Scottish outdoor brand Keela has donated £5000 to the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) for its path maintenance volunteer programme.
In 2026, OATS has carried out 45 volunteer events at 33 different locations, both upland and lowland paths, mainly in the Cairngorms National Park, as part of their annual Path Maintenance Volunteer Programme. Most of these events were fully booked with a waiting list.
A total of 271 volunteer days were worked by 97 different volunteers – 44 of whom attended two or more sessions – in which 398km of path were maintained and 2565 path drainage features were cleared. This equates to 1991 volunteer hours and a mountain path contractor value of approximately £79,640.
Keela giving back
Through their People and Planet Fund, Fife-based family firm Keela allocate 2 per cent of their online sales to projects that support outdoor initiatives, charities and initiatives that enhance the environment and improve and encourage access to it. With their recent donation Keela continue their generous support of OATS’ projects.
In 2025, they donated £2000 to the annual path maintenance volunteer programme and £3000 to the An Teallach mountain path restoration project, managed by OATS and Mountaineering Scotland as part of their ongoing partnership campaign, It’s Up to Us.
April Hazell, marketing manager at Keela, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with OATS and support the incredible work of its path maintenance volunteers. They give up their own time to care for the paths so many of us enjoy, and their dedication makes a real difference.
“At Keela, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Helping these volunteers protect Scotland’s paths and keep them accessible for years to come is something we’re proud to support.”
Eva Kupska, Outdoor Access Volunteer Coordinator at OATS, said: “We are delighted to have the continued support from such a highly respected outdoor clothing brand. Our partnership with Keela demonstrates what can be done when we all contribute and work together to protect our iconic mountain landscapes for future generations to enjoy.
“Thanks to Keela’s generous donations, we have been able to expand the OATS’ path maintenance volunteer programme. This allows us to protect more upland footpaths and to give our volunteers more opportunities to keep our outdoor spaces safe and accessible.
“It has also enabled us to incorporate a few lowland conservation days into the programme. These events are not as physically demanding as some of the hill days, meaning a wider range of people can take part.”