Lothians Conservation Volunteers
Please book with our Transport Secretary before the task. First you will need to learn how to book, then read about what to bring and finally where to meet us on the day,
If you would like more information about whether a task is suitable for you then please check our information about volunteering with us or if you prefer contact us by email.
Hover (or double tap on touchscreen devices) the mouse pointer over the coloured square next to the task you are interested in for information about the spaces remaining.
| Date | Site | Task and availablity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec | Sun 15 | Corstophine Hill | Salmonberry control | |
| Sun 22 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron removal | ||
| Sun 29 | Vogrie Country Park | Pond clearance | ||
| Tue 31 | Easter Inch Moss | Scrub clearance and wetland restoration (NEW TASK) | ||
| Jan | Thu 2 | Gore Glen Woodland Park | Broom clearance and burning | |
| Sun 5 | Corstophine Hill | Salmonberry control | ||
| Sat 11 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron control (note: 0900 departure from St Andrew Square) | ||
| Sun 12 | Corstophine Hill | Salmonberry control | ||
| Sun 19 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control | ||
| Sat 25 | Beecraigs Country Park | Path work | ||
| Sun 26 | Beecraigs Country Park | Path work | ||
| Feb | Sun 2 | Blackford Hill | Gorse cutting and burning | |
| Sun 9 | Holyrood Park | Gorse control | ||
| Sat 15 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Scrub control (CANCELLED) |
Scrub control (CANCELLED)
2020-02-15
Our apologies, but this task has been cancelled
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| Sun 16 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2020-02-16
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining on this task. Please click to register your interest and find out how to join the waiting list!
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| Fri 21 - Sun 23 | Carsegowan Moss | Residential: Scrub clearance |
Residential: Scrub clearance
2020-02-21
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining on this task. Please click to register your interest and find out how to join the waiting list!
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| Mar | Sun 1 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2020-03-01
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 8 | Powmill Plantation | Blackthorn control |
Blackthorn control
2020-03-08
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 15 | Joppa Foreshore | Wildflower meadow creation |
Wildflower meadow creation
2020-03-15
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 22 | Yellowcraig Beach | Scrub and piri piri burr control |
Scrub and piri piri burr control
2020-03-22
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 29 | Roslin Glen | Meadow cutting and raking |
Meadow cutting and raking
2020-03-29
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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 book and put
yourself on the reserve list - spaces often become available at short
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Task cancelled. This will only be done in extreme circumstances. |
| Space information last updated: Friday 14 February |
If you would like to print out our task list, here is our current newsletter, The Puggled Mucker (681K) which contains a task programme.
The map below shows the sites in the work programme this quarter
There is also an interactive map of all our work-sites.
Rising to 161m Corstorphine Hill is an ancient volcanic intrusion formed around 340 million years ago and is now classed as a Regionally Important Geological Site. It is also a Local Nature Reserve. Consisting mainly of mature oak and birch woodland the hill is home to over 300 species of plants and dotted with badger setts.
On this visit we will continuing to remove invasive salmonberry bushes from the hill.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Falkland Estate covers around some 1900 hectares, just under one-fifth of which is wooded, with the rest divided between arable farmland on the low ground and rough grazing on the hills. There have been settlements here from at least the time of the Iron Age people who built hill forts. It was a favourite royal hunting ground of the Stuart monarchs and home to Victorian leaders of rural and architectural style.
On this visit we will be removing invasive rhododendron from the estate to aid in regeneration of the woodland habitat
Find out how to book onto this task.
Vogrie is a popular country park half an hour from Edinburgh and four kilometres south-east of Dalkeith. It is 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 cleared the ponds, cut meadow grass, repaired part of a drystane dyke, cleared scrub, coppiced alder and planted trees.
On this visit we will be removing excess plant material from the pond to preserve the habitat
Find out how to book onto this task.
Covering 150 hectares in the West Lothian countryside 20 miles west of Edinburgh Easter Inch Moss and Seafield Law has been a Local Nature Reserve since 2007. It contains a variety of habitats including peat bog, grassland, wet birch woodland and willow carr. Over 140 plant species have been recorded on the reserve and it is an important site for various birds including reed bunting and lesser redpoll, plus the pearl-bordered fritillary which nests in the wetland areas. Wellies are recommended for this site!
See out 2019 with some conservation! On this visit we will continuing our scrub clearance work to help raise water levels and prepare a site for peat bunding works to be undertaken by contractors in the New Year.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Gore Glen Woodland Park is a good example of land restoration. This former coal bing ten miles south-east of Edinburgh has been landscaped into an attractive area for both wildlife and visitors. The park was planted in 1979 with a variety of species and is mainly woodland in character. The Gore Water runs through the park and supports kingfishers, dippers and herons.
On this visit we will be continuing to remove invasive broom from the woodland compartments in the glen and burn the brash. This will help the
Find out how to book onto this task.
Rising to 161m Corstorphine Hill is an ancient volcanic intrusion formed around 340 million years ago and is now classed as a Regionally Important Geological Site. It is also a Local Nature Reserve. Consisting mainly of mature oak and birch woodland the hill is home to over 300 species of plants and dotted with badger setts.
On this visit we will be controlling invasive non-native Salmonberry by cutting the stems, digging up the roots and burning the brash. This will allow regeneration of native woodland understory plants in the springtime.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Falkland Estate covers around some 1900 hectares, just under one-fifth of which is wooded, with the rest divided between arable farmland on the low ground and rough grazing on the hills. There have been settlements here from at least the time of the Iron Age people who built hill forts. It was a favourite royal hunting ground of the Stuart monarchs and home to Victorian leaders of rural and architectural style.
On this visit we will be clearing non-native rhododendron stands to allow access for the estate management to apply stem-injection to kill the plants for good. This will allow regeneration of native woodland understory plants.
Please note that due to the lengthy travel time to this site and limited daylight at this time of year we will be departing at 0900 from St Andrew Square rather than the usual 0930.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Rising to 161m Corstorphine Hill is an ancient volcanic intrusion formed around 340 million years ago and is now classed as a Regionally Important Geological Site. It is also a Local Nature Reserve. Consisting mainly of mature oak and birch woodland the hill is home to over 300 species of plants and dotted with badger setts.
On this visit we will be continuing our work to control invasive non-native Salmonberry at this popular local nature reserve
Find out how to book onto this task.
Gifford Community Woods was purchased by the local community in April 2017 with the support of the Scottish Land Fund and various other donations. It is an approximately 55 acre woodland near the East Lothian village of Gifford and comprises mixed and plantation woods on an ancient woodland site.
The Gifford Community Land Company is seeking to restore the area to native woodland supporting broad biodiversity which will be an asset to the local community now, and for generations to come.
On this visit we will be clearing non-native rhododendron stands to help with the regeneration of the woodland.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Beecraigs Country Park, near Linlithgow, 20 miles west of Edinburgh, is owned and managed by West Lothian Council. It spans 370 hectares over the Bathgate Hills and comprises a commercially active conifer plantation, a deer attraction, a loch, a caravan and camping site and a large play area. Beecraigs is navigable by several way-marked trails and offers both the shelter of deep woodland and access to fantastic views over the Forth Valley. LCV has done a variety of tasks here, including tree planting and coppicing, drystane dyking, footpath work, boardwalk construction, bridge building and step building.
On this visit we will be maintaining footpaths within the reserve. The first day will be spent on site preparation including clearing birch scrub, using the cut material to make a corduroy sub-base and drainage preparation work. The work will be continued on Sunday, when we'll finish the path
Find out how to book onto this task.
Beecraigs Country Park, near Linlithgow, 20 miles west of Edinburgh, is owned and managed by West Lothian Council. It spans 370 hectares over the Bathgate Hills and comprises a commercially active conifer plantation, a deer attraction, a loch, a caravan and camping site and a large play area. Beecraigs is navigable by several way-marked trails and offers both the shelter of deep woodland and access to fantastic views over the Forth Valley. LCV has done a variety of tasks here, including tree planting and coppicing, drystane dyking, footpath work, boardwalk construction, bridge building and step building.
On this visit we will be maintaining footpaths within the reserve. This task is a continuation of the work on Saturday, where we will be completing any site preparation work and barrowing in hardcore to finish the path.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Blackford Hill is one of the largest open spaces managed by the City of Edinburgh Council. The views across the city in all directions can hold visitors and locals spellbound as the Blackford panoramas extend over the Forth to the distant Lomond Hills.
It is an important part of Edinburgh's natural heritage, and along with neighbouring Hermitage of Braid is classified a Local Nature Reserve. The hill encompasses the oldest rocks in the city and is home to linnets, buzzards and wildflowers aplenty.
On this visit we will be cutting gorse at this popular local nature reserve and burning the brash. This will help maintain the grassland habitat.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Holyrood Park is the Koh-i-Noor in the crown jewels of Edinburgh's stunning landscape. Comprising 650 acres of mixed grassland and encompassing Arthur's Seat, the iconic Salisbury Crags as well as some of the oldest exposed rocks in Edinburgh this is a vital island for wildlife in the heart of our majestic capital.
On this visit we will be cutting firebreaks and clearing areas in the gorse cover on Aruthurs Seat to help increase biodiversity and reduce the impact of wildfires at this central Edinburgh site
Find out how to book onto this task.
This site is a category B-listed medieval walled garden that once belonged to Granton's lost castle. Whilst the castle may be gone its two acre walled garden has survived through many centuries of change thanks to its fertility and the unique microclimate created by its high stone walls.
Regrettably this task has been cancelled due to waterlogging of the work site. We hope to reschedule in the near future.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Gifford Community Woods was purchased by the local community in April 2017 with the support of the Scottish Land Fund and various other donations. It is an approximately 55 acre woodland near the East Lothian village of Gifford and comprises mixed and plantation woods on an ancient woodland site.
The Gifford Community Land Company is seeking to restore the area to native woodland supporting broad biodiversity which will be an asset to the local community now, and for generations to come.
On this visit we will be clearing non-native rhododendron stands to help with the regeneration of the woodland.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Around four hours south-west of Edinburgh, Carsegowan Moss is one of the best examples of a lowland raised peat bog in Galloway. Cranberry and bog rosemary grow in the Sphagnum carpet and adders bask in the heather. Hen harriers, merlins, short-eared owls and barn owls can be seen occasionally hunting across the bog.
On this visit we will be removing birch scrub from Carsegowan Moss to ensure the bog remains a peat bog and not woodland. We will be staying at the Loch Ken Watersports Centre near Castle Douglas.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Gifford Community Woods was purchased by the local community in April 2017 with the support of the Scottish Land Fund and various other donations. It is an approximately 55 acre woodland near the East Lothian village of Gifford and comprises mixed and plantation woods on an ancient woodland site.
The Gifford Community Land Company is seeking to restore the area to native woodland supporting broad biodiversity which will be an asset to the local community now, and for generations to come.
On this visit we will be clearing non-native rhododendron stands to help with the regeneration of the woodland.
Find out how to book onto this task.
An LCV member, Chris Boam, has bought 8 hectares of redundant farmland at Powmill, Kinross-shire, 30 miles north-west of Edinburgh, which he is planting with native trees with the aid of a Forestry Commission grant. On previous visits, we have planted and weeded trees and also removed ragwort.
On this visit we will be thinning out blackthorn in this regenerated woodland to allow for increased diversity in tree and understory species.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Site description TBC
On this visit we will be helping the Edinburgh Shoreline Project to create a native wildflower meadow on the foreshore at Joppa. This will help with biodiversity and be an attractive feature in its own right. We undertook similar work at Cramond Foreshore in September 2019, with great success
Find out how to book onto this task.
Yellowcraig is situated 23 miles east of Edinburgh just north of the attractive East Lothian village of Dirleton and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It comprises a variety of habitats, including mature and developing woodland, sand dunes, coastal grassland and rocky outcrops, as well as its long sweeping sandy beach with views to Fidra island.
On this visit to the beautiful dunes at Yellowcraig we will be removing invasive piri-piri burr seeds to preserve the duneland habitat. In addition we will remove other scrub such as garden-escappe cotoneasters.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Roslin Glen is a 19 hectare reserve south of Edinburgh 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 visit we will be cutting the dead meadow plants from last year and raking off the cut material. This will help to reduce the nutrients available in the meadow, helping biodiversity, and distribute the seeds from the previous years plants ensuring plenty of new meadow growth in spring