An account of the birth of The Friends of Braidburn Valley Park (FOBVP) in 2002 is to be found in the inaugural edition of The Valley Voice in the Autumn of that year. The overall aims of the organization are set out in its Constitution:
- To promote and encourage the local community to take an interest in the protection, upkeep and enjoyment of the park.
- To conserve, enhance and promote the park area for the benefit of people and wildlife.
- To work with the local authority and other relevant organisations to help in achieving the above.
That first edition of Valley Voice reports an initial membership of around 180, mainly but not exclusively living in the vicinity of the park. Over the years the number has remained fairly steady, but that requires a continuing supply of new members; so please Join Us if you haven’t already! Membership subscriptions remain at their 2002 levels 😊, though many members chip in an extra donation. At least as important as their financial support is the practical help members bring to looking after the park, through regular cleanups, bulb and tree planting, garden maintenance…and (not too often) graffiti-removal.
A small committee (comprising typically 11 FOBVP members) has the responsibility of overseeing activities, and planning larger scale projects – sometimes requiring external funding. The companion page What your Friends do gives examples of recent projects. The FOBVP committee meet four times a year, usually by Zoom. An AGM open to all members is held early each year. See the Meetings page for further details.
The Friends of Braidburn Valley Park is a Charity, Registered in Scotland (SC040192). The elected members of the FOBVP committee act as Trustees and their names are listed on the website of the Scottish Charity Register (OSCR) . Charitable status allows FOBVP to claim Gift Aid on the subscriptions of members who have completed a Gift Aid Declaration . Gift Aid boosts FOBVP funds, so, if you are a member, and haven’t already done so, please sign up!