A FOUNDER of one of Scotland's leading conservation charities is to step down.

Nigel Hawkins will leave his role as chief executive of the John Muir Trust next February.

The trust owns and safeguards eight iconic areas of Scotland including parts of Ben Nevis, the Red Cuillin in Skye, Schiehallion, Quinag and Sandwood Bay.

Mr Hawkins helped form the charity in 1983 and served on a voluntary basis as a trustee before becoming chief executive 12 years ago.

The organisation is named after Scottish-born naturalist John Muir, who was the first person to call for action to be taken to protect wild land, and an instrumental figure in the modern conservation movement.

Mr Hawkins played a key role in negotiating the purchase of the eight estates in the Highlands and Islands owned and managed by the trust, and he encouraged and assisted communities to become owners of large areas of land including North Harris, Knoydart and Assynt.

Mr Hawkins said: "I am very grateful to everyone who has shared a passion for wild land and has helped to build the John Muir Trust into the highly respected organisation that it is today.

"I wish my successor every success in taking our cause forward."

The trust has begun the process of recruiting a new chief executive and Mr Hawkins will continue his links with the trust in a new role as director of the John Muir Trust Anniversary Foundation.