Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust has been selected as BEAR Scotland’s second regional charity of the year. The trunk road maintenance company is in its third year of giving six local charities nominated by staff a £1,000 donation.

The funding boost will help ensure that Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust’s work maintaining and helping the countryside and communities continues. The charity was nominated by BEAR Scotland’s Commercial Assistant, Gail McPhee. Since Gail could not make it to visit, Environmental Advisor Ieva Karklina went along to find out about the work the charity does for the countryside.

Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust’s work includes connecting communities by building and maintaining walking and cycling routes such as the Cateran Trail and River Tay Way, improving accessibility with projects like the Kinloch Rannoch Riverside all-abilities path, working with schools and volunteers to plant trees and litter pick, and conservation projects like Perthshire Big Tree Country.

BEAR Scotland’s regional charity initiative ensures that six local causes based in the areas in which it works work receive a funding boost.

Iain Murray, BEAR Scotland’s Managing Director said: “BEAR Scotland will continue to support the communities and environments that we live and work in. Asking staff to nominate local causes allows them to make a positive difference within their own communities and this is a great initiative, which has proved to be a successful cog in our wider charity giving strategy.

“Being able to help towards active travel and the environment of the community that we live and work in is an imperative part of our work as a company and I look forward to seeing future projects.”

Peter Quinn, Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust Director, said: “We are very grateful to BEAR for this generous donation which we will use to support our Learning and Engagement programme across Perth and Kinross.”

Information will be shared about each of the regional charities and how BEAR is supporting them over the next few months.