailies continue their excellent work on the hill.
“I am delighted that we have been able to provide a new container and deliver it to the site so it can be put to good use right away.”
Working groups to tackle significant backlog
The Bennachie Visitor Centre and car park has now re-opened, with work parties set to resume.
Contents from the charity’s former container will be transferred in the coming weeks before the work gets started.
The group is also keen to hear from any volunteers who would like to join their effort.
Chairman Peter Stock said work on the hill will be “ramped up” to “catch up on the significant backlog of work needing to be done.”
“The Bailies of Bennachie are grateful to OEG, a global provider of topside and subsea services to the offshore energy industry, for stepping forward and helping.
“It is great for a community charity to have this support which will enable us to get back out on the hill and help provide sustainable access for all the people who use the paths.”
Anyone interested in volunteering with the charity can contact them by emailing workparties@bailiesofbennachie.co.uk