TWO retailers have announced a pennies scheme to focus on the mountain paths campaign which has appealed to Scots government for more sustainable funding.
Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland have announced that the It’s Up to Us (IUTU) campaign will be the focus of the Pennies scheme in Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and Snow+Rock stores.
The Pennies scheme was launched at the start of September and, running until the end of the year, allows customers in Scottish stores the chance to round-up and donate as little as one penny at the checkout to support IUTU.
Now in its second year, It’s Up to Us is a three-year campaign to attempt to raise £300,000 for path repairs on An Teallach in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands.
The groups suggest that small donations can add up with £5 being enough to pay for gloves and eye protection for volunteers and contractors, while £100 could build one metre of gravel path.
The initial stage of IUTU is focused on repairing 3.2km of eroded path on An Teallach, with contractors from Cairngorm Wilderness Contracts having so far completed 340m of path.
The campaign is also calling on the Government to help develop a sustainable funding model for building and maintenance work across Scotland’s upland path network to ensure it is kept fit for purpose for future generations to enjoy.
Dougie Baird, CEO of the Outdoor Access Trust Scotland, said: “It is fantastic that Cotswold Outdoor have chosen to support the Its Up To Us An Teallach appeal as the focus of their Pennies initiative.
“All of us who love the outdoors understand the need for good kit on the hill, and it is really good to know a little bit of each purchased piece of kit during the initiative will be going to help look after the mountains that so enrich our lives.’’
Lucy Sutton, marketing director at Cotswold Outdoors, Runners Need and Snow+Rock, said: “We are delighted to support ‘It’s Up to Us’ through Pennies, both raising awareness to our customers of the need to repair Scottish footpaths and investing in the repair and maintenance of these iconic mountains.
“The outdoors is our playground and we have to ensure that it’s there for generations to explore and discover their happy place.”
