Meet the team
We like to think we're a friendly bunch, committed to helping people from all walks of life get involved in securing the future for capercaillie in the UK.
Carolyn Robertson
Project Manager
A big fan of wildlife, wild places and good times in the great outdoors on bike, foot or boat. Carolyn lives in Boat of Garten and has been working on the project from the early days in 2018.
Carolyn is employed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and her role is fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Elspeth Grant
Project Officer
At home in Nethy Bridge with horses, dogs and ducks, Elspeth is a 'keep calm and carry on' kind of girl, fresh from the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Partnership Programme and a big part of Explore Abernethy.
Elspeth is employed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and her role is fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Ruari Watt
Highland Development Co-Ordinator
Mountain biking since the early 1990's, Ruari is on the team to help riders in the National Park thrive alongside capercaillie. Handy on a bike, but also on the hill as a member of Mountain Rescue. An active bean, Ruari makes others in the team feel a wee bit lazy!
Ruari is employed by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and his role is 50% funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Jocasta Mann
Communications Officer
Usually up a hill, in a forest, excited by all that nature has to offer and bringing people together, Jocasta has her English teacher from Grantown Grammar to thank for being the wordsmith in the team.
Jocasta is employed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and her role is fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
David Clark
Gamekeeper
Better known as 'Poppy', David is a reliable source of banter, rugby punditry and is living the high life in the strath after spending the last 16 years living 14 miles up a glen on the Alladale Estate.
David is employed by Seafield & Strathspey Estates and works full time for the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. His role is 90% funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and 10% funded by the Estate.
Helen Gray
Capercaillie Advisory Assistant
Surveying capercaillie for over a decade, there's not a lot Helen doesn't know about capercaillie in the Cairngorms. At home in Newtonmore, where she lives with her team of dogs, Helen is also a keen wildlife photographer.
Helen is employed by the RSPB and works solely on the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. Her role is therefore fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Keith Ballam
Business Engagement Officer
A Grantown based boy and new convert to campervanning, Keith previously owned Craggan Outdoors, a successful business in the National Park providing outdoor activities for all. Keith is now helping other businesses to enable their customers to enjoy the National Park responsibly.
Keith is employed by the Cairngorms Business Partnership and his role is fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Douglas Carchrie
Badenoch & Strathspey Trail Development Coordinator
Douglas joined the team as an Intern responsible for mapping mountain bike trails and capercaillie data. A mountain biker, trail builder, environmentalist and outdoor enthusiast, Douglas quickly become a permanent member of the team working to deliver win-wins for mountain bikers and capercaillie.
Douglas is employed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and his role is fully funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Get in touch
We're always keen to hear from people. If you have a question, an idea, or anything you think we can help with, please drop us a line.