We normally have three work days per month throughout the year: 2nd Tuesday, 3rd Wednesday & 4th Thursday.
Work days are approximately from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, depending on the job, the weather and the number of volunteers. From time to time we work with other organisations and groups of volunteers.
Volunteers of all abilities are welcome but members must book a place beforehand with our volunteer organiser. Some projects may last several months whilst others will be completed in a day. Some jobs require a fair amount of “heavy lifting” or a trek to a remote location.
Work days are agreed in advance with the Pentland Hills Regional Park, the appropriate landowners, conservation bodies and sponsors.
The types of task we typically undertake include:
Installing / maintaining line of sight markers + signage
Installing / maintaining board walks and sleeper bridges over boggier sections of paths, streams or small gullys
(Assisted here by a volunteer team from Lloyds Banking Group.)
Erecting / maintaining stiles, gates, perches, bridges
Clearing out and/or rebuilding drainage ditches, clearing drains with draining rods, building or rebuilding cross drains on paths
On particularly muddy sections of path we have been experimenting with sheep fleeces to provide a permeable barrier to prevent surface aggregate sinking.
Re-aligning / re-routing sections of path, building steps, clearing overgrown vegetation
Planting trees / maintenance work on our five arboreta & other plantations
Willow-Spiling, installation of gabions to address erosion on stream & river banks
Making Wildflower Meadows
…. And much, much more…