May round-up: Spring Auction success & upland updates
- Heather Trust
- May 26
- 3 min read
Spring has been a busy and productive time for the Heather Trust. A huge thank you to everyone who supported our recent Spring Auction. Together you helped raise nearly £20,000, which will make a real difference to our work protecting and sustaining our uplands.
We’ve also been contributing to important national discussions, submitting evidence to the EFRA inquiry on wildfire risk, while continuing to share knowledge on issues like tick awareness and wildfire preparedness.
And with Wader Week just having come to an end, it’s a great time to appreciate these iconic birds and the ongoing efforts to help them thrive once again.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Thank you for a successful Spring Auction 2026
Thank you to all our generous donors and bidders who help realise a superb amount in our recent Spring Auction. The funds raised from this event are vital to the future of the Heather Trust.
This year’s Spring Auction raised nearly £20,000, which allows to continue with our work to ensure our uplands remain resilient and sustainable for people and nature.
Several standout lots attracted particularly strong interest and competitive bidding. See below for our top Lots for 2026:
EFRA response submitted
The Heather Trust submitted its response to the ‘Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry into Wildfire Risk and Response’ earlier this month. This call for evidence (now closed) is part of a wider long-term ‘climate and weather resilience’ inquiry to examine how well the UK is preparing for and responding to environmental and weather-related risks such as landslips, wildfires, drought and coastal erosion. It will explore the effectiveness of national strategies, the integration of resilience into wider planning and investment decisions, and the adequacy of current systems to protect people, places and nature.
Tick Talk
The Lyme Resource Centre (LRC) gave a timely presentation at the Women’s Upland Network Spring Networking Brunch when it was held in Edinburgh on 19th May.
LRC charity Trustee Arlene Brailey informed guests of the real risk of tick bites and Lyme disease and, if the symptoms are overlooked or misdiagnosed, and treatment is delayed or withheld, it can potentially result in severe and long-lasting health issues.
More information can be found on the LRC website via the button below:
Wildfire Generations
In November 2025, we hosted the Wildfire Ready event in partnership with Pasture for Life (PfL) at Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens. As part of that event, we heard from Eduardo Chivite from Vallfirest (wildfire equipment suppliers). Eduardo’s presentation on Wildfire Generations was both fascinating and cautionary. As part of the legacy output from the event, PfL asked Eduardo to share his presentation again so a wider audience could benefit from his (and others’) expertise in this field.
Wonderful Waders
There is no question that breeding waders across the UK still face a multitude of pressures. They compete for habitat with the likes of afforestation, struggle to hatch and rear chicks amongst some modern farming practices and the ever-present predators take their toll on wader offspring too. However, Working for Waders continues to raise awareness of their decline; show that declines can be reversed and; demonstrate the importance of working in partnership.
Even though Wader Week just ended (18-24 May), you can still take some time to admire these charismatic birds and, if you can, get involved.
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