The NTS has reduced the deer population in the interests of conservation and native trees are now starting to grow again. In the 18th century there was commercial timber extraction, then until recently, apart from plantations of introduced species, no new trees had seeded for about 150 years because there were so many deer that the seedlings were eaten.

Each year more of the surviving mature trees died, and the stock of trees diminished. Now natural regrowth is happening, and those of the public who notice such things are expressing their appreciation. But for this change of management, the old trees would eventually have died and the native species would have disappeared.

The many visitors give rise to some problems, because, sadly, while most are careful to "carry out what you carry in", not all do so. At first glance the area looks clean, but when we looked closer we found several plastic bags of rubbish hidden under logs, and tucked in among stones, so we spent some time tidying up old campsites. It is amazing where some people will make fires! We even found one campfire site under the branches of a fallen branch, still attached to the tree. If it had set fire to the tree.....!

On our day off a group of us climbed Derry Cairngorm; the day was still, and at the top there was no sound of man, except, briefly, when the RAF flew by, practising low flying among the mountains. There are those who find this intrusive, but the intrusion is only brief, and it is certainly exciting. There was no sound even of bird song or of running water.

I am not an enthusiastic photographer, and often forget to take my camera, but I had it that day and used a lot of film at the top and in the glens round about. We had climbed Derry Cairngorm (1155 meters) from the south, over Carn Crom (890 metres) and descended via Corrie Etchachan to the north.

The path through the corrie had become badly eroded, so NTS had arranged for it to be repaired. So inaccessible was it that supplies and materials had to be helicoptered in and out, and the following day, while we were working near Derry Lodge we saw the helicopter going back and forth.

It was too quick for me, however, and it does not show up in my picture of the Lui Water flood plain. Incidentally, "flood plain" is exactly what it is. Every now and then there is a flood which reshapes the course of the river and inundates anything which might be in the way. There are several places from which bridges were torn away, and the "muckle spate" of a summers day in 1840 is talked of still.

One of our tasks was to pile rocks into the wooden frame piers of one of the bridges to stabilise it; this is a job that has to be done every year or so, to replace the rocks washed out by the floods. Nothing on the flood-plain is permanent!

It is very satisfying to do worthwhile work among convivial company, and of course in glorious countryside. The NTS plays a vital role in safeguarding Scotland’s heritage, and if you want to play a part, you can find more information on Thistle Camps, at http://www.nts.org.uk or you can contact the NTS Thistle Camp Organisers by E-Mail at conservationvolunteers@nts.org.uk

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