Mark Gibson named country person of the year

Dec 11 2009 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

HE saved an ailing estate and united a community.

And now Mark Gibson has been named the UK’s country person of the year.

But the modest businessman refuses to take the credit for rescuing the 3000 acre estate – insisting he owes his success to his neighbours.

Craigengillan estate had suffered years of neglect when the 58-year-old businessman bought it nine years ago.

It was a target for vandals who caused destructive grass fires on the vast moorland on a regular basis.

Razor-wire surrounded the parameter and even adorned the roof of the stunning 16th century A-listed mansion house.

Mark – who beat off competition from wildlife, agriculture and environmentalists from across Britain to win the top award from Country Life magazine – revealed: “It had a really sad and neglected feeling about it.

“Everything seemed to be falling down. People weren’t allowed on the land and they were kept out with razor-wire.

“The first thing I did was take down the keep out signs.

“To be honest turning it around was a pretty daunting prospect.”

However, Mark refused to let the crumbling walls and buildings and neglected farm and woodland stand in his way.

He said: “Yes it was in a mess, but it was completely unspoiled and had a real magic about it.

“I had to set about setting priorities and making plans, and this included getting the help I needed from the community.”

Mark recruited from neighbouring Dalmellington and Bellsbank and got stuck in to achieving his dream.

He even gave jobs to school children and paid them the going rate if they proved up to the challenge.

But in the early years he struggled to overcome the vandalism problem, until he turned to a teenager for help.

He explained: “Grass fires were a major problem. When I first arrived there were about 200 to 250 a year.

“Everyone said they would never stop. But I knew that unless they did I would never succeed.

“I’d helped the fire brigade put out yet another fire about two years after I arrived. I was at my wits end.

“So I got in touch with a young lad I’d had on work experience from the village.

“I told him I’d give him the use of a quad bike and pay him to patrol the estate. I told him he’d get a bonus if there were no fires.

“I backed it up with giving talks to the schools about how the fires damage the environment.

“It worked, fires haven’t been a problem since.”

And when a bid to build a massive windfarm close to the estate, Mark turned again to the community for help.

They launched a campaign to stop, what they believed to be, an environmental disaster befalling the area, collecting more than 12,000 objections during a long running campaign.

Mark added: “Everyone pulled together to keep the windfarms at bay and this time we were successful, but that’s not a problem that wants to go away and we will continue to fight them.”

Over the years Mark and his hard working team have planted more than a million native trees, created 16 miles of footpaths and 17 miles of new hedgerows.

The also restored two ruined stone buildings to create holiday cottages and built 23 new bridges.

In a joint venture with riding instructor Roslyn Fyfe, Mark also rebuilt the estate’s stable block, which is now a thriving business with 53 horses and eight staff.

The estate farm is now completely organic, producing lamb and more importantly it’s a regular haunt for villagers and visitors who enjoy its stunning scenery.

And the hard work continues for Mark and his team.

For their next project is to build a fantastic fort on the estate land in conjunction with the armed forces, their associated cadet organisations and youth organisations. It will be used as a base for outdoor activities.

And Mark, who also holds down a job as a surveyor, revealed that he’s not far away from fulfilling his ambition to make the estate pay for itself.

He said: “I’ve come further than I would have thought. It’s been a lot of work for everyone but I’m about £20,000 a year away from making estate self sufficient.

“I’m really grateful to everyone who has helped me get this far.”

Broadcaster Lord Melvyn Bragg was one of the competition judges and he is more than impressed by Mark’s achievements.

He said: “I think that the effort that has gone into this is simply extraordinary – what a man.”