About

The Glenmidge Burn Project SCIO is a charity working towards the advancement of environmental protection and improvement of the Glenmidge Burn (Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland) and its surrounding habitats. We conduct activities to further public environmental understanding and engagement such as participatory ecological surveys, workshops and training. We also want to facilitate environmental scientific research projects and engage education institutions in using the area for their research. An essential part of our remit is to promote environmental awareness, particularly in children and young people.

The charity now owns 12 hectares (30 acres) of land to the north and west of Glenmidge, which we aim to protect, enhance and maintain for biodiversity. This is also a wonderful opportunity to further our aims of increasing environmental and ecological knowledge and awareness.

Anybody who is keen to get involved is invited to join us on our activities. To receive the latest news and opportunities to join us along the burn, sign up to become a member of the project.

The Team

Mark Zygadlo (Chair)

Mark is an artist living and working in the Glenmidge area. Mark’s work is increasingly focused on environmental matters, particularly on the watery world we are all part of.

Antoine Lemaire (Secretary)

Antoine is a keen bird watcher, bat ecologist and nature guide. He works for the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere as Nature Recovery Officer. When not in nature for work, he is in nature for pleasure, recording wildlife, scuba diving or hill walking with Tattie his border terrier.

Marianne Nicholson (Treasurer)

Marianne works at WWT Caerlaverock as an Engagement Officer encouraging people to learn and experience the magic of wetlands. When she’s not working, she likes experimenting with vegan baking, taking long walks with her dog and knitting (or trying to!).

Steffi Schäffler (Trustee)

Steffi owns a small-holding with a good bit of the Glenmidge Burn close to its confluence with the Nith. She has an NVQ in Horse Logging, works horses in forestry as a job and is the chair of the British Horse Loggers. She loves the otters and other wildlife that have returned to her bit of the burn.

Dr Michael Muir (Trustee)

Dr Michael Muir is a Lecturer in Environmental Science and Sustainability at the University of Glasgow’s Dumfries campus. Michael has a background in Environmental Chemistry, focusing on soil and water pollutants, ecological restoration and developing accessible analytical methods for citizen science. Growing up in Nithsdale and spending countless hours in the local countryside has given Michael the passion to support the landscape restoration and habitat creation goals of the Glenmidge Burn Project.

Dave Kirby (Trustee)

Dave lives in Glenmidge, adjacent to the purchased land. After 26 years in IT management and consultancy, he is now retired. He now follows his twin passions of photography and technology. He is chair of the Mid Nithsdale Photographic Club and an active supporter of a metaverse project with a 1:1 scale digital copy of the Earth, hoping to impact on Web3, the future development of the internet.

Our Partners

The Glenmidge Burn Project SCIO is also associated with Nith Life.

We have received funding from Keir Community Council for training and equipment.

The organisation is a Proud Supporter of the GSA Biosphere and its ethos of sustainable development.

You can find the organisation’s founding document below, which outlines our purposes and how we are to conduct business.