The strong relationship that CHE graduate, Sam Harrison, made with the GalGael when he was a student is continuing, with Sam taking Galgael trainees on outdoor courses into the Campsie hills in September. 

Since finishing the course last year Sam has been setting up his own business called Open Ground which seeks to bring a broader, ecological, approach to the outdoors work he loves.

Sam explained: “So much outdoor work is person or self centred rather than focussed on community, society or environment, for good reason because that stuff is much more radical.

“However, I think it is crucial in this kind of work to emphasise that it is about forming a relationship with the hills and the outdoors and there is also the sense in which people are drawing strength from the hills. That’s a confidence building which they can then take back to their home and their working lives.”

Over the last six months Sam has been doing a lot of freelance work with other outdoor groups while preparing his own projects which are getting ready to go. This includes renewing his own relationship with the GalGael Trust.

“I did my thesis through the GalGael and it was on the Eagle Night, in memory of Colin, in June when I thought ‘I want to get back in contact with the GalGael’,” said Sam. “The outdoor work I am doing seems really appropriate for GalGael.

“There is so much I can learn from these guys about their sense of place and I can pass on some of my knowledge of outdoor and wilderness techniques, which could be really useful for them as they journey around the Scottish coast.

“I am really looking forward to getting into the Campsies from where we can look back over Glasgow. It is wonderful that these hills and open ground are on Glasgow’s doorstep with so many connections to the city, like watching how the clouds bank up against the hills and the rain falling on the hillsides, and pouring down streams into the Clyde on the doorstep of Govan.”

At the moment Sam is also helping the GalGael Trust set up their bothy in Loch Awe and he is about to set off on an adventure with a progresive group in Edinburgh where he currently lives.

“I am going to be working with ‘Fourth Sector’ for two weeks pretty soon,” he said. “They help to run social firms for people with mental health problems. It’s been a long slog to get the programme together so it will be exciting to actually get it started.

“It’s going to be great. One day will be spent setting up a context for the experience and we will have a day each in the Pentlands and the Ochils before going up to Glenfeshie for two days.

“I am also working with an Edinburgh based employment agency and drawing up other projects from further afield.”

For more information on Sam’s work check out Openground. 

Galgael Trust