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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep | Sun 29 | Vogrie Country Park | Meadow management | |
| Oct | Sat 5 | Springfield Mill | Scything meadow | |
| Sun 6 | Easter Craiglockhart Hill | Meadow raking | ||
| Sat 12 | Yellowcraig Beach | Sea Buckthorn Control (NEW TASK) | ||
| Sun 13 | Greenrigg Community Woodland | Woodland management | ||
| Sat 19 | Springfield Mill | Raking meadow | ||
| Sun 20 | Bawsinch and Murder Acre | Pond work | ||
| Sun 27 | Holyrood Park | Wildflower sowing and plug planting | ||
| Nov | Sun 3 | Easter Inch Moss | Scrub clearance and wetland restoration (TASK CHANGED) | |
| Sat 9 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control | ||
| Sun 10 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Wildflower meadow creation | ||
| Sun 17 | Easter Inch Moss | Scrub clearance and wetland restoration (TASK CHANGED) | ||
| Sun 24 | Corstophine Hill | Salmonberry control |
Salmonberry control
2019-11-24
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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| Dec | Sun 1 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work |
Path work
2019-12-01
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 8 | Spottiswoode | Beech thinning |
Beech thinning
2019-12-08
There are 3 spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 15 | Corstophine Hill | Salmonberry control |
Salmonberry control
2019-12-15
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
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| Sun 22 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron removal |
Rhododendron removal
2019-12-22
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| Sun 29 | Vogrie Country Park | Pond clearance |
Pond clearance
2019-12-29
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| Jan | Thu 2 | Gore Glen Woodland Park | Broom clearance and burning |
Broom clearance and burning
2020-01-02
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| Space information last updated: Monday 18 November |
If you would like to print out our task list, here is our current newsletter, The Puggled Mucker (684K) 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.
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 maintaining the meadow areas within the reserve to help preserve this important habitat from encroachment by other plants
Find out how to book onto this task.
Springfield Mill is a site in the North Esk Valley between Loanhead and Bonnyrigg just south-east of Edinburgh. A paper mill until the late 1960s, the site has now been reclaimed and restored as a wildlife area for use by the public. It has been seeded with wildflower mixes and planted with various native trees. Located at a bend in the River North Esk there are two seasonal ponds, areas of birch and willow woodland and grasslands.
On this visit we will be scything the meadow which we cut earlier this year to reduce the growth of thistle and other thuggish plants and allow a more diverse plant mix
Find out how to book onto this task.
Craiglockhart Hill is above Craiglockhart Sports Centre and as one of Edinburgh's seven hills, offers excellent views across the city towards the castle and Arthur's Seat. The area is owned jointly by the City of Edinburgh Council and Napier University. We will be working with the Friends of Craiglockhart Nature Trail - a local group supported by the Scottish Wildlife Trust - who have produced a management plan and a trail leaflet, and continue to manage the site for wildlife.
In previous tasks on this LNR LCV has raked two cut meadows and cleared rubbish from the habitat enhancement pond areas - two large areas of vegetation have been planted to add to the biodiversity and give cover for the breeding birds.
On this visit we will be raking the meadow in the reserve to reduce the nutrients available and so preserve the important meadow habitat
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 we will be removing invasive sea buckthorn from the dunes. This will help to preserve the rare dune habitat
Find out how to book onto this task.
Greenrigg Community Woodland lies north of Polkemmet and is an area of wood established in 2010 on land owned by West Lothian Council. Adjacent to this wood was an area initially earmarked for housing development which was then reassigned and new trees planted to extend the wooded area.
West Lothian Council Ranger Service has now secured funding to plant more trees and maintain the nascent woodland. On this visit, our first to the site, we will be working with the Rangers Service to cut and thin these trees.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Springfield Mill is a site in the North Esk Valley between Loanhead and Bonnyrigg just south-east of Edinburgh. A paper mill until the late 1960s, the site has now been reclaimed and restored as a wildlife area for use by the public. It has been seeded with wildflower mixes and planted with various native trees. Located at a bend in the River North Esk there are two seasonal ponds, areas of birch and willow woodland and grasslands.
On this visit we will be continuing the work begun on the 5th by raking up the cut material and removing it. This will help to spread the seeds from the cut plants and remove fertility from the meadow area, helping to improve biodiversity
Find out how to book onto this task.
Bawsinch and Duddingston Loch are found in the heart of Edinburgh on the southern edge of Holyrood Park, just below Arthur's Seat and only three kilometres from the city centre. Formerly a derelict industrial site, Bawsinch is a triangular area next to the south shore of the loch. This 26 hectare reserve, partly owned and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is a bird sanctuary and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The area boasts breeding and wintering wildfowl, marshland with reedbeds and willow, patches of scrub and woodland, some freshwater ponds and an area of grassland named Goose Green. In the past LCV has felled trees, cleared ponds, built log bridges and cleared invasive vegetation. In recent years an additional area of land known as Murder Acre has been leased from Historic Scotland to extend the reserve.
On this vist we will be clearing the ponds on this local nature reserve to preserve the 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 continuing our work to establish wildflowers in part of the grassland at the foot of Arthur's Seat. This will be achieved by seeding wildlowers on squares of turf that have been flipped over and planting small plugs of other grassland species. This approach is successful (as volunteers will see if they attend) but there is still plenty to do
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!
On this visit we will be clearing scrub and trees from the moss to help raise water levels in this recovering peat bog. This task is a change from the advertised Greenrigg Community Woodland task as all work at Greenrigg has been completed.
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 continuing our work removing rhodendron from this attractive woodland to enhance the habitat.
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.
On this visit we will be creating a wildflower meadow in part of the former market garden. This will provide habitat for pollinators and pest-controlling insect species, as well as looking attractive
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!
On this visit we will be clearing scrub and trees from the moss to help raise water levels in this recovering peat bog. This task is a change from the advertised Greenrigg Community Woodland task as all work at Greenrigg has been completed.
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, our first to this site, we will be working with the Natural Heritage Service and Friends of Corstorphine Hill to help control salmonberry, an invasive non-native species.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Leadburn Community Woodland, 13 miles south of Edinburgh, 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. The area is boggy in places, so wellies are recommended if you have them.
On this visit we will be working to enhance the paths within this popular community woodland.
Find out how to book onto this task.
Dr David Long from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, has purchased land near Lauder that contains a spruce plantation. He has gradually removed the spruce and replaced it with natural broadleaf woodland to increase biodiversity. LCV has visited Spottiswoode a number of times in the last few years, clearing and burning spruce and planting trees.
On this visit to spottiswoode we will be thinning out beeches to encourage the growth of understory and to ensure the trees mature well.
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 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.
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