Task Programme

You don't need any experience to come on any of our tasks, and we provide all the tools, training and safety equipment that you need. If you would like more information about whether a task is suitable for you then please contact us.

Please book with our Transport Secretary before the task. To find out how to book, what to bring and where to meet, look at the page about Sunday tasks.

There is also practical information about residential tasks.

Summary Task Programme

Here is a printer-friendly task programme (250kb)

Detailed Task Programme

Here is a map of all our work-sites.

June 13 SATURDAY Vogrie: bird-box construction

Vogrie is a popular country park four kilometres south-east of Dalkeith 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 carried out a variety of tasks, including clearing the ponds and sections of the River Tyne, cutting some of the grass on the meadow, repairing part of a drystane dyke, clearing scrub, coppicing alder and planting trees. On this visit, we will be helping with the construction and erection of bird boxes.

June 14 Beecraigs Country Park: path work

Beecraigs Country Park is near Linlithgow and is run by West Lothian Council. It is a fairly large park dominated by a conifer plantation. There is also a loch, a deer farm, a trout farm and small areas set aside for camping and recreation. 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 occasion, we will carrying out path work to improve access.

June 21 LCV Tool shed: tool maintenance

Over the years LCV has built up a large collection of hand-tools for conservation work, which are in use almost all year round. Consequently, they need regular maintenance in order to prolong their useful life and keep them safe to use. This is an opportunity to learn how to clean and oil tools, sharpen blunt blades and make repairs. There there will be no need for us to use the minibus for this task - we will all simply meet at the tool shed at 10am. Please contact Ken Humphreys if you need further directions.

June 28 Leadburn Community Woodland: tree clearance

Leadburn Community Woodland 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. On this visit we will be clearing trees. The area is boggy in places, so wellies are recommended if you have them. The Friends have kindly invited LCV members to a BBQ after this task and those on task will automatically be involved. Due to the post task BBQ the minibus will return to Edinburgh later in the evening than usual.

July 3 - 11 Isle of Lewis Residential: TBC

Aline Community Woodland is owned by by the Erisort Trust, a local community group on Lewis. It was purchased by the trust with funding support from the Scottish Land Fund. It is one of the rare extensive woodland areas on the island and is situated by Loch Seaforth between Stornoway and Tarbert.

The Erisort Trust aims to promote sustainable development of the woodland and create local opportunities by providing a unique mix of educational and recreational facilities. With the woodland rich in flora and fauna they hope to provide a place where there is something for everyone to enjoy at any time of the year.

This residential task, yet to be confirmed in detail, may involve path laying and boardwalk construction to improve access within the site. Accommodation will be in the local youth hostel.

July 12 No task

There is no task as this date coincides with the end of the Lewis residential.

July 19 Bawsinch: Himalayan balsam removal

Bawsinch and Duddingston Loch are found 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 back invasive vegetation. On this task, we will be controlling the invasive weed Himalayan balsam.

July 26 Addiewell Bing: preparation for tree planting

Addiewell Bing is a long, narrow reserve of 21 hectares just south of Bathgate in West Lothian, which is leased and managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT). 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 footpaths and cleared invading broom from areas of heather. This time, under the guidance of Colin McLean of SWT, we will be preparing cleared areas for planting native trees.

August 2 Bawsinch: Himalayan balsam removal

This will be a continuation of the work begun on July 19.

August 9 Addiewell Bing: preparation for tree planting

This will be a continuation of the work begun on July 26.

August 16 Pishwanton: task to be confirmed

This 60 acre site is located 2 miles south of Gifford, near Haddington in East Lothian. The Life Science Trust was established in 1992 to research, teach and promote education methods that enable people to rediscover connections with the natural world and develop a partnership with their environment. It purchased the woods in 1996 and the site sits at 700 ft on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills. Occupation of the area dates back to prehistoric times and there is a large Iron Age burial mound. Research and teaching is carried out on a wide variety of topics - medicinal plant study, herb growing, land and craft skills and ecological building methods to name a few. On previous tasks, LCV has planted trees and cut gorse for weaving into a fence. This site can be wet so wellies are strongly recommended if you have them!

August 23 Wooplaw Wood: tree pruning/pond work

Located on a minor road between Stow and Galashiels, this 40 hectare woodland was acquired in 1988 by Borders Community Woodland. Originally a badly neglected mature conifer woodland and bare land, the site now includes a small pond, birch thickets, a drystane dyke and areas of recently-planted broad-leaved trees. The local community are actively involved with the development of the wood and have built a log cabin, complete with stove. On previous visits LCV has thinned trees to prevent overcrowding, planted trees around a small pond and upgraded a small wooden bridge crossing the Allen water, using local materials. On this visit to the site we will be pruning trees, carrying out pond work and possibly removing invasive birch.

August 30 Vogrie: meadow raking

See June 13 for a description of this site. On this visit we will be raking up cut grass to help maintain a wild flower meadow.

September 6 Red Moss: birch clearance

The main feature of Red Moss, which is an SWT reserve above Balerno, 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 is an ideal task for people new to conservation work. We need lots of volunteers to form a line to work systematically across the bog. This site can be wet so wellies are recommended if you have them.

September 13 Currie High School: burn clearance

Currie High School is fortunate in having a burn and woodland in the school grounds. The burn rises at a spring and continues through a woodland gorge to join the Murray Burn. The burn is an excellent habitat for fresh water invertebrates and the woodland forms part of a wildlife corridor which now surrounds the school, following extensive planting by Edinburgh Urban Forest Project. Over the last 12 years, the burn has been cleared of rubbish except for the first section, which offers difficult access. On this occasion, we will be repeating our regular task of helping to clear the burn to enhance the amenity and to improve the marginal plant diversity. Please bring wellington boots if you have them, although they are not essential.

September 20 Bawsinch: path maintenance/weeding

See July 19 for a description of this site. Under the guidance of Colin McLean from SWT, we will be clearing vegetation to keep footpaths open.

September 27 Aberlady Bay: sea buckthorn clearance

Situated on the coast, Aberlady Bay is a Local Nature Reserve owned and managed by East Lothian Council. It is a large area - 580 hectares - made up of an open bay with sand and mudflats, as well as expanses of saltings, dunes and grassland. Best known for its birds, over 200 species have been seen in the area. There is also considerable botanical interest - you can see the full plant succession encompassing mudflat, saltmarsh, dune scrub and grassland. On this task, we will be clearing areas of invasive sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn is quite prickly, so hard- wearing clothes are advisable.

October 4 Addiewell Bing: tree felling

See July 26 for a description of this site. On this visit we will be working with SWT to continue to fell lodgepole pine trees in order to provide more room and light for native species.

(c) Lothians Conservation Volunteers 2009

Lothians Conservation Volunteers is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC020384

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