Task Programme
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You are here: LCV > Task Programme |
You don't need any experience to come on any of our tasks, and we provide all the tools, training and safety equipment that you need. If you would like more information about whether a task is suitable for you then please contact us.
Please book with our Transport Secretary before the task. To find out how to book, what to bring and where to meet, look at the page about Sunday tasks.
There is also practical information about residential tasks.
Summary Task Programme
| Jun | Sun 20 | Pishwanton | TBC | |
| Sun 27 | Vogrie Country Park | Path work | ||
| Jul | SAT 3 | Addiewell Bing | Tree weeding | |
| Sun 4 | Pishwanton | TBC | ||
| Sun 11 | Wooplaw | Woodland maintenance | ||
| Sun 18 Sat 24 | Lochalsh residential | Woodland maintenance/pathwork | ||
| Sat 31 | Addiewell Bing | Tree weeding | ||
| Aug | Sun 1 | Pishwanton | TBC | |
| Sun 8 | Linhouse Glen | Bracken bashing | ||
| Sun 15 | Leadburn | Tree clearance | ||
| Task cancelled | ||||
| Sun 22 | Pishwanton | TBC | ||
| SAT 28 | Roslin Glen | Step/pathwork |
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| Sun 29 | Roslin Glen | Step/pathwork |
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| Sep | SAT 4 | Vogrie Country Park | TBC. |
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| Sun 12 | Roslin Glen | Meadow raking/pathwork |
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| Sep | Sun 19 | Red Moss | Birch pulling |
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| Sun 26 | Aberlady Bay | Sea Buckthorn clearance |
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| Oct | Fri 1 Sun 3 | Moine Mhor | Residential - Birch pulling |
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The Space column shows if there are any spaces on that task. |
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Plenty of spaces left |
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A few spaces left |
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Task full. You can still call and put yourself on the reserve list - spaces often become available at short notice |
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Space information last updated: 22nd August 2010 |
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Here is a printer-friendly task programme (250kb) |
Detailed Task Programme
Here is a map of all our work-sites.
June 20 Pishwanton: TBC
This 60 acre site is located two miles south of Gifford, near Haddington in East Lothian. The Life Science Trust was established in 1992 to research, teach and promote education methods that enable people to rediscover connections with the natural world and develop a partnership with their environment. It purchased the woods in 1996 and the site sits at 700 ft on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills. Occupation of the area dates back to prehistoric times and there is a large Iron Age burial mound. Research and teaching is carried out on a wide variety of topics - medicinal plant study, herb growing, land and craft skills and ecological building methods to name a few. On previous tasks, LCV has planted trees and cut gorse for weaving into a fence. This site can be wet so wellies are strongly recommended if you have them!
June 27 Vogrie Country Park: path work
Vogrie is a popular country park four kilometres south-east of Dalkeith run by Midlothian Council. About half the area is covered by woodland and scrub, with smaller patches of grassland, three ponds, an alder coppice and a conifer plantation. Over the years we have carried out a variety of tasks, including clearing the ponds and sections of the River Tyne, cutting some of the grass on the meadow, repairing part of a drystane dyke, clearing scrub, coppicing alder and planting trees. On this task, we will be helping to improve access by carrying out pathwork in the park.
July 3 SATURDAY Addiewell Bing: tree weeding
Addiewell Bing is a long, narrow reserve of 21 hectares just south of Bathgate in West Lothian, which is leased and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It is an excellent example of how a derelict industrial site--part of the oil shale industry--can be converted into an important wildlife refuge.
Most of the reserve is covered by woodland and scrub, but there are also patches of bracken, heather, open grassland and marshy ground with a rich variety of plants and birds. Originally, the area was planted with lodgepole pine to help stabilise the steep sides of this old spoil heap. More recently, these trees have been replaced with native species including oak and ash. In the past we have felled lodgepole pine, upgraded the footpath and cleared invading broom from areas of heather. On this visit we will be weeding around young trees to give them space to grow.
July 4 Pishwanton: TBC
See June 20 for a description of this site--which can be wet so wellies are strongly recommended if you have them.
July 11 Wooplaw Wood: woodland maintenance
Located on a minor road between Stow and Galashiels, this 40 hectare wood- land was acquired in 1988 by Borders Community Woodland. Originally a badly neglected mature conifer woodland and bare land, the site now includes a small pond, birch thickets, a drystane dyke and areas of recently-planted broad-leaved trees. The local community are heavily involved in the wood and have built a log cabin, complete with stove. On previous visits LCV has thinned trees to prevent overcrowding, planted trees around a small pond and upgraded a small wooden bridge crossing the Allen Water, using local materials. On this task, we will be maintaining the woodland.
July 18 - July 24 Summer Residential
Situated in a secluded corner of Lochalsh, Lochalsh Woodland Park is an area of mature mixed woodland and open grassland. With a large network of paths it is used extensively by local communities for recreation and as a site for large events and orienteering. In February 2005 the Lochalsh Woodland Park Steering Group was formed. It recently leased the land from the Forestry Commission Scotland and aims to encourage access for all while conserving the natural environment. The group plan to promote the area and its flora and fauna through a series of environmental education activities, guided walks and events.
On this residential task we will be working with the steering group to help achieve these aims with a mixture of path clearing/building, brash burning, the erection of signs, building a BBQ/fire site, ditch clearing and possibly even removing an old telephone box! Accommodation will be in the nearby Whitefalls Bunkhouse. Book your place with Debbie by Wednesday 14 July at the latest.
For more information about the woodland see: http://www.lochalshwoodlandpark.co.uk/
For more information about accommodation see: http://www.holidayhighlands.co.uk/
July 31 SATURDAY Addiewell Bing: tree weeding
This task will be a continuation of the work begun on July 3.
August 1 Pishwanton: TBC
See June 20 for a description of this site--which can be wet so wellies are strongly recommended if you have them.
August 8 Linhouse Glen: Bracken bashing
This SWT reserve in the Linhouse Valley SSSI consists of river floodplains and narrow wooded slopes with rock outcrops. Melancholy thistle, spearmint, the common spotted orchid and a number of sedges may be seen in the woodland.
Full details of this task are still being confirmed
August 15 Leadburn Community Woodland: Tree Clearance
Leadburn Community Woodland was recently purchased from the Forestry Commission by a small group of individuals known as the Friends of Leadburn Community Woodland. The group intend to replace the previous plantation of conifers with native trees such as silver birch, ash, oak and rowan, among others, and planting at the site has recently begun. On this visit we will be clearing trees. The area is boggy in places, so wellies are recommended if you have them.
August 21 SATURDAY Addiewell Bing: tree weeding
This task will be a continuation of the work begun on July 3.
August 22 Pishwanton: TBC
See June 20 for a description of this site--which can be wet so wellies are strongly recommended if you have them.
August 28 SATURDAY Roslin Glen: Pathwork
Roslin Glen is a 19 hectare reserve to the east of Roslin village and on the south bank of the River North Esk in Midlothian. The site is owned and managed by Midlothian Council. It is a relatively undisturbed mixed deciduous woodland largely made up of native sessile oak, wych-elm and ash, with a shrub layer of hazel and holly. There are also some introduced sycamore, beech and Norway spruce trees which are gradually being removed.
The area boasts a rich woodland flora which includes dog's mercury, ramsons, wood-rush and various ferns. Dippers and kingfishers can be seen in the fairly clean waters of the Esk. The area has been put under a Millennium Forest for Scotland grant scheme to return the woodland to a native mixture of trees such as ash, alder, oak, pine and birch. On this task we will be improving access by working on steps and paths in the glen.
August 29
This task will be a continuation of the work begun on August 28.
September 4 SATURDAY Vogrie Country Park: LCV anniversary task TBC
For a description of this site see June 27. As part of our 40th anniversary celebration weekend we will be working on some conservation tasks in the park on the Saturday. For further details please see the 40th Anniversary page.
September 12 Roslin Glen: Pathwork and Meadow Raking.
See August 28 for a description of this site. On this task, we will be improving access by working on steps and paths in the glen and raking up cut grass to continue the development of a wildflower meadow.
September 19 Red Moss: birch pulling
The main feature of Red Moss, which is an Scottish Wildlife Reserve above Balerno, is a raised bog. Over time, the sphagnum moss has built up. It now acts like a sponge as the water level at the centre of the raised dome is considerably higher than the nearby Bavelaw reservoir. To prevent the bog drying out, over the past 15 years we have pulled up any birch which has self-seeded. This is an ideal task for people new to conservation work. We need lots of volunteers to form a line to work systematically across the bog. This site can be wet so wellies are recommended if you have them.
September 26 Aberlady Bay: sea buckthorn removal
Situated on the coast, Aberlady Bay is a Local Nature Reserve owned and managed by East Lothian Council. It is a large area--580 hectares--made up of an open bay with sand and mudflats, as well as expanses of saltings, dunes and grassland. The area is best known for its birds, where over 200 species have been seen. There is also considerable botanical interest--you can see the full plant succession from mudflat to saltmarsh, to dune scrub and grassland. On this task, we will be clearing areas of invasive sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn is quite prickly, so hard-wearing clothes are advisable.
October 1-3 Moine Mhor residential: birch pulling
Moine Mhor--the "Great Moss"--National Nature Reserve (NNR) is owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). It is a spectacular example of a lowland raised bog--a truly wild and beautiful landscape where little has changed for thousands of years. It forms the wild heartland of Kilmartin Glen. It is home to plants and animals specially adapted to the water-logged conditions; there are glistening dragonflies in summer and graceful hen harriers all year round. On this residential we will be working with the SNH NNR staff to help restore the bogland by pulling out birch trees which would otherwise contribute to the bog drying out.
Accommodation is in the luxurious Kilmartin `bothy' with cosy beds, en-suite showers and a useful `drying room' for your gear in the event of rain. Duvets and pillows are provided, but please bring (single) bed linen with you. Book your place with Debbie by Wednesday 29 September at the latest.
(c) Lothians Conservation Volunteers 2010
Lothians Conservation Volunteers is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC020384
