The Scottish Seabird Centre had so many quality applications from young people for its board role, it appointed two new trustees

A national conservation charity has appointed two young people as trustees in recognition of Scotland's Year of Young People.

Erin McFadden and Philip Taylor are joining the board of the Scottish Seabird Centre after it identified them as two of Scotland’s leading conservationists to be.

McFadden is a marine science graduate from North Berwick and Taylor is an environmentalist and conservationist living in Fife.

In honour of Scotland’s Year of Young People, the charity decided to promote its latest board opportunity exclusively to young people.

There were a significant number of applicants from across the country so in the end it decided to appoint two young trustees.

Tom Brock, chief executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, added: “We look forward to working with Erin and Philip. They will both be great ambassadors for the Seabird Centre and, as part of our ongoing support for Scotland’s Year of Young People, they will play an important role in providing ideas to attract young people to the centre and to engage with marine conservation”.

McFadden has spent the past few years working in every ocean and diving in some of the world’s coldest and most remote seas on board expedition vessels in the Arctic and Antarctic.

She said: “I’m honoured to have been selected as a trustee at the Scottish Seabird Centre.

“Growing up in Dunbar, with the Bass Rock visible from my bedroom window and the majority of my free time spent exploring the surrounding coastline, my decision to foster a career in marine science was made at the age of 12.

“By the age of 17, I knew my career had to be immersed in the marine world. As a trustee, I look forward to helping the centre build on its great work to inspire other young people just like me to continue to protect and conserve the marine environment for generations to come.”