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It is hard to believe that these first tentative steps took place over a year ago. Much has happened since then and steady progress has been made to establish Dunbar's John Muir Association within the community it serves. DJMA has also been fortunate in securing support from overseas - in particular from John Muir enthusiasts in America. We shall, of course, be reporting on these developments in the current and future issues of the Newsletter. For example, one item of interest and, indeed, concern that arrived via the Internet was an up to the minute summary of a Congressional Hearing of the House Resource Committee in which its Chairman, Don Young, proposed abolishing the US National Parks and giving them to the individual States to run. This could sound the death knell for John Muir's greatest achievement.
Ed.
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The archives of the Dunbar & District History Society and of the East Lothian Antiquarians and Field Naturalists were the sources of smaller-scale materials - newspaper cuttings about John Muir's connection with Dunbar from the turn of the century, for example, and photographs of the celebrations here of his 150th birthday anniversary in 1988. Some of these photograph showed local children dressed in Victorian clothes, posting letters worldwide and planting trees at Linkfield. Who were they? Where are they now? We hope that they'll come to meet Louise Powell on April 21st.
There was no lack of diversity, either, about the DJMA Burns Supper organised by Stefany Hawryluk and Peter Hunt. Junior member Andrew Chisholm accompanied the haggis as it was piped in for the traditional Address, thoughtfully delivered in Grant Bell's Lanarkshire tongue. Graham White described his overwhelming experience of discovering Robert Burns and John Muir on the same day, in California, and read from Muir's Thoughts on the Birthday of Robert Burns [see below]. The Earl of Balfour, fresh from the Conservation Bill in the House of Lords, recommended the planting of trees on every slope too steep for farming - and tending them for at at least fifteen years. At Whittinghame (between Dunbar and Haddington, where he lives in a sandstone tower close to an ancient yew) he always plants in threes; one will die, one will be eaten, and one will grow. Then Yvonne Ouston's lovely singing of "Ye Banks and Braes" and "Ca the Yowes", and her husband Hugh's dramatic reading of Tam o'Shanter; girls from the Jane Knox School of Highland Dancing; the really dashing Scottish country dancing of some of our council members, and the genuine Cossack performance by some of the guests - all this made it a night to remember.
As you'll read elsewhere, DJMA has organised other events, too, and your council has more in the pipeline. We would really like more member participation in the Association's business. Please let us know if you would like to help, particularly if you have ideas for fund-raising or have any professional or artistic experience that you would be willing to make available. Write to the John Muir House address or telephone our hardworking honorary secretary, Alaine Walters on 01368 863317. A committee structure is evolving, to spread the load and keep things moving on all fronts on behalf of the Association. One small group whose efforts are not recorded elsewhere in this Newsletter has nonetheless been working intensively - frequently consulting other council members - on the submission to the Millennium Commission regarding the John Muir Centre. That will be with the Commission by the time you read this. More details on this proposal are given later.
The Editor has asked me for "a message". I'd urge you to come to the meeting on John Muir's birthday, and bring your friends. And please make a point of shopping in Dunbar whenever you can, to acknowledge the wonderful support we've had from the members of the Dunbar Trades' Association both collectively and individually.
Winifred Sillitto
Thoughts written on the Birthday of Robert Burns
by John Muir
"It is glorious to know that one of the greatest men to appear in the last century was a Scotsman - Robert Burns ... ... ... this lesson of divine love and sympathy to humanity ... which he sent forth hot from his heart, has gone ringing and singing round the globe, stirring the heart of every nation and race.
And yet what a sad life he had in his own Scotland, among his ain folk. Wae's me that Scotsmen let our best Scotsmen starve.
The men of science and natural history often lose sight of the essential oneness of all living beings in their seeking to classify them in the kingdoms, orders, families, genera, species etc ... while the Poet and Seer never closes his eyes on the kinship of God's creatures and his heart beats in sympathy with the great and the small as earth-born companions and fellow mortals dependent on Heaven's eternal laws."
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The year ended on a more positive note, however, with the addition of Straithaird to the three magnificent areas already managed by the John Muir Trust in Knoydart, Sandwood Estate in Sutherland, and Torrin, adjacent to Strathaird on Skye. Strathaird represents a real expansion of Trust activities, since the estate contains not only the finest mountain in the Cuillin Hills, Bla Bheinn, but also a thriving hill farm. The Trust believes firmly in working closely with local communities and in recognising the needs and wishes of people living on the land so that the crofting communities in Sandwood, Torrin and now Strathaird participate in the local management of Trust lands. In this way, the continued functioning and economic viability of the Strathaird farm becomes just as important as the more mountainous and scenically dramatic parts of this new acquisition. The development of all four Trust areas is an exciting prospect for 1995 and beyond.
In 1994, another important thing that happened for the John Muir Trust was the formation of Dunbar's John Muir Association. The Trust has shown its commitment to Dunbar by holding its AGM there each April, on the weekend nearest to John Muir's birthday. When plans for a John Muir Centre seemed to falter, many people looked to the Trust to carry on the efforts to establish this centre in the town. But with only 3 staff and, at that time, less than three thousand members (now 3500 and rising, with the launch of the Bla Bheinn appeal!) and a remit dedicated to the conservation and protection of wild areas of Britain, resources to extend Trust activities and set up the Centre were not available, despite support and enthusiasm for the concept. But there was great delight when local John Muir Trust members were instrumental in forming the DJMA last summer, with members of the JMT Information and Education Committee. The two objectives of the DJMA, to advance the education of the public concerning John Muir, and to implement John Muir's philosophy practically are entirely complementary to the work of the John Muir Trust whose energy is focused on carrying out these strategies on Trust lands.
In addition, the Trust practices of working closely with local communities, and promoting constructive dialogue with all interested parties, are also carried forward. When the John Muir Centre opens, we hope to contribute to the exhibits and the message to be found there, including the need to take responsibility for our environmental future. The Trust fully supports all the major projects now being undertaken by the DJMA, and offers its help and expertise in bringing these to fruition. Meanwhile, there should be more JMT members than ever before at our next AGM in April 1995, going on the Dunbar Town Trail, seeing Louise Powell presented with an honorary membership certificate, and learning about the DJMA and its plans. I hope that as these two organisations grow in size (and even influence!) and fulfil their different objectives, the pattern of support and shared experience that has characterised the last nine months will continue to enhance all our activities.
Carole Ross
Convener, Information and Education Committee, JMT
Member of
DJMA Council
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The John Muir Centre, Dunbar: a vibrant centre for practical demonstrations, information, and innovation in relation to the natural environment.
Celebrating the colourful life of John Muir (born in Dunbar in 1838, acclaimed in the USA where he was a founding father of the National Park movement, and revered in Japan) the Centre will focus on measures to ensure sustainability and biodiversity; understanding of such ecological concepts, foreshadowed in Muir's writings, is recognised since the Rio World Summit as of importance comparable to literacy and numeracy.
Muir's lifestory will be the springboard for entertaining exhibitions and experience (both virtual, exploring the wild places of the world, and real, simple hands-on demonstrations) geared to the 3rd millennium, attracting young and old alike. Staff of the Centre, in their search for effective new methods of Environmental Education, will be helped by visiting educationalists and research workers. The Centre, built (after competition) to exemplify wise use of resources, will have many facilities in addition to exhibitions and experiences: space for debates, a meeting-place and shop-window for Scotland's conservation movement, an East Coast Environmental Gateway, and perhaps a public access point for East Lothian's Countryside Rangers.
Talks are progressing, though as yet without commitment, with a range of potential partners including East Lothian District Council, LEEL, Blue Circle Cement and other local industries; two Community Councils and Dunbar Trades' Association have expressed their support by joining DJMA as affiliate members. It is intended that the Centre, with first-rate audio-visual facilities, will be usable as a Community Centre, cinema, etc. It is believed that the flow of visitors will benefit the local economy, particularly the tourist sector.
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The
first guided walk along the Town Trail, John Muir's Dunbar, has been
arranged for members of the John Muir Trust as part of the their AGM weekend
activities. Further guided walks can be arranged with DJMA Council member, Dr
David Anderson, by writing to him at the usual DJMA address.
A booklet for individuals to use on a self-guided walk is in preparation and
will be published soon. A training programme for additional Volunteer Guides
is being organised with the help of LEEL, and Dr Anderson (tel: 0131 447 3367)
or Alaine Walters would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to
participate in this.
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This column is therefore the first in a regular series that looks at the potential of this technology for disseminating Muir's message on a global scale. Many members will also be aware that many messages of support for DJMA - over 300 - have been received via this medium. But its potential goes much much further than just another form of postal service. A fuller explanation will have to wait until the next Newsletter where space may not be at such a premium. So, for now, a brief description on progress will suffice.
An Internet-hosted John Muir Centre has been on-line since September 1994. People with Internet access can visit this and be kept informed of up to date developments. One way to visit is via the URL:
http://www.cs.strath.ac.uk/Contrib/JMC/
Those who can use this facility don't need an explanation!Those with only (!?) e-mail access can also participate through a John Muir Centre e-mail list. To subscribe to this (no charge) just send an e-mail message to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk and in the body of the message (no subject necessary) put:
join jmcci-pilot <first_name> <last_name>and mailbase will pick up your return address automatically and you'll be sent several messages about the operation of the list, etc. Messages intended for distribution via the list should be sent to: In addition to the usual postal address, DJMA also has its own e-mail address:
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The circulation of the next newsletter will coincide with many subscription renewal reminders so be prepared! By then we will have covenanted memberships sorted out and plan to introduce subscription payments/renewals by direct debit.
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The task for the day involved planting marram grasses around the margins of the buckthorn on Spike Island. Buckthorn spreads very rapidly and has been controlled by pruning back. Trimmed cuttings can sprout again even two years after being pruned! It is a great habitat for rabbits but their presence prevents the regeneration of other limited ground cover in the dune environment. Hence the need to transplant marram to stabilise the dunes.
We assembled at 10.30am and worked through to 4pm with a relaxing lunch break sitting in a warm sun watching the waves roll along Belhaven Bay. It was a really enjoyable day among pleasant company and the work wasn't too hard. Any keen gardener wouldn't feel out of place!
We plan to resume this work later in the year. If you would like to help please let Peter Hunt know (tel: 01620 894 735).
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April 10th - 2.30pm: Dov Weitman, Head of non-point-source pollution control, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency, USA; with Brian d'Arcy of Forth River Purification Board as prelude to a conference at Edinburgh Uni.
April 22nd: Millie Stanley from Wisconsin; author of books on Muir. She is researching the history of Muir relatives.
June 3rd: Tom Bryson with a group of American students on a study course from Wye College.
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