Big Tree Country >> News >> Guests Raise £100k for iCONic

Guests Raise £100k for iCONic

12/03/2011
Crieff & Strathearn

Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, today (Monday 14 March) visited The Gleneagles® Hotel to acknowledge the generosity of staff and guests who have together raised over £100,000 through the ‘Supporting Big Tree Country’(1) scheme.

Introduced in January 2008, the scheme’s two elements are staff organised fundraising events and a £1 donation from guests on check-out.

The funds have aided a number of projects managed by Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust, including work to restore historic orchards and rescuing some of the world’s rarest and most remarkable tree species.

Ms Cunningham said:

“Scotland’s landscape, biodiversity and heritage draw many, many visitors to our shores each year and we cannot underestimate the importance of these assets to Scotland’s economy, reputation and vitality.

“This is something that the staff at Gleneagles Hotel acknowledge and it’s great to see that one of Scotland’s most successful tourism businesses has made such a commitment to helping enhance and maintain Big Tree Country for the benefit of visitors – and for the people who live and work across Perthshire.”

“This is a great example – and one that I hope inspires other businesses across the country.”

As well as supporting significant landscape projects, donations have helped to develop a unique outdoor learning project - Woodlands, Words & Wonders(4) – that has been devised to complement the new Curriculum for Excellence and connect local school children to woodlands.

Bernard Murphy, General Manager at Gleneagles, said:

“Gleneagles is one of the biggest employers in the area and our guests enjoy the surrounding countryside as part of their stay at the hotel. It seemed appropriate therefore to support Big Tree Country.

“Each year our staff undertake their own fundraising activity, which together with the funds raised through our guest donation initiative, has allowed them to make a big impact to the activities of Perthshire Big Tree Country. We’re proud of their efforts and their contribution to Perthshire Big Tree Country.”

Roseanna Cunningham was joined by representatives from Gleneagles and PKCT to plant a tree as part of the ongoing iCONic(5) project which the scheme helps support.