Tcv scotland bulletin spring 17 web

www.tcv.org.uk/scotland

netw rk bulletin Spring 2017

for TCV Scotland’s community Network

Annual Review 2016-17 edition

spotlight on TCV Community Network member

Castle conservation, and more

Anyone visiting Tarbert in Argyll can’t fail to miss the striking ruins of the Royal Castle of Tarbert overlooking this busy harbour on Loch Fyne, at the top of the Kintyre peninsula. In recent years the Castle and surrounding green space has been the focus of a fantastic volunteering restoration effort, spearheaded by the Tarbert Castle Trust. This benefits the local community and visitors alike.

Tarbert Castle dates back to medieval times and the earlier fortification was reinforced and enlarged by Robert I (the Bruce) King of Scotland in the mid-1320s. The floodlit Tower House seen today dates from 1494,

during the reign of James IV, and is a visible reminder of the Castle’s strategic importance in often turbulent times of Scottish history. The Trust’s logo depicts the Castle outline and a ‘birlinn’, which for hundreds of years was the dominant vessel in the waters around the Hebrides and West Highlands.

After hundreds of years of habitation the Castle eventually fell into disrepair and most of the useful stone was taken to build the harbour and village of Tarbert as it grew into a major fishing port. In 2005, local people recognised that action was needed to save this Scheduled Monument from further collapse, and so it was secured in trust for the community, and the hard work of its restoration began.

The major and most expensive aspect has been the consolidation of the Castle walls, as explained by Robert McPhail, Trust Secretary and Treasurer: “Our volunteers removed staggering amounts of vegetation – blackthorn, brambles, bracken etc to expose the outlines of the ruined walls, and then applied biodegradable matting to stabilise the soil and sow grass seed. This was a massive effort which opened up the whole site and played a key role in the Rural Development Fund giving us a 100% £0.75 million grant to consolidate the medieval stonework. This was done by professional stone masons over three years, but apart from this big job, all labour on the site has been supplied by volunteers. We have now spent just under £1 million on the site, money which we have raised from many sources. The 12 funders’ logos included on our current leaflet are now up to 15!”

The castle and surrounding site occupy 4 hectares which are open to the community, and attract approximately 15,000 visitors annually. To maintain and develop the site, the Tarbert Castle Trust has regular volunteer work parties on the first Saturday of every month, and at other times for special activities. Volunteers range in age from 5 to 75 years old.

The efforts of the Trust and its volunteers haven’t stopped at the Castle walls: • In the sheltered valley just behind the Castle, a Community Woodland has been developed with the planting of 700 trees – native species including alder,

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All photographs courtesy of Tarbert Castle Trust.

Tarbert

A fortification has stood on this rocky outcrop for many hundreds of years.

Thanks to the efforts of the Tarbert Castle Trust and its dedicated volunteers, the imposing walls of the Tower House can remain a prominent local landmark for hundreds of years to come. If you are ever in this beautiful part of the country, visitors are most welcome!

Tarbert Castle Trust is a long standing member of the Community Network through which TCV provides voluntary conservation groups with practical information and advice, funding news, training and networking opportunities, and where possible support ‘on the ground’. For details contact Graham Burns at g.burns@tcv.org.uk

rowan, birch and willow. A wildlife pond has been created to increase the site’s biodiversity. The woodland is regularly used by the local Tarbert Academy as an outdoor classroom, providing the pupils with forest activities and biology projects. And it’s also used by the Afterschool Care Group for outdoor activities.

• Volunteers have completed the planting of a Community Orchard with some 200 fruit bearing trees and bushes, including apples, plums, gooseberries and blueberries. And, over the past winter the Academy’s youth worker has been working with pupils to plant 70 trees as a shelter belt for the orchard.

The volunteers are now moving onto experimenting with fruit tree grafting to produce their own varieties, hopefully to include Tarbert Castle Apples! When the fruits reach mature cropping stage it’s intended to organise community fruit picking days and distribute the harvest to older residents groups, the school etc.

• Visitors can enjoy commanding views over the harbour, Loch Fyne and surrounding countryside from

Spring 2017

the purpose built viewing deck. And, to improve access around the site, boardwalks and steps have been installed, along with seating and picnic tables.

• The historic site has been given a contemporary twist with the installation of a Sculpture Walk with seven striking artworks.

• Plans are underway for a community archaeological project to unearth more of the site’s history.

Undoubtedly, the Trust’s most unusual and hairiest ‘volunteers’ are its small flock of Hebridean and Soay sheep – natural born lawn mowers who graze the grassy areas around the site. The sheep provide a sustainable alternative to regular strimming,

which would be a big, time-consuming and very noisy task. These hardy characters are sheered every summer and cared for on a rota basis by volunteers, including school pupils. The presence of the sheep has led to the forming of an active spinning group, ‘Fyne Spinners’, who meet every month and attract spinners (and knitters) from a wide area. The group produce knitted and woven garments but rarely sell their work. Jenny Carlile, a member of the group says: “The whole process from sheering an animal to wearing the finished jumper or scarf is extremely satisfying, but it all takes a very long time.”

Visitors can support the ongoing maintenance of the site (and sheep!) through a donation box on site, and anyone can become a Friend of Tarbert Castle. The Trust has a quarterly newsletter and Facebook page to keep volunteers and the community up-todate with developments, with further information available on its website: www.tarbertcastle.info

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jess owen

Dead Good!

At first sight, deadwood may not be the most important or appealing aspect of nature conservation, but it does in fact play a vital role in the health of our woodlands and the many wildlife species which thrive in them. The importance of deadwood is the focus of the soon to be launched Dead Good Deadwood Survey which encourages community woodland groups and nature enthusiasts to discover the extent of deadwood locally and identify the wildlife it supports. And the survey also highlights the ways in which deadwood can be encouraged.

So, what is deadwood?

Deadwood is a tree or part of a tree that has died and is in a stage of decomposition.

This illustration highlights the five different types of deadwood:

Why is deadwood dead good?

Deadwood is extremely important to the health of woodlands, and even us humans!

• Deadwood is an important micro habitat for hundreds of wildlife species and is used by birds, mammals, fungi, plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects and even fish!

• Fallen deadwood helps the stability of woodland soil and helps prevent soil erosion.

The survey The survey simply involves walking along a line or ‘transect’ for 100 metres through your woodland, recording any large pieces of deadwood you spot, their stage of decay, and any wildlife present. The survey includes guidance notes on how to do this, including a transect template, plus an identification guide and recording sheet for the wildlife species you are likely to encounter.

• It plays a big part in nutrient recycling, slowly releasing nitrogen into the soil for other plants to use.

The Forestry Commission suggests that healthy woodland (broadleaf or conifer) should have three standing and three fallen pieces of large (over 20cm in diameter and over two metres long) deadwood per hectare.

• It acts as a carbon storage system, capturing carbon and locking it into the ground to prevent global warming.

Gathering this information means you can work out if there is a healthy amount of deadwood, but also a healthy variety of

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TCV would love to hear what people find during their survey, including the bugs and beasties you discover!

The Dead Good Deadwood Survey will be launched soon – look out for details on TCV’s social media. Or register your interest by contacting Amanda Malcolm at citizenscience-scotland@tcv.org.uk Illustration: Forestry Commission Scotland

Different types of deadwood found in forests and woodlands

stages of decay present. It also suggests ways in which you can improve deadwood habitats in your woodland, and the survey can be repeated after these improvements to see if the biodiversity on your site has increased. The survey is perfect for a group or individual wishing to monitor the health of a particular site, or for people who simply want to get out to explore the woods, collecting research on the way.

In the meantime, you can learn more about deadwood and its importance at: www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/dead-wood www.forestry.gov.uk/PDF/FCPG020. pdf/$FILE/FCPG020.pdf The Dead Good Deadwood Survey has been produced by Jess Owen and Amanda Malcolm as part of the TCV’s Scotland Counts project, which aims to provide opportunities for every individual and community in Scotland to develop skills and confidence to understand their local environment through citizen science.

Scotland Counts is supported by the Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and the Scottish Government.

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A year of achievements TCV Scotland’s volunteers and our partner organisations have achieved a fantastic amount over the past year. The following pages provide a snapshot of some of the people involved, projects undertaken and places improved between April 2016 and March 2017.

Putting something back For nearly 10 years TCV has worked with Royal Bank of Scotland to give its employees the chance to swap their normal working environment for a day outdoors to support worthwhile community projects. In 2016/17, over 1000 RBS staff took part in 62 action days at locations including Royal

Volunteering opportunities Giving people the opportunity to conserve their local environment is at the heart of TCV’s efforts. Our volunteer groups in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling get people out and about to contribute to nature conservation, learn new skills and take part in a sociable activity with fellow volunteers.

Each group typically goes out on three days of the working week. For some volunteers this is a regular activity, whilst for others it’s something done occasionally to fit around other commitments, but all are welcome. As well as our regular volunteer groups, TCV also runs a number of Green Gyms providing outdoor activity to enhance the environment and the health of those taking part – see page 11.

TCV does not own any land, so our volunteers work on greenspaces managed by local councils and other landowners, or on designated sites such as nature reserves. And TCV’s volunteers work in school grounds and with community projects which need a little extra help.

TCV’s Glasgow volunteers building a wildlife pond in Linn Park. camaraderie. It’s always a good laugh as everyone has a good sense of humour.

I recommend volunteering with TCV to anyone who loves sun, mud, rain, nature ... and digging in and working hard.”

“I like volunteering as it gets me out the house and I meet new people and do good hard work.”

Stirling midweek volunteer

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DAVID MEECHAN

Pat Alexander is a mainstay of our Edinburgh Midweek Group and has been coming out with us for an incredible 20 years, clocking up 571 volunteering days since we began computerising records in 2005. So the true figure is significantly higher! During this time Pat has built bridges, boardwalks, fences and raised beds, and planted umpteen wildflowers and trees. Pat says: “I’ve met some very nice people over the years and believe that TCV attracts like-minded, passionate and caring people. I just enjoy the benefit of getting outdoors in some fantastic habitats.

You get a great sense of satisfaction and

In 2016/17, TCV Scotland provided over 19,000 volunteer experiences, including almost 13,000 conservation ‘workdays’ at 478 locations, 350 being within the area of the Central Scotland Green Network, and 87 places in some of our most deprived areas. Volunteers contributed over 6,250 workdays at ‘designated’ sites, where projects included: • Tree guard removal Cadder Wilderness SSSI • Invasive non-native species removal Loch Lomond NNR • Rhododendron clearance Danskine Loch SSSI • Balsam survey and removal River Fleet LNR

Edinburgh Hospital, the Lost Garden of Penicuik, the VAT Run in South Queensferry, and Polbeth & West Calder Community Garden, West Lothian. They completed a wide variety of tasks from path building to general gardening activities and maintaining wildlife habitats.

And for several years staff from the University of Glasgow have taken part in local conservation projects, most recently at Cathkin Braes, Springburn Park and Robroyston Park. At these sites, which are managed by Glasgow City Council, the Uni staff have planted wildflowers, removed invasive rhododendron and transplanted wetland plants.

Another way to make a difference People can become environmental volunteers in many different ways. A small group of residents (adults and youngsters) in Clackmanannshire have become citizen scientists to monitor sediment movements and blockages on the local Hillfoots Burns.

The project, run with Clackmanannshire Council, will help the relevant authorities influence future local Flood Risk Manangement (FRM) approaches.

Thanks to each and every volunteer who came out with us in 16/17.

You made a real difference to Scotland’s environment!

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2016-17 Review deaf action

Nature for everyone At TCV Scotland we believe everyone has the right to enjoy Scotland’s countryside and learn about and discover the nature on their doorstep regardless of age, background or ability.

Arthritis care scotland

Young people on a Joint Creativity environmental art workshop.

Over 1 million people in Scotland have a disability, which for many means minimal physical activity, little contact with nature, limited opportunities to learn new skills, and fewer chances to meet new people, leading to social isolation and mental health problems. Since 2014, TCV Scotland has been developing its engagement with people with disabilities to address these key needs. Facilitating connection with nature by bringing people together to have fun in the outdoors can be a first step to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

During 2016/17, children and adults from Scottish Autism and Sense Scotland took part in 48 sessions to discover and explore a range of habitats and greenspaces in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, Forfar and Dundee. The nature explorers enjoyed bug hunts, scavenger hunts, and muddy play!

At Gartmorn Dam Country Park in Clackmannanshire, staff from Scottish Autism joined a ‘taster’ workshop to inform them of the kind of citizen science activities they can organise with their service users. Activities such as bird and bird song identification, insect surveys and tree identification provided a stimulating learning opportunity which could be replicated with Scottish Autism service users on a day-to-day basis.

“An excellent session that opened my eyes to future sessions I could organise.”

Scottish Autism staffer

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With the aid of bat detectors, a group of blind and partially sighted people were thrilled to hear Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats during an evening bat walk at historic Newhailes House, near Musselburgh. This was one of six nature sessions organised with Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Sharing knowledge of what environmental activities can be organised with disability groups was the theme of the May Greenability sharing good practice events held at the Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth. And, in November 2016 the Jupiter Centre was the venue for an event with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) which focussed on disability groups accessing funding for nature and environmental activities.

Youngsters belonging to the Edinburgh-based Deaf Action enjoyed a summer of nature play workshops at locations around the city including Dalmeny and Cramond beaches. Rock pooling, nature crafts and outdoor cooking were the order of the day.

Volunteers and staff belonging to disability organisations in the Falkirk-wide area have been hard at work over recent months developing a corner of the Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre into a training ‘hub’ where they can learn how to grow fruit, vegetables and wildflowers. Much of their effort so far has gone into building raised beds (below left) and fitting out a large polytunnel. In March 2017, as part of British Science Week, the volunteers joined a ‘Bioblitz’ to record the wildlife around the Jupiter site.

“Really enjoyed the practical work from start to finish, and the process of learning things. Awesome, aggression busting.”

Davy, Jupiter project volunteer “Really enjoyed it, good fun, good company.”

Dev, Jupiter project volunteer Auchengillan Outdoor Centre is the location for Nature Connections, an HLF funded project which will highlight the history and achievements of Glasgow Disabled Scouts. With the help of TCV volunteers, the scouts will also develop an accessible sensory trail, pond dipping platform and wildlife hide.

In summer 2016, TCV in Edinburgh hosted a group of young people with arthritis to take part in an environmental art workshop.

This was part of the Joint Creativity programme organised by Arthritis Care Scotland. During the workshop the youngsters engaged in a range of hands-on activities including creating a wish tree, den building and blackberry tattoos!

“A lot of the time our young people can feel excluded from taking part in outdoor activity because of their condition, but this was a great way to engage them in making art and being outside. The young people loved it and so did the leaders.”

Gill Means, Arthritis Care Scotland

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Working with ME groups

Overall, 224 people of varying ages, backgrounds and cultures have taken part in enjoyable and educational outdoor activities. The past year has provided TCV and the partner groups with plenty of experience and ideas to go forward and expand environmental activities with our Minority Ethnic communities.

Existing evidence suggests that people belonging to our Minority Ethnic (ME) communities can have limited access to greenspaces and contact with nature. In 2016, TCV organised a number of nature engagement sessions and training workshops with key ME groups and partners.

Engaging with outdoor activity programme Depending upon the group involved, a series of outdoor sessions were based around conservation activities (woodland management, wildflower planting, building bird boxes), citizen science, and nature play (environmental arts and games, bushcraft and outdoor cooking). Crucially, nature play was a key initial step to connect people with nature as many Minority Ethnic partner groups requested this activity. The programme involved 11 outdoor sessions with 97 young people and family members from a range of locations, backgrounds, ages and Minority Ethnic groups.

• WSREC, Glasgow Forty 5-10 year olds took part in nature play activities at the Children’s Wood in North Kelvinside.

These sessions were supported by WSREC staff and all had a climate change theme to raise awareness of this environmental issue.

“We have enjoyed working with TCV over the last month during the Summer Programme. The group had an amazing time and we will be interested in working together in the future.”

Ola Pawluk, West of Scotland Regional Equality Council • Eighteen members of the Lithuanian Social Club joined TCV and the Countryside Rangers at Pollok Park

for a day of conservation tasks – path maintenance, woodland management, river bank clearance, wildflower planting, and building and installing bird boxes.

• Multi-Cultural Family Base, Edinburgh Youngsters aged 5-8 years were immersed in various fun activities to learn about the importance of caring for their local woodlands and understand the importance of biodiversity. The children enjoyed scavenger hunts, outdoor cooking and environmental games.

Welcoming through Wildlife

hand to overcome any language difficulties, although the vagaries of the Scottish weather could be understood in any language!

In March 2017, six Syrian refugee families had the opportunity to discover greenspaces close to where they have been re-housed in Livingston, West Lothian. Local country parks provided the 26 adults and children with some ‘outdoor hospitality’ and engaging nature activities, with some delicious food on the side. The programme’s initial three outings were supported by West Lothian Council resettlement team and funded by British Science Week, so the visits had a ‘science in nature’ theme with plenty of hands-on activities for the adults and children to identify the trees, plants, insects and birds they encountered. The families were also encouraged to consider the differences in landscape and wildlife between Syria and Scotland, and the things we have common. An Arabic interpreter was on

“We were very happy today because we were able to meet good people and we were able to bring joy to everyone’s hearts.”

Emad Krouma, family group member

Training Natural Leaders To increase their confidence to run outdoor projects, staff from the Glasgow based WSREC and Andalus organisations took part in a training session at the nearby Children’s Wood. TCV staff and trainees demonstrated a number of environmental games and activities which are easily relatable to both children and adult volunteers.

Supporting events REBECCA STROFTON

Youngsters from the LINKES group in Glasgow enjoyed a series of outdoor sessions in local parks to survey bugs and beasties for science, create art from natural materials, and play games to learn about the woodland environment. In true Ray Mears style the children also tried their hand at bushcraft and outdoor cooking which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Spring 2017

To engage with the wider ethnic communities, TCV staff and trainees have attended a number of events including the Chinese New Year celebrations and Napiershall Street Garden Festival (both in Glasgow) and the Woodland Rambling and Brambling day in East Lothian. These were highly popular occasions, attracting hundreds of people.

In addition to the organisations mentioned above TCV, through WSREC, has developed links with children, young people and families from the Scottish Refugee Council, Madrassa Taleem Ul Islam, and Scottish Sikhs. Also engaged have been the Scottish Czech & Slovak Fund and the Glasgow Chinese Community Development Partnership.

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Supporting communities TCV is one of the organisations involved in developing the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, straddling North-East Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. A range of environmental volunteering opportunities, events and activities are being organised for both local people and visitors at this ambitious Heritage Lottery funded project. In Easterhouse, the project is also active in the development of a community growing space and an after-school nature club. See more at www.sevenlochs.org.

The Natural Networks training programme focussed on increasing the biodiversity of local greenspaces. In 2016/17, nine Natural Networks trainees, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, worked on a range of projects from wildflower meadow creation in Fife, to developing projects for ‘green health in later life’.

Community engagement and providing varied volunteering opportunities are at the heart of the partnership between TCV and Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire (EPIC). Launched in March 2017, the partnership seeks to raise awareness of the distinctive landscape features and biodiversity around the Ochil Hillfoot villages, and with the help of local people promote the need to safeguard this cultural and natural heritage.

Over the past year there has been much positive action happening in Inverness as part of the Culloden and Smithton Local People Programme. Funded by the People’s Health Trust and with support from a TCV Project Officer, local residents decide how the programme’s Community Fund can be used to address local priorities within the two communities. Based on local feedback a community newsletter has been created and a variety of events have been arranged to enhance the local environment and involve local people. Events so far have included litter picks, snowdrop planting (pictured opposite) and bus trips for families. A new group has been formed to host further events and help bring local groups and residents together. The future seems bright for both communities.

As part of the 2016/17 I Dig Trees programme, 30,000 young trees were distributed to 60 local organisations

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lee simpson

TCV is involved in a number of initiatives to involve and improve local communities.

Greenock, Clydebank and Yoker (in Glasgow) are the locations for TCV’s Community Rewilding project. Local adults and children participate in practical activities such as tree and wildflower planting to attract nature

Woodland fun in Faifley, Clydebank.

throughout Scotland – schools, Girl Guides, charities and various community groups.

I Dig Trees is a UK-wide initiative jointly organised by TCV and OVO Energy. See where the trees were planted at www.tcv.org.uk/community/i-dig-trees Increasing numbers of people are getting involved in ‘citizen science’, the term used to describe public participation in scientific research. A more user-friendly description might be ‘recording nature’. Over the past year TCV has worked with a number of community groups, and organised training courses to encourage greater participation in citizen science. These activities have focussed on the many fun and easy surveys which groups and schools can take part in – everything from air quality to the new TCV deadwood survey (see page 4). TCV is also a partner in the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) programme which has eight key surveys for individuals and groups to gather environmental information.

back into these communities. Also held have been fun events including citizen science and nature play to encourage residents to get outdoors to appreciate, enjoy and make use of the greenspaces and natural heritage found on their doorstep.

block of flats has been developed covering 700m2. This has turned into a community hub for food growing and has 27 plots for local residents and groups, including toddlers from the local nursery. Space to Grow was run in conjunction with the Cube Housing

Reducing the carbon footprint in and around the Wyndford Estate in Maryhill, Glasgow, was the aim of the Space to Grow project whose development phase ended in March 2017. This centred on providing suitable spaces for local residents to grow their own food, which reduces the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2).

Building on the 19m2 of raised beds which already existed, a new allotment beside a

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2016-17 Review garden in Possilpark, Glasgow.

• Improved woodland paths in Torrance, East Dunbartonshire.

• Built raised beds and fitted out a polytunnel at the new growing and training space at Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth. paul barclay

The Jupiter centre Swarm event.

Association and funded by the Climate Challenge Fund. “… and I got my allotment. I couldn’t have imagined getting a garden when I live in a multi-storey block of flats. Thank you.”

J.G., local resident Many community projects have been given a boost with the help of corporate volunteers – see page 5.

Further support As well as developing projects on the ground, TCV also encourages grass roots environmental initiatives through other means: TCV’s Training Programme provides knowledge and skills for volunteers and staff from a wide range of groups and

Forum Exchanges are free opportunities for representatives of community groups and other organisations to come together to learn from each other’s experiences.

Over 250 people attended Forum Exchanges in the past year covering the following topics:

organisations. The short courses, of typically one or two days, cover topics ranging from Leadership Skills and Using Social Media to Woodland Management and Increasing Access to the Outdoors for People with a Disability. During 2016/17, 276 people participated in 31 courses.

• Involving Minority Ethnic Communities (Glasgow)

“Brilliant course – I could have done it all week! I feel a lot more confident and excited to lead OPAL surveys.”

Course participant

• Greenspace for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Cumbernauld, photo above) • Developing Vacant Community Spaces (Glasgow)

See upcoming courses at http://ow.ly/NGre30b7T6R

• Outdoor Learning (Kilmarnock)

Swarm events are opportunities for volunteers from TCV and other groups to come together to provide a boost to worthwhile community projects. Recent Swarm events have:

• Biodiversity and Community Food Growing (Glasgow)

• Created paths at a new community ullie wenzel

The Network Bulletin is issued three times annually and showcases community conservation projects around the country, plus news of TCV’s own volunteering, training and community programmes.

The monthly eBulletin keeps 2,000 people in the environmental and related sectors informed of training courses, learning and networking events, conferences, resources, and sources of funding.

To keep community and environmental groups abreast of current grant and funding opportunities, Funding News is produced three times annually, and is available to view and download on the TCV Scotland website.

Snowdrop planting by the Gruffalo Walk in Inverness.

Spring 2017

Through training, mentoring and other support, in 2016/17 TCV directly helped over 300 groups access and improve their greenspaces.

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Providing routes to work ‘You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job’ – is the ‘Catch 22’ situation facing many people, particularly young folk.

To help them get that all important experience and relevant qualifications, TCV and partner organisations run a number of accredited training programmes, focussed on practical conservation and land-based skills.

‘Green classrooms without walls’ offer practical learning opportunities, particularly for those who may have struggled in mainstream education. As well as the skills and experienced gained, the programmes also enhance the participants’ confidence, communication skills and self-esteem, and introduce them to a regular work routine.

In 2016/17, TCV ran two accredited training schemes – the Employability Award and Employability in the Outdoors Awards, which offered different levels of skills and accredited SQA units.

Employability Award • 28 trainees took part in four 13 week employability programmes with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative. The trainees worked at a variety of locations and undertook a wide range of interesting tasks including installing tern nesting platforms, building raised beds, path construction and tree planting.

• A group of seven young lads had a great opportunity to learn the traditional skill of drystone walling, or drystane dyking, at the Kinneil Estate near Bo’ness. The trainees successfully built a completely new 100 metre stretch of wall, complete with features such as stile steps, wall ends and a lunky hole.

The young people on the above programmes were recruited through the Falkirk Council Employment Training Unit.

“The experience has been amazing.”

Employability Award trainee • The Coastal Communities programme provided positive practical conservation experiences for eight young unemployed people in East Lothian. The programme was run with East Lothian Council and STRiVE, and funded by the BIG Lottery Fund.

90% of the trainees on these programmes have gone on to full time employment, apprenticeships, education or further training.

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• Plean Country Park Employability Programme began in March 2017, in partnership with Friends of Plean Country Park. The park is situated in the heart of Plean, an old mining village near Stirling, but with the pits long gone there is high unemployment. Two 13 week training programmes will help to deliver big conservation projects in the park, and give local trainees of all ages accredited skills, and provide access to funding which they can use to develop their skills in a manner relevant to their needs. The dual nature of the programme allows for adaptability in what the participants learn and what to take with them into employment.

• Looking ahead, TCV aims to adapt the Employability Award to accredit our activities with disabled groups.

Employability in the Outdoors Award • Green Action is a 12 week training programme for young people in the Falkirk area. It is run by the Scottish Waterways Trust and accredited by TCV, providing the trainees with a variety of experiences such as landscaping and gardening, forest skills, conservation projects, wildflower and tree planting.

In 2016/17, twenty seven trainees successfully completed the Green Action programme and gained their Employability in the Outdoors Award.

Discovery Award The John Muir Discovery Award provides outdoor learning experiences and challenges for a wide range of participants.

During 2016/17, volunteers in Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Grangemouth and Stirling completed the Award. As did pupils from St Maurice’s High School in Cumbernauld who completed a variety of conservation tasks, learned basic forest skills, made bird boxes, did regular litter picks, created sound maps, recorded wildlife, conducted an OPAL water quality test, and did some creative work including photographing the local environment.

17 year old Chris Gray, from Grangemouth, was a trainee with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI).

How did you find out about IFLI? Through the Falkirk Employability Training Unit, while I was at school.

What have you learned here?

I’ve learned how to use a variety of different tools including strimmers and power carpentry tools. I’ve learned to work within different environments and scenarios, and I’ve learned how to complete tasks as part of a group.

What do you hope to take from IFLI to your next destination?

Experience of working as a team, and I have a variety of different skills that I will take from working on this project.

What have been the positive aspects?

Quite a lot. We have all got loads of experience to take on to any job. I have learned things that I never thought I would.

How would you sum up your experience?

All in all it’s been a good experience.

I’ve learned loads of new things, even if it’s just little things like filling out time sheets etc. It gets you into the habit of coming to work on time, ready for a working routine.

Do you have any goals for the future?

I would say my goals in life are to be successful in my job, wherever that may be, to be satisfied at where I am in life, and to be happy.

Chris’s training with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative was certainly worthwhile, as he used the experience to successfully apply for a Modern Apprenticeship.

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Health Matters It’s now recognised that outdoor activity of all kinds can provide a massive boost to the health and well being of those taking part. In recent years TCV has worked with a number of organisations to provide a range of ‘green health’ schemes:

“I’m retired and go out with the Inverness Green Gym and like to work outside, get fit and socialise with the other volunteers. I love the group who come out each Wednesday – it’s such fun. It lifts the spirits, and it’s good for the body and good for the soul!”

Susan Williams

The Ayr Green Gym creating a dead hedge.

Green Gyms are run directly by TCV staff to give participants regular access to fresh air, exercise and sociable company.

In 2016/17, 40 Green Gyms involving 1,124 volunteer days were held in locations from the Highlands to Ayrshire. These ranged from adult projects to Green Gyms in secondary schools. Typical Green Gym activities include community gardening, food growing and invasive plant control.

Nowhere can the health benefits of outdoor activity be more relevant than in our hospitals, which are often surrounded by extensive estates of woodlands, walks and gardens. To exploit these natural assets, TCV is currently running Greenspace for Health projects with the NHS for patients, staff and the wider community at Gartnavel (Glasgow), New Craigs (Inverness) and Ayr & Ailsa Hospitals.

Community groups are encouraged to organise their own Green Gyms with TCV support, and 21 Community Green Gyms have been operating over the past year.

“I first found out about Green Gyms during a meeting ran

by Glasgow Life. As I listened about the programme, I instantly thought of a group of students it would be ideal for in our school.

These students not only enjoyed their experience but also learned a great deal, mainly about working with others and respect.

One student in particular has made excellent progress in school since taking part, mainly as it allowed staff to develop a better understanding of him and for him to see that the school took an interest in him.”

In Cumbernauld, the Wild Ways Well project involved three groups of adults and school pupils who explored and cared for many of their local greenspaces. The project adopted the ‘Five Ways Well’ approach to enhancing mental health – Connect, Be active, Take notice, Learn and Give. The project’s achievements were celebrated at a well attended event in Cumbernauld in February 2017, which also highlighted other successful greenspace health initiatives.

“I have always loved nature and the outdoors and this is a great experience.”

Wild Ways Well participant

Spring 2017

Teacher

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2016-17 Review

A place for learning Food for Thought

CAROLYN MCFARLANE

Seven primary schools in East Ayrshire took part in the Food for Thought programme to raise pupil awareness of where food comes from, while increasing staff confidence in the use of their school grounds and nearby spaces as a resource for teaching and learning. The pupils grew, cooked and ate their own food. Along the way they created gardens, learned about biodiversity and the particular role of pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and the importance of worms to the health of soil.

Green Gyms

“My favourite was the worm chanting. I love the garden” “I learnt that bees are pollinators” “I learnt how to cook things” Pupils The pupils have discovered a considerable amount about their local environment and have had the opportunity to visit places they didn’t know existed” Teacher

Grow and Cook Pupils, staff and parents at Mary Russell School in Paisley have developed their Grow and Cook Together project. They have created green spaces in and around the school to grow organic produce, which they have then used in family cooking sessions.

Going wild Pupils in Edinbarnet and St. Joseph’s Primary Schools in Clydebank have developed a wildlife garden on land owned by a local housing association. As well as the practical work in the garden, the pupils have taken part in a number of citizen science activities.

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Girvan Academy in South Ayrshire has been the location of the Get Some Credit project which aims to provide opportunities for pupils to develop skills for life, work and learning.

SUSAN RUTHERFORD

Outdoor spaces can be great resources for learning, as hundreds of school pupils and teachers have discovered with the help of TCV staff and trainees.

Pupils Get Some Credit

Over the past year, pupils at schools in East Ayrshire have been hard at work becoming green-fingered gurus, thanks to a Green Gym project, run by TCV. Green Gyms are active, outdoor sessions offering handson learning and guidance in activities such as planting trees, sowing wildflower meadows and growing vegetables. For six months East Ayrshire Council’s Learning Outdoors Support Team partnered with TCV to support eight schools in the area to develop Green Gyms with pupils. The latest school to provide a Green Gym is Loudon Academy, where 3rd year and senior pupils are restoring an allotment area and tidying up a piece of woodland. The school Green Gyms have provided hundreds of pupils (and teachers) a unique opportunity to improve the greenspaces within their schools, develop new habitats for wildlife, and support the health and wellbeing of the pupils. As the greenspaces become established, they also become available for use by the wider school community.

“I helped my mum in the garden last week and I knew what to do because of the Green Gym” Green Gym pupil

Teaching the teachers In addition to working directly with pupils, TCV provides opportunities for teachers to increase their confidence and capacity to deliver outdoor learning. Teachers from a number of local authorities have taken part in Continuous Professional Development

The three year programme, which finishes in June 2017, has involved pupils who have typically been vulnerable, disengaged and hard to reach. They have undertaken conservation tasks, vegetable planting and gardening, as well as team activities and games, training courses and employability programmes. “…we are always outdoors even when it’s hailstones! It’s good not being in the classroom. I have gained some skills: communication through the team games, using different tools and how to get on better with the boys in my group.”

(CPD) workshops and after-school ‘twilight’ sessions. These have covered a wide range of topics: Bushcraft, nature play, OPAL surveys, air quality, lichens, environmental games and activities, accessing nature for people with disabilities, food growing, school Green Gym training, fundraising, deadwood surveys, citizen science, river monitoring, eco days, tree identification and measuring, developing school grounds, tree planting, constructing raised beds, and learning for sustainability.

TCV staff have delivered further training for teachers at events and seminars including the Scottish Learning Festival, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) training, and SNH Sharing Good Practice programme.

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Fostering Natural Talent The latest group of TCV’s Natural Talent trainees have recently started their new challenges, hosted by a variety of environmental organisations. Each trainee has a 12 month funded opportunity to contribute to a specialised aspect of the natural world which may otherwise be neglected. The Natural Talent programme is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

The new Natural Talent recruits are: • Kirsty Grant: ‘Marvellous Mudsnail’ trainee, based at Buglife, Stirling.

• Ross McIlwrath: ‘Peatlands and micromoths’ trainee, based with Butterfly Conservation, Stirling.

• Aroa Sampedro-Fernandez: ‘Species Discovery, Empowered Communities and the Edinburgh Shoreline’ trainee, based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

• Sue Loughran: ‘Invertebrates and lower plants of mires and heaths’ trainee, based at the Field Studies Council, Shropshire.

• Phoebe Williams: ‘Hemiptera as

TCV Conservation Handbooks going online!

indicators of grassland management and quality’ trainee, based at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

• Annan Fryer: ‘Mudflat’ trainee, based at the World Museum, Liverpool.

Over the coming months the trainees will provide updates about their experiences on the Natural Talent blog page at: www.blogs.tcv.org.uk/natural-talent The previous group of Natural Talent trainees completed their programme in early 2017: • Rebecca Cairns: Aphids as Vectors of Plant Viruses • Katherine Whyte: Saline Lagoons • Susan Miller: Marine Invasive Non-Native Species • Frances Stoakely: Lichens as Air Quality Indicators Details of their experiences are available at: www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/learning/naturaltalent-traineeships FRIENDS OF FIGGATE PARK

Nature can be found flourishing all around us, not only in the countryside but also in our urban areas. A great example is Figgate Park in Edinburgh, pictured here with Arthur’s Seat in the background. This green gem is cared for with the help of volunteers from the Friends of Figgate Park. Find out more about them and how you can get involved at www.figgatepark.org.uk

Urban Nature – Get Connected A recent film from Scottish Natural Heritage celebrates the contribution our nature and landscapes make to the lives of people in Scotland’s town and cities. The film shows a range of exciting and creative projects which connects us with nature in our urban centres. The extended version of the film features interviews with some of SNH’s key partners, including TCV’s Glasgow volunteers group.

View the film at: www.bit.ly/2kr8WjR

Spring 2017

TCV’s Handbooks are the definitive ‘how to’ guides to managing the countryside and greenspaces. Each Handbook has a wealth of background information, advice and instruction, and is written by experts, well illustrated and clearly laid out in a stepby-step format.

The original titles were: Sand Dunes Hedging Fencing Toolcare Footpaths Tree Planting and Aftercare Woodlands Waterways and Wetlands Dry Stone Walling, The Urban Handbook.

The Handbooks will be available online in late April/early May for an annual subscription of just £12.50 plus VAT, for access to the full range of titles. That’s over 800 web pages of information and 2,000 illustrations, so less than the cost of a single hard copy. A bargain!

And discounts will apply for members of TCV’s Community Network. If you prefer, some of the Handbooks are still available in the printed version.

You will be able to subscribe to the Handbooks at: www.conservationhandbooks.com

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Project round-up

EPIC launched

A number of projects have been developed in recent months involving TCV with a range of organisations and communities: CLAIRE QUINN

Steered by EPIC, the role of Emma Straughan, TCV Senior Project Officer, is to identify the unique local habitats and species of Clackmannanshire, and devise the best means to conserve and enhance such features for the benefit of the environment, local communities and visitors. Developing volunteer skills, environmental education activities, and establishing community hubs where local people can learn how to get involved, will all contribute to the sustainability of the project, both now and in the future.

The newly installed raised beds at Lochend Community Garden.

Growing opportunities in Easterhouse Claire Quinn, Heritage Volunteering Officer for the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, is busy organising plenty of opportunities for both local people and visitors to the park to get involved in this exciting project. The Seven Lochs Wetland Park is at the start of the delivery phase of a £6.8 million Heritage Lottery funded project to create Scotland’s largest urban wetland park. The park encompasses a number of nature reserves, a country park and one of Glasgow’s oldest buildings.

Claire has been working with Lochend Community Garden, Easterhouse, since summer 2016 to transform a patch of derelict land into a community growing space. Lochend Community Garden leased the land from Glasgow City Council for 15 years in 2013 but due to lack of funding hadn’t been able to make progress until Seven Lochs Wetland Park, in partnership with Glasgow City Council’s Stalled Spaces Programme, was able to offer financial and

project management support.

The garden will be a resource for the local community and will offer the opportunity for the neighbouring primary school and nursery to teach their pupils about food growing and cultivation.

For further information, contact Emma at e.straughan@tcv.org.uk or 01786 479697 or 07767 112089.

Claire has coordinated the landscaping of the site, construction of paths, raised beds and disabled access, installation of new fencing and the planting of 100 trees.

Many people have mucked in over the course of the project to help create the garden, from local young people to volunteers, and corporate groups to community payback teams. There is still work to be done in the garden but Spring 2017 sees the start of food growing in the raised beds!

Developing Natural Connections

For further information, contact Claire at claire.quinn@glasgow.gov.uk or 07813 597179. lee simpson

Youngsters getting creative in Faifley with TCV’s Rebecca Strofton, who is running the Community Rewilding project.

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Community engagement and volunteering opportunities are at the heart of a new partnership between TCV and Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire (EPIC), launched in March 2017. The partnership seeks to raise awareness of the distinctive landscape features and biodiversity around the Ochil Hillfoot villages, and promote the need to safeguard this valuable cultural and natural heritage.

Auchengillan Outdoor Centre, a little north of Glasgow, is the location of a new project bringing together TCV and the Glasgow Disabled Scouts (GDS).

Natural Connections is focussed on discovering and sharing the scouts’ cultural and natural heritage, particularly at Auchengillan, which has long been a centre of scout activities. The main aspect of the project will be the creation of an all-abilities path which will display the disabled scouts’ history through information panels and allow them to explore the site’s wilder areas. The project is being run by Claire Bailly, Senior Project Officer, who says: “As the scouts are the main ‘actors’ of the project they will be invited to build a pond dipping platform and a wildlife hide, along with TCV volunteers. The project will culminate in a major opening event during which GDS will display their achievements and share their interest in wildlife to the wider public.”

For further information, contact Claire at c.bailly@tcv.org.uk or 07970 860943.

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photos: ULLIE WENZEL

Improvements in Inverness

Laura Davidson, co-editor of the Culloden and Smithton Juggernaut, with copies of the first edition hot off the presses.

Things are on the up for two communities in Inverness, as explained by Ullie Wenzel, TCV Community Engagement Officer.

Local residents of all ages came out to plant 10,000 snowdrops along the Gruffalo Walk.

A lot has been achieved over the past year through the Culloden and Smithton Local People Programme, funded through the People’s Health Trust. We formed the ‘Culloden and Smithton Local People Group’ for residents to decide how to use the programme’s Community Fund to address local priorities. This has developed into a lovely group of locals all wishing to improve their community.

Culloden Avenue which links the two communities. This is otherwise known as Gruffalo Walk as it has a number of wood carvings, including a Gruffalo! And bus trips have been organised to locations such as Edinburgh Zoo for families who otherwise would be unable to make such visits.

Due to the perceived lack of news sharing within the area, we started our own community newsletter, the Culloden and Smithton Juggernaut, which is delivered by local volunteers free of charge to all households within both communities. We held a very popular Christmas event with stalls and activities which attracted over 300 people. Litter picks with schools and community members have been organised, as have snowdrop planting days along

A new group, Preserve and Revamp Culloden Smithton (PARCS), has been formed to improve local greenspaces, host events and help bring local groups and residents together. There is a real drive within the area to start working together more, and the residents are beginning to really pick up on this. It‘s a joy to witness these developments and play an active part in the area, both as a project officer and local resident.

Making Space to Grow People in Maryhill, Glasgow, now have the chance to grow their own food following the creation of a new allotment site beside a local tower block. Developing the site was the main aim of David Payne, Senior Project Officer for TCV’s Space to Grow project. For 10 months David (left, in red) helped develop schemes for residents in and around the Wyndford Estate to grow their own food, and help combat climate change into the bargain. David’s main project was to create the 700m2 allotment site of 27 plots. The project took a big leap forward in late March with the delivery of 3,000 plants – a mix of fruit, vegetables and herbs. Local residents were soon busy planting these out in their new plots.

It’s estimated that over a ten year period the residents’ food growing will save approximately 76,000kg of CO2.

Space to Grow was developed with Cube Housing Association and funded by the Climate Challenge Fund. Fans of TV’s Still Game will recognise the flats (see page 8) as ‘Osprey Heights’, home to Scotland’s most popular pensioners – Jack and Victor. For the area’s real residents, the growing adventures have now begun.

Spring 2017

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Making urban greenspace count – join our mini Bioblitz events TCV Scotland Head Office 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG T 01786 479697 F 01786 465359 E scotland@tcv.org.uk

The Network Bulletin is produced three times annually and contains news and features on Community Network member groups, plus TCV Scotland projects, programmes and volunteers.

Follow us online8 vimeo.com/ conservationvolunteers

twitter.com/tcvscotland #JoinInFeelGood

facebook.com/tcvscotland The Network Bulletin is published by TCV Scotland.

Views and opinions expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or of The Conservation Volunteers.

Editor Graham Burns E g.burns@tcv.org.uk T 0141 552 5294 ©The Conservation Volunteers 2017. Charity registered in Scotland SC039302, and England 261009. Green Gym is a Registered Trade Mark.

A series of free events is coming up over the next few months encouraging anyone to become a ‘citizen scientist’ – to help explore and record the wildlife found in some of our fantastic urban greenspaces. During each Bioblitz we’ll be looking out for all sorts of bugs and beasties, birds, lichens, plants and wildflowers.

We’ll keep a note of everything we find, which will help towards the ‘bigger picture’ of knowing what’s out there! And you can help!

Hogganfield Loch Local Nature Reserve Saturday 13 May, 10am – 3pm Organised with the Seven Lochs Wetland Park.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens Saturday 20 May, 10am – 4pm Organised as part of the Bicentenary celebrations at Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth Saturday 10 June, 10am – 4pm Organised with the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Knightswood Park, Glasgow Saturday 24 June tbc This event is part of TCV’s

Community Rewilding project in Glasgow and Clydebank.

So, come and join staff and volunteers from TCV and our partner organisations.

You don’t need previous experience, so it’s a great opportunity to build your own skills and confidence in wildlife identification and recording.

All ages are welcome, although children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

For further information or to book your place, please contact Amanda Malcolm at citizenscience-scotland@tcv. org.uk or 07917 460488.

www.environment.scotland.gov.uk The gateway to everything you need to know about Scotland’s environment.

c/o Highland Birchwoods Littleburn Road Munlochy Near Inverness IV8 8NN T 01463 811 967 E inverness@tcv.org.uk Unit M1 143 Charles Street Glasgow G21 2QA T 0141 552 5294 F 0141 552 0418 E glasgow@tcv.org.uk Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre Wood Street Grangemouth FK3 8LH T 01324 471600 F 01324 471600 E jupiter-nursery@tcv.org.uk St Joseph’s Academy Grassyards Road Kilmarnock KA3 7SL T 01563 544304 E scotland-education@tcv.org.uk The Granary 44 Mortonhall Gate Edinburgh EH16 6TJ T 0131 664 6170 F 0131 664 0583 E edinburgh@tcv.org.uk TCV UK Head Office Sedum House Mallard Way Doncaster DN4 8DB T 01302 388883 F 01302 311531 E information@tcv.org.uk

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[NetBul-Spring-17/GB/RB]

TCV Scotland’s community, health and environmental volunteering activities are supported by:

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