The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) is seeking a new chairman after Sir Kenneth Calman announced he is to step down next year.

Sir Kenneth said someone else was needed to take the conservation charity forward as it prepares for major changes.

The NTS is to put a new five-year strategy before members in 2016, which if approved will come into force from 2017. Sir Kenneth, who has chaired the charity since 2010, is to formally step aside at the annual meeting in September next year.

He said: "It is clear that leadership of the new strategy should therefore be from someone who can follow that process through and, for that reason, I am sure that next year is the right time for the Trust to appoint a new chairman."