John
Muir Award
Review
May
2013
Having actively participated in the Award programme
at Conserver Level, I now feel I have complied enough of evidence to complete
my award in its in entirety
1. Discovery
Over the past year I have sought to find out who John
Muir was and why he was so influential in environmentalism and preservationist.
I read Cherry Goods’ book On the Trail of John Muir which captured the essence of his life
and work. Through my professional life I
also got the opportunity to visit his birthplace in Dunbar. There I spoke to
staff and listened with openness and discovered the person that he was the
passion and vision he had and how his life has influenced so many to protect
our wild spaces.
With John Muir’s
example I participated in a local excursion to discover through walking the
wild spaces around my own area in Clackmannanshire. I came to rest upon one
area right next door literally to my own home namely Gartmorn Dam. I have lived
in Sauchie now for over 7 years and hand on heart did not know a lot about the
place, its locale, and what exactly makes it a wild place.
I did a lot of internet research, went right back to
the beginning of time, looked at the geological formations, native species,
human life, industrial life and post- industrial ,life the beginnings of the
successful campaign to turn the dam into
a protected area as an SSSI. I took many notes, read management plans from the
local council, spoke to The Rangers Service, and interviewed the earl of Mar
and Kellie Jamie Mar, the results of which are all included in my log book.
In discovering The
Jewel of Clackmannanshire, Gartmorn Dam, I discovered that it is a
massively significant site because of its flora, Fauna and wildlife. With its
440 million gallons of water hundreds of species of trees, and plants, its
migratory birds and winter fowling specific visitors which include Geese, Ducks
and Sand Martins, below the water level
its unique pond weed unique in Scotland .
Truly I have discovered that Gartmorn Dam is at Clackmannanshire’s
heart which has provided sustenance to inhabitants for over 300 years
continuously since 1713 and this year will celebrate its 300th
birthday. More importantly I discovered that I have fallen in love with
Gartmorn Dam, its beauty, magic, diversity, I have become its protector and
will continue to ensure the Dam remains protected for many years to come.
Gartmorn Dam in all its Glory
2.Explore
I wanted to get into the roots of Gartmorn Dam, to
see it in its raw state to explore its fens, hills, ancient forests, and to
capture my explorations on camera over the year. In exploring the dam I
captured the Dam on camera in autumn, winter, and spring time, capturing the
magic, beauty, and essence of the Dam over the different seasons, I wanted to
explore how the different elements interact with one another through the
seasons from the smallest snowdrop to the largest buzzard.
In my explorations I discovered vibrancy, life a
pulse that exists in and around The Dam. My photos will bear this out. I
explored its beauty in the shifting seasons, the movement of bird life, the
growth sleep and new life of plants, the interaction with human beings and how
they interact with the space.
At each turn and walk of the path, each photo taken
I heard John Muir in my ear stating the very obvious now to me. “We are all
connected”, we cannot separate ourselves from nature and nature cannot separate
itself from humanity. Each needs the other for its survival and sustenance.
I also explored The Dam’s industrial past. I
discovered that the finest engineers of the day, George Surrocold and John Smeaton
were involved in the construction of the Dam as we see it now. I explored how
through industrialization and its effects that in some sense what we have now
has come from the industrial
past. I also discovered that the 6th
Earl of Mar had constructed a water flushing system, water piping system and
well as a water filtration system which connected the Dam to Alloa and Alloa to the world through its
shipping links along the forth. No water was wasted in the process and the full
circle of the waters life from stream to sea was connected.
We are all connected even the most beautiful Snowdrop
3.Conserve
My knowledge of John Muir impelled to bring others to
discover and explore and do conserve, maintain, actively connect with their own
environment and over the last year through my work I have undertaken to deliver
the John Muir Award at discovery level with young people being supported to
move closer towards the world of work.
In delivering the ward I was committed to heading up
work groups who participated in local conservation activity which included work
at Muiravonside Country Park, Litter picks in and around Falkirk, and
development of a garden space in the centre of Falkirk working closely with
Falkirk Council Estates team and Clean Scotland through Keeping Scotland Beautiful.
The garden space activity first stage was to clear the site of all rubbish and
debris which had built up over many years and we succeeded in clearing over 22
tonnes of rubbish from the site over a couple of days.
I was also involved in the conservation work in
Carron Dam in Falkirk. I supported young groups to conserve the site with
carrying out litter picks and also doing some discovery and exploration work
with the group with the help of Christine Bell CACTA in Falkirk.
I took it upon myself as part of my conservation
work to commit to single-handedly carrying out litter picks on site at Gartmorn
Dam with the agreement and communication with The Rangers Service in
Clackmannanshire.
2 more bags of litter collected
4. Sharing
Right at the very start of my project and award
programme I established a blog page My Journey with John Muir. I have posted
all my activity on this site and to date over 1050 people have shared my
journey with me reading my posts and commenting on my progress.
Working with over 30 young people in Falkirk this
year I have shared my personal experiences of doing my own John Muir Award so
that young people can see how it can really help them to achieve their own
awards too.
I have also as part of the 300th birthday
celebrations at the Dam this June- July 2013 shared my photos of the life of
the dam which will be used as part of the permanent display and backdrop at The
Dam over the summer
I have also shared my experiences with the wider
Cyrenians Charity and included articles for staff update and inclusion in company
newsletter and Facebook page.
I also intend to share my experiences at this weekend’s
AGM in Pitlouchry with delegates and I am also committed to working in
partnership with John Hosey and Youth Services in Clackmannanshire to share my experiences
and support young people to achieve their award in Clackmannanshire.
I have also shared my activity and experiences with
Keep Scotland Beautiful and posts of my have been placed on their blog page
highlighting my activity as part of my award.
New life Springs
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