Lothians Conservation Volunteers
COVID-19 outbreak: On 2021-05-11 the Scottish Government released an update to the Coronavirus restrictions in force. The relaxation of restrictions is proceeding according to plan and indicates the general level of risk is acceptable. Our tasks in the Edinburgh area resumed in April and we are undertaking tasks elsewhere as well.
Therefore our task programme to the end of June will continue. Hope to see you on task soon.
The LCV trustees' view is that LCV, a registered charity provides "voluntary and charitable services" and "an organised [outdoor] activity". These activities are expressly permitted in the relevant legislation. We may adopt other measures (e.g. restricting numbers) where it is appropriate to do so for the safety of our clients and volunteers.
COVID-19 outbreak: On 2021-05-11 the Scottish Government released an update to the Coronavirus restrictions in force. The relaxation of restrictions is proceeding according to plan and indicates the general level of risk is acceptable. Our tasks in the Edinburgh area resumed in April and we are undertaking tasks elsewhere as well.
The LCV trustees' view is that LCV, a registered charity provides "voluntary and charitable services" and "an organised [outdoor] activity". These activities are expressly permitted in the relevant legislation. We may adopt other measures (e.g. restricting numbers) where it is appropriate to do so for the safety of our clients and volunteers.
Our task programme will be updated on a rolling basis for the forseeable future. Please check back frequently to see what tasks are running, and the restrictions currently in force. Thankyou for your patience.
Further announcements are expected from the Scottish Government every 3 weeks, and it is likely that that LCV will make changes to our activities as a consequence. Please keep checking back, as the advice from the government often changes quickly.
The major changes you will notice on task are:
You are strongly encouraged to bring the following items if you can
Please book with our Transport Secretary before the task. First you will need to read 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 squares next to the task you are interested in for information about the spaces remaining. The first icon shows the number of volunteer spaces remaining and the small "bus" icon indicates the number of spaces remaining on the bus for each task.
| Date | Site | Task and availablity | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr | Sun 4 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron control | ||
| Sun 11 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Ground preparation works for a forest garden | |||
| May | Sun 2 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Ground preparation works, scrub and stump removal | ||
| Sun 9 | Spottiswoode | Brash burning (bonfire guaranteed) | |||
| Sun 16 | Black Moss | Scrub clearance | |||
| Sun 23 | Yellowcraig Beach | Pirri-pirri burr control | |||
| Sun 30 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work | |||
| Jun | Sun 6 | Black Moss | Scrub clearance | ||
| Sun 13 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work |
Path work
2021-06-13
There are some spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
|
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
|
|
| Sun 20 | North Berwick Law | Ragwort removal |
Ragwort removal
2021-06-20
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining on this task.
Book
|
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
|
|
| Sun 27 | Black Moss | Scrub clearance |
Scrub clearance
2021-06-27
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
|
Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
|
|
| The Space column shows if there are any spaces on that task. | The Minibus space column shows if there are any spaces in the bus remaining for this task | ||
|
|
Plenty of spaces left |
 |
Plenty of spaces left |
|
|
A few spaces left |
 |
A few spaces left |
|
|
Task full. You can still book and put
yourself on the reserve list - spaces often become available at short
notice. |
|
Unfortunately the bus is full for this task |
 |
Task cancelled. This will only be done in extreme circumstances. |
 |
The task is cancelled, or the bus is unavailable for this task |
| Space information last updated: Monday 7 June |
If you would like to print out our task list, here is our current newsletter, The Puggled Mucker (285K) 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.
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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 preparing the ground for a new Forest Garden that will be planted later in the year and undertaking other tasks
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 continuing the ground preparation works begun on April 11th and undertaking various other scrub and treestump removal tasks around the garden
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 we will be burning brash from felled plantation spruce to make space for further habitat creation
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Once derelict land Black Moss Nature Park was established by the Central Scotland Countryside Trust in 1991 and has since been managed by volunteers. It is managed with the aim of creating new habitats, managing existing ones and to provide a resource for outdoor recreation and education. The site is on the edge of Armadale, 25 miles west of Edinburgh. There is a small area of woodland, boardwalks, meadows and a pond on which moorhens, coots and dabchicks breed. The adjoining moss area was included within the boundary of the Nature Park as part of the SNH peatland restoration project in 2014.
On this visit we will be clearing invasive scrub within the reserve to assist in habitat restoration
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 the seedheads from invasive pirri-pirri burr plants in the important dune habitat. This helps to prevent the plants from breeding and spreading further
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 working to improve the paths in this popular community woodland.
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Once derelict land Black Moss Nature Park was established by the Central Scotland Countryside Trust in 1991 and has since been managed by volunteers. It is managed with the aim of creating new habitats, managing existing ones and to provide a resource for outdoor recreation and education. The site is on the edge of Armadale, 25 miles west of Edinburgh. There is a small area of woodland, boardwalks, meadows and a pond on which moorhens, coots and dabchicks breed. The adjoining moss area was included within the boundary of the Nature Park as part of the SNH peatland restoration project in 2014.
On this visit we will be continuing the work clearing scrub in the reserve
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 continuing our work improving the paths in this popular community woodland
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Twenty five miles east of Edinburgh, situated to the south of North Berwick itself and prominently visible from the coastline, North Berwick Law is a well-loved green space with stunning views over the Forth and much history, ancient and modern. In previous visits to this site we have carried out pathwork and ragwort control.
On this visit we will be controlling ragwort on the Law to prevent harm to the herd of Exmoor ponies that are used for conservation grazing there.
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Once derelict land Black Moss Nature Park was established by the Central Scotland Countryside Trust in 1991 and has since been managed by volunteers. It is managed with the aim of creating new habitats, managing existing ones and to provide a resource for outdoor recreation and education. The site is on the edge of Armadale, 25 miles west of Edinburgh. There is a small area of woodland, boardwalks, meadows and a pond on which moorhens, coots and dabchicks breed. The adjoining moss area was included within the boundary of the Nature Park as part of the SNH peatland restoration project in 2014.
On this visit we will be continuing the scrub clearance work begun on previous tasks
Please note due to COVID-19: