Lothians Conservation Volunteers
COVID-19 outbreak: The tasks up to and including the 28th February 2021 have been cancelled. Please keep checking the task list page for updates.
On 2021-01-20 the Scottish Government updated the protection levels (tiers) assigned to various areas of the country as part of the strategic framework for control of coronavirus in Scotland. As parts of efforts to suppress the new faster-spreading coronavirus strain, the whole of mainland scotland including Edinburgh has been placed remain in extended Tier 4 measures. While the restrictions in both tier 3 and tier 4 continue to allow us to run tasks outdoors, the LCV trustees feel that in light of the rapidly changing situation and the express guidance to reduce contact we cannot in good conscience run tasks. Therefore all tasks up to and including the 28th of February are cancelled. We will review the situation after 1st March 2021; hopefully the news will be better and we can resume our activities.
On 2021-01-20 the Scottish Government updated the protection levels (tiers) assigned to various areas of the country as part of the strategic framework for control of coronavirus in Scotland. As parts of efforts to suppress the new faster-spreading coronavirus strain, the whole of mainland scotland including Edinburgh has been placed remain in extended Tier 4 measures. While the restrictions in both tier 3 and tier 4 continue to allow us to run tasks outdoors, the LCV trustees feel that in light of the rapidly changing situation and the express guidance to reduce contact we cannot in good conscience run tasks. Therefore all tasks up to and including the 28th of February are cancelled. We will review the situation after 1st March 2021; hopefully the news will be better and we can resume our activities.
The LCV trustees' view is that LCV, a registered charity provides "voluntary and charitable services". These activities are expressly permitted in the relevant legislation for both Tier 3 and Tier 4 areas.
The travel guidance and the relevant law also contains an exception to allow for "travel for work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, but only where that cannot be done from your home".
Any decision to travel to our tasks must always be made by each individual volunteer, with regard to their own personal circumstances and taking into account any other relevant government guidance. Police Scotland have indicated they will be enforcing the travel restrictions so volunteers should also prepare themselves to explain the reason for their journey when traveling to tasks.
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 square next to the task you are interested in for information about the spaces remaining.
| Date | Site | Task and availablity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec | Sun 6 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Scrub control and fencing works | |
| Sun 13 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work and drainage ditch clearance | ||
| Sun 20 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work and drainage ditch clearance | ||
| Jan | Sun 3 | Gore Glen Woodland Park | Path work and broom clearance + burning | |
| Mon 4 | Vogrie Country Park | Path work, habitat creation and brash burning | ||
| Sun 10 | Granton Castle Walled Garden | Scrub control and fencing works | ||
| Sun 17 | Black Moss | Vegetation control | ||
| Sun 24 | Black Moss | Vegetation control | ||
| Sun 31 | Spottiswoode | Birch thinning | ||
| Feb | Sun 7 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work | |
| Sun 14 | Beecraigs Country Park | Path work |
Path work
2021-02-14
Our apologies, but this task has been cancelled
Book
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| Sun 21 | Beecraigs Country Park | Path work |
Path work
2021-02-21
Our apologies, but this task has been cancelled
Book
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| Sun 28 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work |
Path work
2021-02-28
Our apologies, but this task has been cancelled
Book
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| Mar | Sun 7 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2021-03-07
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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| Sun 14 | Addiewell Bing | Tree aftercare |
Tree aftercare
2021-03-14
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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| Sun 21 | Gifford Community Woodland | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2021-03-21
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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| Sun 28 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2021-03-28
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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| Apr | Sun 4 | Falkland Estate | Rhododendron control |
Rhododendron control
2021-04-04
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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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 book and put
yourself on the reserve list - spaces often become available at short
notice. |
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Task cancelled. This will only be done in extreme circumstances. |
| Space information last updated: Tuesday 9 February |
If you would like to print out our task list, here is our current newsletter, The Puggled Mucker (301K) 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.
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 scrub control works to enable future plantings in the next growing season and installing gates into the kitchen garden areas we fenced on previous tasks.
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 clearing vegetation and maintaining the drains on the access paths in this popular community woodland.
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 clearing vegetation and maintaining the drains on the access paths in this popular community woodland.
Please note due to COVID-19:
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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.
Unfortunately this task has been cancelled
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 vegetation, building the path base and drainage preparation work. The work will be continued on the 21st when we'll finish the path
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 maintaining the access paths in this popular community woodland.
Please note due to COVID-19:
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.
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Addiewell Bing is a long, narrow reserve of 21 hectares 20 miles from Edinburgh 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 and if necessary de-caging trees previously planted on the site which are now getting too big to need protection
Please note due to COVID-19:
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.
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 due to COVID-19:
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 due to COVID-19: