TCV Scotland Network Bulletin Autumn 2017

www.tcv.org.uk/scotland

netw rk bulletin Autumn 2017

for TCV Scotland’s community Network

It’s tree time See pages 2-3

Maria Fowler

most welcoming habitats for our other indigenous flora and fauna.

Community tree packs available:

For the third year running, TCV and OVO Energy are organising the I Dig Trees programme to encourage more tree community planting throughout the UK. I Dig Trees provides free trees for community groups and schools, so this is a tremendous opportunity for people of all ages to improve their local landscape and biodiversity. Throughout the coming tree planting season from November 2017 until early Spring 2018, we are aiming to plant over 150,000 trees!

We have over 2,700 FREE tree packs for distribution to community and school groups, with each pack having 50 bare root tree saplings – ready to plant! Groups can apply for up to a maximum of 19 packs (that’s 950 trees!), subject to availability.

Four different packs are available with varieties that best suit a particular growing environment, and all are recommended UK ‘native’ trees, such as oak, rowan and silver birch, as these generally provide the

Pack 1 – Parkland Pack 2 – Large garden Pack 3 – Small garden Pack 4 – Wildlife and shrubs

All packs come with 50 spiral tree guards and supporting canes to protect the trees in their early years from browsing wildlife.

The packs are delivered in special bags to keep the roots moist, and the trees can be kept for a week or so before planting. If you need to keep the trees for longer before planting, they can be removed from the bags and ‘heeled in’ to a suitable patch of ground.

How? Young saplings, also called whips, are usually planted in a slit or ‘L’ shaped notch in the ground, made with a spade. The sapling is placed in the gap so that the root collar is level with the soil surface. The root collar is where the roots join the main stem and is marked by a slight change in colour. The sapling may need a little shake in the gap to help spread the roots evenly.

The soil around the sapling is then gently firmed up with your sole to remove any air pockets, before adding a tree guard and cane, (or tree tube and stake for larger whips).

The I Dig Trees webpage (below) includes simple guides and short videos on planting, heeling in and caring for your trees.

How to get your trees To register your group for free tree packs, go to: www.tcv.org.uk/community/i-dig-trees

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Fruitful trees

Why plant trees?

Fruit trees can be a welcome addition to a community garden, school or greenspace – providing a tasty harvest for people and wildlife. Apple, pear, plum, cherry and damson trees can be grown individually, or why not create your very own orchard? As little as five fruit trees can constitute an orchard, so you may need less space than you think. Dozens of fruit trees are available, including many ‘heritage’ Scottish varieties with wonderful names such as Beauty of Moray, Lass O’Gowrie and Scotch Dumpling (all apples).

Trees are nature’s true multi-taskers – they provide a home for a myriad of living things from birds to lichens. Trees provide shade and shelter for both wild animals and farm livestock, and trees can alleviate flooding. In urban areas trees act as filters for noise and pollutants and soften the often hard edged environment – the concrete jungle. Trees provide timber for fuel, industry, construction, furniture making and crafts, and somewhere for youngsters to clamber! Even when dead, trees and fallen timber can provide an important micro-habitat for insects, birds, mammals, fungi, amphibians and reptiles. And trees can simply look great, providing a wealth of shapes, textures and changing colours throughout the year. What’s not to like about trees?

Fruit tree and orchard information, advice, and training: www.scottishfruittrees.com

Further tree planting information and resources:

Depending on the space available you can plant a single tree, small copse or your very own woodland!

Don’t let bare tree roots dry out!

After delivery keep the roots moist,

or heel them in until ready for planting.

A downside of tree guards is their

high visibility which may attract

the attention of vandals, so before you start planting trees consider whether your planned site may be prone to this or other hazards e.g. overly enthusiastic council mowers!

Small saplings don’t look very

impressive when first planted but

they do become established better in the longer term than large trees. The main advantage of planting large trees is to provide an immediate impact, for example if you have a tree planting ceremony with a dignitary or celebrity.

The planting season for bare root

stock is generally between late

Autumn and early Spring, when the trees are dormant (and not in leaf) and can be moved with less chance of damage. Cell or container grown trees come in a little plug of compost and soil which provides more latitude and can be planted throughout the year, but avoid planting any trees in extreme conditions eg when the ground is waterlogged or frozen.

Autumn 2017

Whatever their age or size, newly

planted trees will benefit from a good watering, especially if planted during a dry spell.

Trees will benefit from weeding

around their base in the first few years to remove other plants and grasses competing for nutrients.

Holly Blue/Charles J Sharp. Robin/Francis C Franklin

Things to consider when tree planting

• The Woodland Trust provides information on tree planting and free tree packs for schools and community groups: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk • The Tree Council promotes National Tree Week (late November/early December), and provides grants for schools and community groups to plant trees: www.treecouncil.org.uk • Native tree suppliers include British Hardwood Tree Nursery: www.britishhardwood.co.uk (Discount for Community Network members) • Other native tree suppliers are listed at: www.floralocale.org • Tree Planting and Aftercare This TCV handbook gives clear practical advice on choosing, planting and caring for young trees to ensure the success of planting schemes, from individual trees to new native woodlands. Detailed information is included on propagating trees from locally-collected seeds and cuttings, to produce planting stock of ‘local provenance’ which has special value in maintaining local variations in species.

Tree Planting and Aftercare is one of a series of TCV practical handbooks available online for a small subscription, with discounts for members of TCV’s Community Network. Details at www.conservationhandbooks.com

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David Walsh (centre front) with some of the programme trainees and supporters.

Gaining skills, getting fitter People gaining new skills and improving their fitness were the twin aims of a recent project in Plean, a few miles south of Stirling.

Between March and September this year, TCV in partnership with the Friends of Plean Country Park (opposite) and with grant funding sourced from Stirling Council, ran an Employability Programme and Green Gym. During this period a total of 23 unemployed people took part in the joint project – 12 trainees joining the Employability Programme, with 11 volunteers participating in the Green Gym. The project was led by David Walsh, TCV Senior Project Officer, who outlines what’s been achieved: Plean is a former mining village, and like many such communities hasn’t quite shaken off the legacy of the pits closing, so unemployment remains relatively high.

Our Employability Programme aimed to improve the job prospects of local people by teaching them practical conservation skills and enrolling them in a range of TCV training courses, plus relevant SQA* accredited units. The Green Gym aimed to provide participants with structured outdoor activities to improve their fitness and to reduce their social isolation. These goals were to be achieved by undertaking a wide range of tasks within Plean Country Park, an ideal outdoor learning environment on the village outskirts. And through their efforts, a further aim of the volunteers and trainees was to improve access to the park for local people and visitors alike.

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Feedback The response of everyonea taking part in both groups has been uniformly positive: Green Gym-er David said he enjoyed “being outdoors” and “meeting new people”. He felt that the Green Gym has given him greater confidence to access the outdoors and take part in more practical conservation activities. The other David enjoyed the path building plus the teamwork inherent in this big project. He would like to progress further and join one of TCVs midweek groups to take part in other larger projects.

Employability trainee Jackson enjoyed “getting involved in nature”. He feels more confident in accomplishing practical tasks, and working in the outdoors could be a possible career. He will take away many memories, especially of “feeling involved as a team”. Mandy appreciated the variety of tasks and challenges set out throughout the project. She now feels confident in her skills to work in practical conservation, and believes the course has been beneficial to her general wellbeing “both mental and physical”. Mandy especially enjoyed the drystone dyking and woodland management activities.

In conclusion, the trainees and volunteers have left their mark on the park. The variety and scale of the tasks undertaken has greatly improved the visitor experience within the park. The project participants have also improved their own skills including leadership, problem solving, tool use and much more. Through the employability programme, two individuals gained employment whilst others have progressed further in the job application

Spreading wildflower meadow seeds. process. The trainees have highlighted how they feel more positive and confident. And they commented that they’ve learned new skills, which some of them have started using outwith the project. Through the Green Gym, the volunteers have become more active and have been able to work as a team with like-minded individuals to complete large tasks. All of the project’s trainees and volunteers believe their employability has increased.

The project has been a great success. I would recommend schemes such as this as one way forward for other marginalised areas with high unemployment to help people gain skills, and to improve public access to local parks and greenspaces.

Tasks completed – at a glance Over the 6 month pro ject, the volunteers and traine es achieved a great deal: • Managed and thinn ed 4,000m2 of woodland • Cleared 850m2 of tre es for easier park access • Cleared 400m of dra ins • Painted 120m of fen cing • Erected 20m of new fencing • Created 3m of drysto ne walls • Established 50m of footpath • Prepared 357m2 of land for a new wildflower meadow • Maintained 700m of

• Installed 7 new sign

hedge

posts • Fenced off 11 fruit tre es *Scottish Qualifications Authority

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dAN TETSTALL

spotlight on TCV Community Network member

Fran (second left) and fellow Friends clearing ground of dock plants before planting with wildflowers.

Tucked on the edge of Plean village lies a hidden green gem – Plean Country Park. The park consists of approximately 200 acres of woodland and parkland surrounding the ruined 18th century Plean House. Prior to being taken over by Stirling Council, the estate had become neglected following the decline of the local mining industry. Today it has an abundance of flora and fauna which can be enjoyed by visitors using the network of paths for walking, cycling or horse riding. To help care for the park, the council has some helping hands from the Friends of Plean Country Park, as explained by Fran Barr, group Chairperson:

Very quickly after forming we built up a relationship with council officers and worked with Stirling Council and TGP Landscape Architects to develop a Conservation Management and Masterplan for the park. Since then we have worked with Stirling Council on a large number of projects suggested in the park plan and have contributed funding to many of those.

The Friends group is a voluntary organisation of park users interested in the future of the park. We were founded in 2010 and received charitable status in 2011. Our main aim is the advancement of environmental protection, with objectives being:

• Installation of a trim trail.

• To conserve, enhance and improve the landscape, biodiversity and sustainable use of the area for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund we are currently working towards the creation and installation of a heritage trail within the park.

• To represent the views of park users and the local community in partnership with the park’s owner, Stirling Council.

• To enable and encourage the local community and other park users to maximise their enjoyment of the park for leisure, recreational and educational purposes while encouraging them to take an interest in the upkeep and protection of the park.

• To work with other relevant bodies and groups to promote, encourage and secure the educational value of the area, and its historical, architectural, landscape and ecological qualities.

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Projects have included: • Installation of a new bridge and path to open up an area of the park to users.

• Planting of an orchard.

• Creation of a children’s play area.

• Creation of a shelter in a community space which groups/schools can use.

• Installation of new carvings to the park.

• More recently the installation of new signage throughout the park.

Working closely with the local Countryside Ranger, we have provided thousands of volunteer hours during our Countryside Action Days, undertaking practical tasks including vegetation clearance, ditch clearance, rhododendron removal, cleaning and painting of fixtures, rebuilding walls, repairing paths, planting fruit trees and bushes, and carrying out orchard maintenance. We have also partnered up with other organisations to host training events in the park, providing people with a chance to learn new skills such as dry stone dyking, hedge weaving, orchard maintenance, and path building and repair.

All of this activity helps liven up the park, and provides opportunities for park users to get involved in a place that they enjoy.

This year, grant funding from Stirling Council meant we could work with The Conservation Volunteers who ran a 6 month Employability Programme and Green Gym for the benefit of local unemployed people – see opposite.

The park has also benefitted with many maintenance tasks being carried out by the volunteers and participants.

We’ve been a member of TCV’s Community Network since 2011, accessing insurance for our volunteers. Through the Network we also enjoy the newsletters and in the past accessed the downloadable tool advice, which was very useful.

Over the years the Friends group has worked hard to raise the profile of Plean Country Park, creating much more interest in what is a great resource right on our doorstep. We have held many themed events in the park which give us an opportunity to raise funds to cover refreshments, lunches and insurance for our hard working volunteers, without whom we would not be able to do what we do. We want park users to enjoy the park whether it is for leisure, education, recreation or contemplation and would encourage them to take an interest in the protection and upkeep of the park.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Friends of Plean Country Park, please go to www.pleancountrypark.org.uk, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Banking on RBS volunteers During 2017, TCV and Royal Bank of Scotland have been celebrating 10 years of partnership, during which time an amazing 16,500 RBS employees have taken part in the TCV Team Challenge initiative, helping to transform over 120 community green spaces across the UK. Projects have included pond creation, laying pathways, coppicing woodlands, sowing wildflower meadows … the list keeps growing!

The Pencuik garden tree planters.

Given RBS’s origins and strong presence in Scotland, it’s no surprise the programme has been particularly active here, involving 5,280 Scottish employees, totalling 38,950 hours of volunteering! Team Challenge priorities in Scotland have included the development of community gardens to allow people in deprived areas to grow their own healthy food. Another key aim has been to build the infrastructure to allow people better access to local greenspaces, and to offer more opportunities for exercise within them. To this end, RBS teams have developed mountain bike trails at the Vat Run in South Queensferry, and created walking trails at sites including Polbeth & West Calder Community Garden, in West Lothian.

The 10th anniversary has been marked by special events held in London, and at Penicuik Lost Garden, near Edinburgh, which is a regular Team Challenge location. Within the impressive walls of the Lost Garden, volunteers from the RBS Sustainability Team planted 10 heritage apple trees, including traditional Scottish varieties – Clydeside, Hood’s Supreme, and Galloway Pippin. And the volunteers constructed wooden cages to protect the newly planted trees from nibbling deer. The tree planting is just one part of an ambitious plan in the Garden’s

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restoration, led by the Penicuik Community Development Trust – details at www.penicuikcdt.co.uk

“It has been amazing that we only have to suggest something and you have made it happen – your work makes an enormous difference to the massive Lost Garden project and makes it easier for us to keep going.“ Roma Robertson, Penicuik Lost Garden “At Royal Bank of Scotland, we’re very proud of our partnership with TCV… It’s a win win! Our colleagues love taking part in the team days and it’s making a big difference to our natural environment too.

Our 10th anniversary of partnership has been really special and planting the 10 heritage fruit trees at the Penicuik Lost

Garden was a fitting way to mark it. This is an amazing site – just at the start of a 50 year plan to restore a small part of our environmental history and we’re delighted to be part of TCV’s efforts here and throughout the country to create healthier and happier communities.”

Michael Duncan, Head of Giving Programmes, Sustainable Banking, RBS Debbie Adams, TCV Operations Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland (pictured in Green Gym T-shirt), said: “I’m delighted with the impact of our partnership work with RBS. We work closely with many community groups and we are pleased that through this partnership we can facilitate improvements to so many greenspaces across Scotland.

Facilitating the whole process of enabling enthusiastic RBS staff to support very local community groups is a really valuable role that TCV plays and one that I am immensely proud of. Jointly, we are making a huge difference to the environment and also to people’s lives – as participants and community representatives. We look forward to the next 10 years.”

The volunteering day at Penicuik Lost Garden concluded with the unveiling of a small plaque to commemorate the occasion. 2017 has been our biggest Team Challenge year yet with over 6,200 RBS employees taking part in community conservation projects throughout the UK. For further information about the programme in Scotland, please contact Niall Traynor, Senior Project Officer, niall.traynor@tcv.org.uk

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Glasgow – a National Park City?

By Dom Hall, TCV Operations Leader On 19th September, working with partners at The John Muir Trust and Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Trust, TCV was delighted to host two events which encouraged attendees to ‘Imagine a Greener Glasgow’.

In the afternoon, twenty partner organisations ranging from greenspace scotland and RSPB, through to local community group Friends of the River Kelvin, came together to discuss the scope for a shared, inspirational vision for the wonderful green places of Glasgow.

This was followed by a public event at the Glasgow Science Centre later that evening.

We were fortunate to have Scottish Natural Heritage’s new Chairman Dr Mike Cantlay attend the afternoon event and provide opening and closing comments.

Speakers celebrated some of the great work already happening in Scotland with presentations from the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, Glasgow City Council, SNH’s Green Infrastructure Team and Cumbernauld Living Landscape.

The main speaker at both events was Dan Raven-Ellison who for the last four years has been leading a campaign to make London a National Park City*.

Dan spoke inspiringly of how, just like our traditional National Parks, cities can also be great for wildlife, and great for outdoor recreation – so why not treat and view them in a similar way? London is 47% physically green, with 13,000 species of wildlife, 1000 plus kilometres of signposted footpaths and 142 Local Nature Reserves – there’s no doubt that similarly impressive (and surprising) figures would apply to Glasgow.

Of course National Park Cities would be something different to our traditional National Parks. They would not have the same role in planning and they would deal with a very different kind of environment. Yet they could be an exciting and inspiring way to bring together much of the great work being done for our urban green spaces, and to

Autumn 2017

address some of the gaps – to change the way we view, value and think about cities, to create more opportunities for wildlife and recreation, to engage more young people and families with the nature on their doorsteps and take more pride in the wonderful green places in and around our urban lives.

Remembering John

So, Dan challenged attendees – if, as the local slogan says, People Make Glasgow – why couldn’t people make Glasgow a National Park City? It’s an exciting and challenging idea. What would it really mean if Glasgow became a National Park City? What are the unique green places, wildlife havens or recreational opportunities the people of Glasgow would like to celebrate? Do we need a new ‘Green Glasgow’ campaign when there is already so much good work going on? What might be some of the downsides? Would it detract from or complement other projects happening already in Glasgow?

There remain a lot of questions to answer, but a few things we do know: • Glasgow has great pride in its city.

• There are a lot of people passionate about the city and its many wonderful green spaces.

• All attendees agreed that there could be more coordination between all the great work going on and this would be amplified far further if we can engage a wider audience in Glasgow’s huge potential as an outstanding Green City.

So let us know what you think. If you are interested to find out more,follow @GlasgowNP, #WildGlasgow and #NationalParkCity on Twitter, and keep your eye on TCV’s social media as we plan more events soon to find out what people think of the idea. *www.nationalparkcity.london Coming up: The National Park City initiative is one of the topics covered in the TCV Forum Exchange – ‘Engaging people with urban greenspace’ on 15 November, Townhead Village Hall, Glasgow. Details and booking for this free event are available at http://ow.ly/UVge30fNjXU

John Johnstone sharing his knowledge on a training course.

We were deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of former employee John Johnstone, who worked for TCV between 2011 and 2015. John came late to the conservation scene following redundancy from his long term job in a factory. Although John had spent most of his working life in industry, he was a keen gardener and so was well used to working in the outdoors.

John’s practical know-how and great knowledge of plants and growing was put to good use in leading many of our volunteer conservation groups.

John also worked on environmental training schemes with young people to improve their confidence, skills and job prospects. After leaving TCV, John’s love of cycling led him to volunteer with his local cycling hub in East Renfrewshire, before he gained employment as a support worker with social care charity Quarriers. We’ll remember John for his good natured, friendly personality, and someone always keen to help, and willing to share his knowledge and experience.

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spotlight on TCV Community Network member

SHARK Johnshaven Small but active

By Rebecca Chambers, Chairperson

Johnshaven

SHARK Johnshaven is a small environmental group based in the North East fishing village of Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire, with a population of approximately 660.

Established in 2006, the group aims to promote and protect the wildlife and habitats of our local area. We also aim to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle for the residents of Johnshaven, and in particular carry out and promote activities which reduce our village’s contribution to global warming. Though small we have a very active membership and are involved in various projects: 8

Garden waste composting

Beach cleans

We take some pride in having pioneered community-led composting schemes in Aberdeenshire. Our garden waste recycling project sees green waste from the village composted at our own compost site. The scheme is entirely volunteer operated with around 20 residents taking part in a rota which provides a fortnightly collection service of garden waste from 90 residential households within the village. Residents join our group as members and are then entitled to have a reusable garden waste bag collected from their kerbside. Since 2011 we have used our own tractor and trailer to do this, and we are continuing to make improvements to the composting site. Our tractor ‘Polly’ is used to turn the compost regularly, and once it is mature we sieve it and offer it back to members for use in their gardens. Through the kerbside collection scheme we divert approximately 13 tonnes of garden waste from landfill every year.

One of our regular activities are beach cleans to keep the foreshore North and South of the village free of litter and to protect wildlife. We carry out 3 beach cleans a year, and during each one we survey the rubbish collected as part of the Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch campaign.

Village clean-ups We’re always looking for ways to improve the environment of our village. Amongst these have been participation in Keep Scotland Beautiful activities (always popular), and we have also helped to keep the gorse at bay on the footpath following the old railway line North of the village.

The latest beach clean was held in September during which we collected an oil container, 1 bag of cement, 2 bikes, 3 plastic fish boxes and 10 bags of assorted rubbish. In the 12 years we’ve been doing this we’ve collected over 60,000 items of litter!

A living roof Living roofs are becoming more common as communities recognise the benefits they bring. We decided to create one for the container we use at the compost site as an illustration of what can be done and to improve the container’s appearance.

This was an ambition of ours for quite a long time before we finally managed to complete it in 2016. The method we used was to purchase a “Living Meadow” turf in rolls, used with some of our own compost, and placed on a wooden frame. More information about green roofs is available at www.livingroofs.org

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tom campbell

Plastic bag free Our hope is to make Johnshaven plastic bag free! Following on from the Scottish Government’s introduction of the charge for disposable plastic bags we wanted to build on this by focusing on the damage such bags cause in our environment. So we organised a competition for pupils at the local primary school to help in the design for a reusable jute bag, which was then distributed free of charge to village households.

Helping other places Our environmental efforts sometimes take us outwith the village. For example, we did some bracken bashing a few miles down the coast at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, one of the most diverse nature reserves in Britain. And we recently joined the Brighter Bervie group in neighbouring Inverbervie to help them clear a patch of the invasive non-native Himalayan Balsam before it gets out of control.

Tom Campbell, Chairperson of the Bervie group says: “I reckon we cleared over 90% of the flowering plants. Some were in the midst of prickly gorse which we didn’t manage to penetrate. So next year we’re planning a better prepared follow-up attack to eradicate the invaders.”

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The Inverbervie balsam bashers are barely visible amongst the forest of Himalayan balsam.

Funding We have benefitted from a number of grants to help support our activities and we also organise our own fundraising events.

Our Drop-in Cafes during the North East Open Studios event are always popular and help us raise funds.

Community Network Our group joined TCV’s Community Network in 2010, primarily to access the insurance scheme for our volunteers. The Network Bulletin is a useful publication which I read cover to cover, sometimes removing articles and thinking – we could do that!

Looking ahead Throughout our history we have tried whenever we can to introduce fresh ideas into our little community. Looking to the future, we intend to keep doing new and innovative things to benefit the village and its environment.

More information about our group is available on our Facebook page and website at: www.shark-johnshaven.btck.co.uk

TCV Conservation Handbooks now online!

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 clearly laid out in a step-by-step format.

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

The Handbooks are available for an annual subscription of just £12.50 plus VAT for access to the full range of titles, with over 800 pages of information and 2,000 illustrations.

Individual members of groups belonging to TCV’s Community Network qualify for a discount rate of £6.25 plus VAT. And, further discounts apply if a Community Network group wished access for more than 10 of its members.

For further details and to subscribe, go to: www.conservationhandbooks.com If you prefer, some of the Handbooks are still available in the printed version.

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By Kirsty Grant, Natural Talent Trainee

Pond dipping with scouts at the recent Auchengillan Jamboree (see page 11).

Inset: Pond mud snail Omphiscola glabra.

This year marked the beginning of a new Buglife Scotland project, ‘Marvellous Mud Snails’, working with a rare species, the Pond mud snail (Omphiscola glabra), currently found at only six sites in Scotland.

As a TCV Natural Talent trainee I have been working since mid April 2017 on the project, which has three main areas: a captive rearing and habitat creation programme; a citizen science project to raise public awareness and active learning in schools; and to reassess the current Pond mud snail population in Scotland.

Buglife is working with five local authorities and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to run the captive rearing programme which will create a healthier, more resilient population of this species of snail in Scotland. Its numbers have greatly declined in the last 25 years and it is often overlooked in conservation terms. The aim is that by the end of the programme, the current number of sites will have increased to at least 20, with citizen science and public engagement having also increased.

Central to this aspect will be the creation of new pond habitats across Scotland, with the help of local groups and volunteers.

Towards the end of the project, captive reared populations from local schools will be released into their new homes throughout Scotland.

I have been responsible for running the schools element, which involves making two visits to ten schools. The first visit includes an outdoor session of ponddipping at a local greenspace, and second

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time around I introduce the pupils to the tanks of snails they are now looking after, plus some creative activities and arts and crafts. Hopefully this part of the project will encourage the children to get excited about sharing a space with this soughtafter Scottish celebrity. I have also created an Education and Resource Pack for each school and published on the Buglife website as a teaching resource.

Another large part has been promoting the project and freshwater invertebrates in general at public events, including Wild Wednesdays with West Lothian Council, at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens and with North Lanarkshire Council on their Wildlife Explorer days. So far, with the schools and general public combined I have engaged with over 900 people, approximately halfway through the project. To reach a wide audience, I have been giving presentations at various universities about the work of Buglife and my own experiences of the Natural Talent programme, as well as running volunteer training days so the condition of the Pond mud snail, once released into new habitat, can be monitored and tracked.

One of the most exciting aspects of this traineeship has been the field-work covering the third element of the project; to reassess the population and find suitable release site habitat. I have so far visited 8 sites, some multiple times in search of the pond mud snail, mostly with a successful outcome. Some of the overgrown, marshy habitat is pretty wild, and it’s been great

During the summer I took a trip to Cumbria to meet with the Freshwater Habitats Trust team who are carrying out work of their own for the Pond mud snail. Linking with other organisations and broadening the range of work with this special species has been particularly rewarding.

In a similar way I have brought together samples of the snail from across the UK for a genetic study with our partners at RZSS. This is further to the six Scottish populations which are being collected for study and should provide a never seen before picture of the overall species health in the UK.

Kirsty during one of her school sessions.

Alongside work with Buglife, I have attended many TCV events and work days, as well as planning my own individual project for later in the year based on engaging young people with drama and the outdoors. I have also been on some fantastic training courses that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go on. To say it’s been a busy time would be a slight understatement, and I can’t fully explain just how much fun it has been!

If you’d like to be involved with the project, or for further information, please contact me on 01786 447504, or email Kirsty.grant@buglife.org.uk.

The Natural Talent programme, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Trust, is run

by TCV and partner organisations to increase expertise across the UK to protect our less well known species and create awareness of the habitats that support them. The work of the programme’s trainees is covered at: http://blogs.tcv.org.uk/natural-talent and tinyurl.com/tcvtalent

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snail: PAUL BAKER

Marvellous Mud Snails!

fun learning to navigate the landscape and conduct a survey in outdoor conditions.

photos: Claire Bailly

Developing Natural Connections

The path builders.

A new 300 metre all-abilities path will soon allow members of Glasgow Disabled Scouts to enjoy the sensory experiences of a pond and woodland area at the Auchengillan Outdoor Centre near Milngavie, a little north of Glasgow. The upgrading of the original narrow, muddy path is the core aim of TCV’s Natural Connections programme.

It’s been a huge task and has involved moving and spreading many tonnes of path material to create a new, wider surface suitable for all users, including wheelchairs.

Short stretches of boardwalk have also been constructed over particularly muddy sections.

“I think we could add some bat boxes. The more wildlife the better, that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

Most of the path work has been carried out by TCV volunteers led by Claire Bailly, Senior Project Officer, who has been working on the Natural Connections Project since February 2017. During the summer, Claire had some extra help as Auchengillan played host to a 5 day international Jamboree which welcomed scouts from around the world. As part of their activitypacked schedule, some of the scouts

And in September, during TCV’s UKwide Big Green Weekend celebration of conservation, youngsters from the Pegasus Explorer Scout Group (Glasgow) and the 12th Glasgow Scout Group braved incessant rain one Sunday morning to carry on the path work. They also completed a dead hedge, dug over an area for sowing wildflower seeds, and planted native wetland plants in a boggy patch of ground.

– Michael, Scout worked on the path, whilst others took part in pond dipping, wildlife walks and nature crafts, and a must for all Jamborees – camp fire cooking! In all, almost 200 of the scouts developed some Natural Connections.

Scout Jamie listening to the sounds of the wood.

All in all the scouts did a fantastic job in some terrible conditions.

When completed, the sensory path will enable the Glasgow Disabled Scouts and others to better experience the woodland and wildflower habitat with its sights, sounds and scents. And, at the end of the path a new dipping platform will allow the scouts to discover what life inhabits Auchengillan’s large pond.

“The path is good…

There is more space for wheelchairs to go along.

I was surprised – in a good way.”

– Liam, Scout

Camp fire cooks – the bowl is empty so the popcorn must have been good!

Autumn 2017

Claire Bailly with young wildflower planters during the very wet Big Green Weekend.

The Auchengillan Natural Connections Project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

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ROSIE WALKER

Stirling volunteers Paul (left) and Stuart with their certificates of achievement.

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.

Inspiring Volunteers Two of TCV’s ‘regulars’ in Stirling have recently been recognised for their outstanding contribution to volunteering. Paul Wotherspoon and Stuart Munro both received certificates of achievement at the Inspiring Volunteer Awards 2017, run by Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise and Stirling Council. Paul and Stuart were accompanied at the Awards ceremony by Rosie

Walker, TCV Senior Project Officer, who says: “These were thoroughly deserved awards for Paul and Stuart’s five years of volunteering with our local conservation team – come rain or shine! And away from their volunteering awards, both have received success of a very different kind as members of the Forth Valley Team which competed at the recent Special Olympics in Sheffied. Stuart was part of the Gold Medal winning football team, whilst Paul won a Bronze Medal in athletics. Well done guys, we’re so proud of you!”

Membership matters Throughout the UK, thousands of community organisations, schools, Friends groups and voluntary associations are caring for and enhancing their local green spaces, wildlife habitats and wider environment. TCV supports this vital grassroots activity through the Community Network which provides a number of benefits for its member groups. Annual membership is just £38, which gives access to: • Discounted public liability and personal accident insurance, which is essential for groups carrying out practical tasks.

• A range of specially negotiated discounts from TCV’s suppliers of tools, trees, seeds, and equipment.

• Funding Support – TCV can help groups find funding through GRANTfinder or the Chestnut Fund.

• Discounted access to our online conservation handbooks – the definitive guides to managing the countryside and green spaces.

• Support and guidance covering a range of topics – from Health and Safety to planting a wildflower meadow.

• Optional free listing of your group’s contact details and web address on TCV’s website.

• A website template and support to set up your own website to promote your group.

• The Community Hub, which allows you to keep a membership database, record details of your work and the sites you improve, email your members, and create reports to celebrate achievements.

All this information is available through a newly created website, exclusive to Community Network members, providing them with the support they need in one, easy to access place. And further information and resources will be added to the website in the months ahead.

If you’re group is not already a member, sign-up to the Community Network at www.tcv.org.uk/community

TCV Scotland Head Office 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG T 01786 479697 E scotland@tcv.org.uk 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 E glasgow@tcv.org.uk Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre Wood Street Grangemouth FK3 8LH T 01324 471600 E a.hamilton@tcv.org.uk St Joseph’s Academy Grassyards Road Kilmarnock KA3 7SL T 01563 544304 E j.grant@tcv.org.uk The Granary 44 Mortonhall Gate Edinburgh EH16 6TJ T 0131 664 6170 E edinburgh@tcv.org.uk TCV UK Head Office Sedum House Mallard Way Doncaster DN4 8DB T 01302 388883 E information@tcv.org.uk

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[NetBul-Autumn-17/GB/RB]

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

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