Lothians Conservation Volunteers
COVID-19 outbreak: On 2021-07-19 mainland Scotland was placed in Level 0, in line with the an a strategic framework released on 2021-06-22. However, this relaxation in rules does not affect LCV tasks directly. Scotland is expected to move beyond Level 0 on 2021-08-09 and this may have effects on how we run our tasks.
Accordingly our task programme, to the end of September 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 2021-07-19 mainland Scotland was placed in Level 0, in line with the an a strategic framework released on 2021-06-22. However, this relaxation in rules does not affect LCV tasks directly. Scotland is expected to move beyond Level 0 on 2021-08-09 and this may have an effect on how we run our tasks.
Accordingly our task programme, to the end of September 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.
As the situation is more stable our task programme will now be updated on the usual quarterly cycle. However, alterations and changes are to be expected due to the pandemic, so 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | Sun 6 | Black Moss | Scrub clearance | ||
| Sun 13 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work | |||
| Sun 20 | North Berwick Law | Ragwort removal | |||
| Sun 27 | Easter Inch Moss | Birch pulling (site/task changed) | |||
| Jul | Sun 4 | Falkland Estate | Himalayan balsam control (note changed meeting place and departure time from St Andrews Square) | ||
| Sun 11 | Traprain Law | Ragwort control | |||
| Sun 18 | Addiewell Bing | Tree aftercare | |||
| Sun 25 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work | |||
| Aug | Sun 1 | Traprain Law | Ragwort control (Note: meeting point changed) |
Ragwort control (Note: meeting point changed)
2021-08-01
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 1 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 8 | North Berwick Law | Ragwort control |
Ragwort control
2021-08-08
There are some spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 15 | Falkland Estate | Path work |
Path work
2021-08-15
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 22 | Leadburn Community Woodland | Path work |
Path work
2021-08-22
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 1 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 29 | Falkland Estate | Path work |
Path work
2021-08-29
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 1 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sep | Sun 5 | Yellowcraig Beach | Buckthorn control |
Buckthorn control
2021-09-05
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 2 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 12 | Cander Moss | Birch control |
Birch control
2021-09-12
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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Unfortunately, there are no spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 19 | Vogrie Country Park | Meadow management |
Meadow management
2021-09-19
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 2 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Sun 26 | Red Moss | Birch control and pond management |
Birch control and pond management
2021-09-26
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 2 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| Oct | Sun 3 | Easter Craiglockhart Hill | Meadow management |
Meadow management
2021-10-03
There are plenty of spaces remaining on this task. Please click to view booking information
Book
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There are 2 spaces remaining in the bus for this task
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| 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 | ||
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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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Unfortunately the bus is full for this task |
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Task cancelled. This will only be done in extreme circumstances. |
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The task is cancelled, or the bus is unavailable for this task |
| Space information last updated: Friday 30 July |
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.
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.
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 to Easter Inch Moss we will be clearing regenerating birch from the bog areas to help raise the water levels in this slowly recovering peat bog. Please note the site has been changed from Black Moss and the task changes as a consequence.
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 removing the invasive himalayan balsam plant from areas of the estate to allow space for a more diverse selection of plants to regenerate
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
At 221m Traprain Law is a distinctive, dome shaped hill, which overlooks the East Lothian town of Haddington just to the east of Edinburgh. First occupied about 3500 years ago it has a long history of human activity - there is evidence that the site was used for burial as well as for manufacturing bronze tools. In the early twentieth century archaeologists working on the site uncovered a cache of Roman silverware. It is believed that the mythical King Loth of the Goddodin, from whom the Lothians take their name, ruled from the hill in the first half of the fourth century.
On this visit we'll be removing toxic ragwort plants. This helps to protect the health of the herd of Exmoor ponies that are used for conservation grazing on the hill.
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 removing cages from maturing trees planted on the bing in previous years.
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.
At 221m Traprain Law is a distinctive, dome shaped hill, which overlooks the East Lothian town of Haddington just to the east of Edinburgh. First occupied about 3500 years ago it has a long history of human activity - there is evidence that the site was used for burial as well as for manufacturing bronze tools. In the early twentieth century archaeologists working on the site uncovered a cache of Roman silverware. It is believed that the mythical King Loth of the Goddodin, from whom the Lothians take their name, ruled from the hill in the first half of the fourth century.
On this visit we'll be removing toxic ragwort plants. This helps to protect the health of the herd of Exmoor ponies that are used for conservation grazing on the hill.
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.
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 working on paths within the estate to enhance access to the woodlands on site.
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.
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 working on paths within the estate to enhance access to the woodlands on site.
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 sea buckthorn from the dunes to help preserve the grassland habitat
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
Cander Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Larkhall, is a remnant of a formerly more extensive raised bog. It is virtually undisturbed and is one of the best examples of raised bog in South Lanarkshire.
On this visit we will be removing birch scrub from the moss to maintain water levels.
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 raking cut material from the meadow to reduce the nutrient levels and improve the habitat
Please note due to COVID-19:
Find out how to book onto this task.
The main feature of Red Moss, which is an Scottish Wildlife Reserve above Balerno on Edinburgh's south-west corner, is a raised bog. Over time, the sphagnum moss has built up. It now acts like a sponge as the water level at the centre of the raised dome is considerably higher than the nearby Bavelaw reservoir. To prevent the bog drying out, over the past 15 years we have pulled up any birch which has self-seeded. This site can be wet so wellies are recommended if you have them.
On this visit we will be removing birch scrub from the bog to reduce the loss of water through transpiration and to ensure the important bog habitat continues to regenerate. In addition we'll be doing some management of ponds within the reserve
Please note due to COVID-19:
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 wildflower meadows on the site to reduce nutrients and disperse seeds. This will help the meadow regrow in future years
Please note due to COVID-19: