Bill Maitland, director of Greengrow, an Inverness-based woodland preservation group, would hate to meet his 16 year-old "surly" self.
What is the first thing you do when you arrive at work?
Make tea then read the news online. I’m a technology geek and haven’t bought a newspaper for over 10 years. I don’t quite understand why we still need them.
What makes a good day at work?
When I’m out visiting other projects. I hate being trapped inside. Even when the weather is bad, I like to be out meeting people, often in a forest, and hearing about innovative ideas. I was born and raised on Mull and my parents always had me playing outside. I get cabin fever if left unattended inside for more than an hour.
What turns you into the office Victor Meldrew?
We share an office in Inverness and everyone gets on brilliantly. But I do get grumpy if my beloved Ross County get beaten at the weekend. Which is an all too regular occurrence these days I’m afraid.
How often do you socialise with colleagues outside the Christmas party?
Relatively frequently. We used to go to the pub after work on a Friday; that’s now become lunch due to people’s various commitments. I think it’s really important to take the time to get to know colleagues socially. Work isn’t everything and colleagues can become – and remain – good friends.
What’s your favourite book?
A Scots Quair – the trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. I read it at school and I’m currently reading it again. It’s expertly done and timeless.
Do people appreciate your work?
Yes, overall they do. But no more so than say a cleaner or a civil servant or a postal worker. My work might be about supporting the environment but I’m not so deluded that I believe I’m fighting a righteous cause. I just believe passionately in what I do like many others.
Would your 16-year-old self be impressed with where you are now?
Who knows. I just know I’d not be at all impressed with my 16 year–old surly moody self if I met him now. I didn’t have a clue back then, wanted to be a musician and had fabulous plans to make it big. I ended up working a deck hand on a trawler. And that dream was over as fast as it arrived.
Is running a charity difficult?
Definitely. Every day is a challenge. Scrambling for funding, dealing with red tape, organising events, justifying why you do everything to a board of trustees, it’s very difficult. We all just want to run our projects but that is becoming increasingly harder.
Do you use social media?
Constantly. It’s the best source of knowledge and information out there. The only problem is there is far too much of it. I can spend hours of a night looking through social media without realising the time.
What’s your perfect weekend?
I’ve a new border collie pup called Ollie, a new friend for my old Labrador Kane. Ollie takes up all our time just now. My wife and I take him up hills and to the shore at weekends. He has boundless energy and we’ve all become fitter as a result. In the evening I like to read and drink local craft beer.
Is the environment your life?
It’s all our lives and we only need to preserve it. Unfortunately man’s nonsense has created a dangerous situation where we are killing outsell by destroying the environment. My job is to try and stop that.
Is this the final rung on the career ladder?
That all depends on funding. We live hand-to-mouth so I really don’t know if the project has a financial future beyond September this year. I hope it does, of course.
Are trees more important than people?
Good question. I’d give them equal status.
Which Brian Cox?
The actor. I saw him in Churchill recently and was very impressed. He was better than Gary Oldman’s version. I don’t really know the other Brian Cox.
