20/12/2014 Posted by
Hello, As I write this, winter is increasing its dark and gloomy grip but, thankfully, the solstice is within reach. [More]
20/09/2014 Posted by
As I write this the long, sunny summer fades nto a memory and we enter the season of mellow fruitfulness with another action-filled programme to keep us busy in the run up to the year's end. [More]
01/08/2014 Posted by
Taynish is a national nature reserve managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The reserve is a very special oak rain forest located on a little finger peninsula into Loch Sween with the Isle of Jura just over the hill. The Moine Mhor — The Great Bog also managed by SNH — is a few miles north in Kilmartin Glen. LCV has worked on both sites in the past and on this trip we continued with the never-ending task of removing young trees from the bog to prevent it from drying out and turning into a forest. In Taynish we slashed and cut huge swathes of bracken to open up the land which would enable flowers to grow and also help with the humane hunting of deer who feed on tree saplings thus inhibiting natural reforestation. [More]
28/06/2014 Posted by
'Just so you know, I usually give these talks to primary school children!' exclaimed Hannah, Changeworks representative and our guide for the session. Despite this, she coped admirably with the barrage of questions from fifteen informed and engaged LCVers, adroitly turning her prepared presentation into an interactive discussion. [More]
19/06/2014 Posted by
The new LCV year begins with a new committee line-up with Louisa Martin standing down after five fruitful years as Co-ordinator to move into the role of Membership Secretary, Sarah McConachie retiring after serving for many years in a number of roles, and Rachael Taggart vacating the post of Social Secretary - if you'd be interested in replacing her do get in touch - we also welcome back Mark Herron as Tools Officer. Thanks to everyone for their sterling work over the last twelve months. [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
Having spent much of the last week lurking on my sofa battling an unpleasant bug, I have had plenty of time to consider what it is that I like about going out with LCV. So, here goes: [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
You may have read our 2012 Annual Review which celebrated the life of Colin McLean, one of our most important founding members. He left LCV a generous legacy so current and former LCV members spent a day in Duddingston deciding how best to use the money. We started with a guided walk around Colin's Bawsinch nature reserve before our planning meeting. We then relaxed over a meal and repaired to the Sheep Heid Inn for a game of skittles. [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
On an overcast, cold and rainy winter afternoon we met at the wicket gate for a tour around the Bawsinch Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) Reserve. I love going to Bawsinch as it's one of my favourite places in Edinburgh, a hidden gem of quiet, trees, birds and otters with the magical backdrop of Arthur's Seat. While waiting in the bird hide for everyone to arrive I had a good look out over Duddingston Loch to see if I could spot the otters which are apparently living there: no luck this time, unfortunately, but no doubt I will be back to try again. [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
Thirty people. Twenty thousand pounds. No agreement about what to spend it on. So how do you get a roomful of people to agree on something, make sure that everyone's opinion is heard and not take hours and hours and hours over it? [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
After clearing up and sharing out the leftovers from a very delicious and filling meal about twenty of us headed over to the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston village for a game or two of traditional skittles at Scotland's oldest skittle alley. [More]
23/03/2014 Posted by
On Friday 31st January at 1800hrs ten of us left Edinburgh heading for Mid Argyll in the face of an apocalyptic weather forecast. Our plan was to spend the weekend removing gorse on the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) reserve of Taynish. We had an uneventful journey to Balloch where we paused for some scran at the chippie. Suitably refreshed we then began the 'interesting' part of the journey making for the Rest and Be Thankful where - despite signs warning of increased landslip risk and some roadside snow - we reached our journey's topographical high point. We soon arrived at Kilmartin and its wonderfully misnamed Bothy. [More]
15/03/2014 Posted by
This Welsh fruit cake is called bara or bread because it looks like a bread loaf - and it's pretty healthy too! If catering for ten volunteers bake two for a hearty pudding or just one if it's for a slice each with a cup of tea. [More]
15/03/2014 Posted by
An unusual take on a classic risotto using pearl barley as the grain rather than rice. Cheap, tasty and highly calorific! What's not to like? [More]
15/03/2014 Posted by
A substantial and healthy dish for those that love some spice. [More]
15/03/2014 Posted by
A stick-to-your-ribs Irish delight perfect for re-energising dispirited volunteers. [More]
15/03/2014 Posted by
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier popularised the potato as a human food source in 18th-century France. Apocryphally a version of this hearty soup was first distributed from soup kitchens during times of famine in northern France. [More]