G R E E N S H A N K S (Will Boyd-Wallis) singer-songwriter, woodworker, ecologist and land manager based in the Highlands of Scotland.
His songs are passionate, poignant and hopeful reflections on life, love and restoration, drawn from a lifelong connection with the landscapes, people and wildlife of the highlands and islands.
“He uses rich open tunings on his well-travelled ‘guitalele’ and acoustic guitar, to resonate with his reflective, soulful vocals”.
A finalist at the 2023 Danny Kyle Open Stage, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections he has performed alongside some of Scotland’s finest musicians and songwriters.
“He resonates with all the wisdom and experience of a man who has spent considerable time in the wilds”. – Hamish Napier
His songs are…
“… rich with honesty, emotional depth, fragility and rhythmic power” – Becky Doe
“… healing, honest, authentic, pure and from a place that is true …
He reflects the simplicity of the extraordinary.” – Mayara Terra
Since studying Ecology at Stirling University Will has worked for the last thirty years in conservation, land management and community development in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Today he works full-time as Operations Manager for the Northwest Highlands of Scotland for the conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland. The job involves looking after places as far flung and inspiring as St Kilda, the Western Isles of Mingulay, Pabbay, Berneray, the Inner Hebrides islands of Iona, Staffa and Treshnish, the mountains of Torridon, Ben Lawers, Kintail and West Affric. These incredible places have inspired many of Will’s most recent songs.
Will previously worked for 15 years in the Cairngorms National Park and before that, 10 years with the John Muir Trust. He was JMT’s first Conservation Manager for Sandwood Estate in the far Northwest of Sutherland and went on to become partnership manager of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. His conservation career began with studying the small mountain ringlet butterfly in the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve.