LAUNCH OF JOHN MUIR BIRTHPLACE TRUST

The John Muir Birthplace Trust has been formed by Dunbar's John Muir Association, Dunbar Community Council, East Lothian Council and the John Muir Trust to purchase 128 High Street, Dunbar, the birthplace of John Muir, and transform it into an interpretation centre telling the story of his life.

On the 160th anniversary of the birth of John Muir in Dunbar the Trust is launching its appeal to raise £90,000 to buy the property and secure further funding for its transformation.

John Muir was born in Dunbar on April 21st 1838 and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1849. Through his writing and the force of his personality he won support for his ideas of conserving wild places for their own sake and his legacy lives on in the National Parks of the world.

John Muir's life and work has inspired conservationists the world over, yet he is still largely unknown in his own country.

The partners establishing the Trust believe that securing John Muir's birthplace and inspiring visitors with tales of his boyhood in Dunbar where he gained his love of wild places and creatures, and the story of his great life's work, will help to bring Muir's message back home to Scotland.

Founding sponsors who give donations of £10 and over for this exciting initiative before 31 October 1998 will be recognised in a commemorative plaque to be mounted on the site as an integral part of the display.

Donations can be sent to the Birthplace Appeal, John Muir Birthplace Trust, 128 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian EH42 1JJ.

ENDS
20 April 1998

Issued by Jocelyn Spencer, Public Relations Officer, telephone 01620 827742

Note to editors: Interviews can be arranged with representatives of the partners of the Trust:

Nigel Hawkins, John Muir Trust, tel 01382 320252
Dan Cairney, Dunbar's John Muir Association, tel 01368 863992
Stephen Bunyan, Dunbar Community Council, tel 01368 863992
Councillor Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Council, tel 01620 827001