Best place in Scotland... a little Bird told me

"Mean, moody, majestic, prehistoric Glencoe still gets me every time," admits Jackie Bird.

The former BBC Scotland newsreader lists the dramatic Argyllshire spot as one of her favourite places in the world and speaks with passion about what it means to her.

She said, "It's not just the bloody history but you quickly realise how hardy our ancestors were by simply living and surviving there. It probably also shows what wusses we all are now."

Jackie sees so much of the country - and no end of rain - in her role as President of the National Trust for Scotland.

She was thrilled to join the ranger team at Glencoe National Nature Reserve to support their vital conservation work, much of which is made possible thanks to more than £2.5 Million of funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery to support the National Trust for Scotland's work to enrich and protect Scotland's landscapes and wildlife.

Keen to muck in, Jackie put on her waterproofs and got stuck into various tasks to assist Glencoe's rangers including a camping patrol, litter picking, removal of invasive and non-native Rhododendron ponticum and Sitka spruce and engaging with visitors on its Land Rover Safari experience.

Litter Problem
The problem of litter seems to be getting worse. More than two million vehicles now drive through the eight-mile-long glen every year and so far, this season, trust staff and volunteers have carried out more than 200 hours of litter-picking, collecting more than 200 bags of waste in the process.

Jackie said, "The opportunity to experience the wet, wild and wonderful landscape of Glencoe National Nature Reserve from the perspective of the rangers, who do amazing work to care for this special place, was too good to miss - even in some proper Scottish weather conditions.

"In addition to the invaluable support from National Trust for Scotland members, the work taking place at Glencoe has been strengthened by generous funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery to support its work to enrich and protect Scotland's landscapes and wildlife.

"At Glencoe, support has helped with habitat restoration projects as well as expanding the team to bring in additional rangers such as Lindsay Warner. Lindsay's role is important to ensure that visitors experience the glen's stunning scenery and wildlife without leaving a negative impact behind, while also entertaining and educating them about the history and nature on the Land Rover Safari Experience."

Emily Bryce, National Trust for Scotland Operations Manager at Glencoe, said, "It was great welcoming Jackie to Glencoe and have her experience life as one of our rangers. Their work is essential to our mission of balancing sustainable tourism and access alongside conservation of the flora and fauna that call this special place home."

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said, "We're thrilled that players are able to support organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland in their efforts to care for some of our country's most important and iconic landscapes."