29^th April 2016

On the 27^th April Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority welcomed the Hollywood actor Lee Stetson to their headquarters in Balloch as part of special celebrations to mark 100 years of National Parks in the US.

Lee Stetson has been portraying John Muir – the founding father of the National Park movement – to hundreds of thousands of visitors at Yosemite National Park since 1983 and is a 'Centennial Ambassador' for US National Parks.

The visit to Scotland’s first National Park is in celebration of the significant anniversary of the inception of National Parks and in recognition of John Muir being born in Scotland. As part of the celebrations Lee will walk the John Muir Way portraying the iconic naturalist and environmentalist.

The 134 mile route runs from Helensburgh to Dunbar, and Lee started his walk at 10.30am on Wednesday the 27^th April at the pier in Helensburgh, where as an 11 year old, John Muir set out in 1849 with his family for a new life in America. Local walking and conservation enthusiasts accompanied Lee as he followed the John Muir Way to Balloch where he was welcomed with a reception at the National Park headquarters.

At the reception Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park said: “We are delighted to welcome Lee to the National Park. The centennial kicks off a second century of stewardship of America's National Parks and like us here at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, US National Parks are focusing on engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and a historic preservation programme.”

A group of youngsters from Haldane Youth Services joined the celebrations, representing three local primary schools working towards achieving their John Muir Award.

Gordon added: “National Parks in Scotland and America put a strong focus on engaging the next generation with the aims of the National Park movement and instilling a love of the outdoors.  I hope that having the chance to hear Lee talk about John Muir and his love of nature, will inspire the young people who came along today in their efforts to achieve their John Muir Awards and become future stewards of our precious landscape.” 

Lee is also be opening the John Muir Wildlife and Ecology Film Festival at The Tower Digital Arts Centre in Helensburgh at 7pm on Friday 29^th April. On Saturday 30^th April he will be planting Californian sequoia trees at Hermitage Park, Helensburgh at 10.30am before going on to Balmaha on Loch Lomondside where he will open the Tom and Rhona Weir Mountain Garden at 2pm.

Source Url: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/john-muir-visits-national-park/menu-id-483.html