TCV Scotland Network Bulletin Summer 2019

www.tcv.org.uk/scotland

netw rk bulletin

for TCV Scotland’s community Network

Michael Gäbler/wikiedia commons

Summer 2019

Inside Glasgow HogWatch Project

Community network member curtis welsh

Heritage leaflet launch at Carolside

The trail blazing Earlston Paths Group For almost 15 years a dedicated group of volunteers has been developing a network of pathways in their patch of the Scottish Borders – for the benefit of locals and visitors alike.

In 2005, the fledgling Earlston Paths Group was hatched by two local residents – Ian Gibb and Jack Jones. Ian is Group Secretary whilst Jack was Chairman from 2005 until 2015. Like many good ideas the idea emerged over a couple of beers in a local pub, the Black Bull Inn, now the regular location for the group’s meetings.

Earlston nestles below the Black Hill in a broad river valley beside the Leader Water which runs south to join the River Tweed at Leaderfoot. Part of the Southern Upland Way, one of Scotland’s Great Trails, runs along the hills to the west of the village.

At the outset, Ian said: “We are not a walking group. In fact, apart from initial survey work on the routes around our community, our volunteers have never collectively walked our local footpaths!

Although we live in a beautiful rural area of the Scottish Borders, back in 2005 we recognised that local walking routes around Earlston and Redpath villages were limited.

It was the usual story – the few existing footpaths were overgrown and very few were signposted.

A small nucleus of interested residents got together and conducted a community consultation exercise on outdoor access.

It took almost six months to carry out the survey, review the results, set out

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the group’s aims and objectives, confirm land ownership and draw up an action plan. Earlston Paths Group was formally constituted on 5th June 2005 as a notfor-profit voluntary organisation. It was a drawn-out process for people who really just wanted to get on with the job, but it proved to be time well spent as the evidence gathered from the consultation and the fact that we were a formally constituted group helped secure funding for future projects.”

In 2006, the group approached local landowners with ideas, based on the community consultation, to improve and open-up two footpaths in Earlston. The plans were well received, external funding support was secured, and contractors undertook essential groundworks, whilst volunteers took on other work. The two footpaths, Mill Meadow and Speedy’s Path, proved to be a big hit with the community and remain the most heavily used footpaths in the area. Having cut their teeth on these projects and exited a steep learning curve relatively unscathed, another footpath, Millbank, was constructed in 2007 following the same process.

Land reform legislation introduced in Scotland in 2003 gave everyone statutory access rights to most land, provided this was exercised responsibly. The Earlston Paths Group’s challenge, having openedup the three obvious walking routes in the immediate area, was to develop new footpaths in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Working closely with the Scottish Borders Council Access Team, ‘core paths’ and other routes in the area were signposted, and as a result another

three waymarked footpaths gave access to the Southern Upland Way and provided a link to nearby Melrose.

Recognising the value in a footpath which followed the river south to Leaderfoot, the group planned a 3.25 mile country walk.

The by now, well established process for landowner permission and grant funding followed, and with a lot of sweat and toil the Leader Water Path opened in 2010 and became an immediate favourite with local walkers, people from the surrounding area and visitors to the Scottish Borders.

In 2011, the group published a booklet containing maps and information about the footpaths, a town trail and other items of local interest. The revenue from these helps fund the ongoing maintenance of the path network. In that same year, the group was recognised within the community when they were presented with the “Earlston Citizen of the Year Award”.

Having established a linear walk to Leaderfoot from Earlston, the next obvious step was to construct a return path on the opposite bank of the river.

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Walkers enjoying one of the Earlston paths.

Volunteers take a break from shifting gravel.

The planning and funding process for The Diamond Jubilee Path started in 2011 and groundworks carried on throughout 2012.

The new footpath was formally opened by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the area in March 2013.

supplemented by other helpers from within the community, deserve a great deal of praise as they stuck resolutely to the task and saw every element of the plan through to a successful conclusion.”

In 2015, the group received another award, “Community Paths Group of the Year”, from Scottish walking charity Paths for All at a ceremony in the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh. And towards the end of that year the group produced a 2016 desk-top calendar to mark their 10th anniversary.

On a general note Ian says: “Path promotion plays an important part in encouraging people out into the countryside. The health benefits derived from walking are widely recognised and we have tried to make the routes interesting and varied enough to get people of all ages to walk and explore. We also feel that we can make a contribution to the local economy by attracting visitors into the area.”

In 2017 the group embarked on a project which would include surface improvements on the Diamond Jubilee Path, a visitor information panel at the Leaderfoot viewpoint highlighting walking routes and local attractions, a panel and leaflet about the historic bridges at Leaderfoot, interpretive wildlife panels along the Leader Water and a Heritage Leaflet for Earlston and Redpath. Ian says: “This was a big project. We knew it was going to be challenging but didn’t realise that it would not be completed until May 2019. Our dedicated band of volunteers,

Summer 2019

Getting involved The group’s work team is usually out on Monday/Tuesday every week – weather dependent. Lots of jobs might only be “two man” but for major projects or jobs needing extra hands, word goes out locally and additional support materialises, eg Jog Earlston have over the past few years always stepped in to lend a hand as they benefit from the footpaths. However, community support is not only about people who can do physical work, as Ian comments: “Just recently I was handed a cheque for £50 from the local church Women’s Group in recognition of the work we do. I suspect many of these ladies never walk our footpaths but nevertheless recognise the value our work brings to the wider community.”

Group Secretary Ian Gibb by the visitor panel at Leaderfoot Viaduct.

Drainage repairs.

TCV Earlston Paths Group are longstanding members of TCV’s Community Network.

Ian says: “The thing we value most about the Network is membership access to insurance. We have been asked about this on numerous occasions by other groups/people thinking about setting up groups and indeed already established organisations. And, in the past we have also looked at the Network for funding information.”

In conclusion Ian Gibb sums up the past 15 years: “We have been very successful but also very fortunate to have tremendous co-operation and support from landowners and land managers in the area. The local community and businesses, Community Council, Scottish Borders Council and numerous other “behind the scenes” supporters have all contributed to that success, and not forgetting the funding bodies who supported our projects.”

For the foreseeable future the group is fully committed to maintaining the existing footpath network, happily cutting grass and clearing drainage ditches etc. When asked if they would do another big project, Ian replied: “Probably not, but never say never as inspiration can strike at any moment in the Black Bull Inn!”

F Earlston Paths Group T @Earlstonpaths W www.earlstonpathsgroup.co.uk

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Permaculture: Designs for life

By Camilo Brokaw, TCV Senior Project Officer. www.outstandinglessons.org

Permaculture principles

Working with nature for the benefit of both people and the environment is key to TCV’s mission and interestingly this is also the central ethic of permaculture. The word permaculture was coined and developed by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison in 1978.

Inspired by traditional forest gardening systems in the tropics and the “do nothing farming” of Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, they and many like them looked for a better alternative as farming became increasingly industrialised.

In the time since permaculture was first proposed as a more ‘permanent’ agriculture, we have learned how quickly modern agriculture can deplete our soils, damage our water systems, and deplete the nutrients from our food. Also during this time, the core ideas of permaculture evolved, and the principles have now been applied to a much wider range of problems.

Now, permaculture is understood instead as ‘permanent culture’ or more to the point, a culture that can provide and adapt for generations, not just years.

It’s easy to misunderstand permaculture as being about a particular technique, or even a set of techniques. But in fact, it’s larger and less specific, more like a code to guide our thinking. Permaculture values taking care of the Earth and people, and then sharing the bounty. These values have been developed into several guiding principles which help one use permaculture, but the core idea can be applied to almost any situation in any environment.

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Perhaps the most fundamental principle is observation. Permaculture recognizes that most damage is done unintentionally because we don’t fully understand the situation or what we are changing. This is also probably the hardest principle to make compatible with the pressures of modern life. We all feel pressed for time, but permaculture asks us to slow down and observe before we act. It’s like the old adage ‘measure twice, cut once’ but applied everywhere. For example, when developing a garden with permaculture, the goal is to observe the space for an entire year before planting or changing anything. This way we see how water, plants, the sun, and wildlife change throughout the seasons. This may be too long for some of us, but it remains a helpful goal for how much you should try to learn about an area before changing it.

Permaculture seeks to minimise the work we do unnecessarily. We take time so we don’t have to try to fix mistakes later. We also see the value of the help nature gives us, and we’re willing to share to enjoy it.

For example, when we spray insecticide in the garden, we kill the insects that eat the pests and pollinate our plants. Every plant and animal in an ecosystem serve many functions, and when we remove them, we create more work for ourselves while putting the stability of the entire system in danger.

One of the easiest ways to apply permaculture to our lives is just to look at all the things we spend time or money on. We can observe ourselves and our habits and see where we are doing things that don’t

improve the quality of our lives or of the natural world around us. Usually when we learn a new skill or form a new connection in our community this improves our lives, sometimes indefinitely. We are tempted to throw resources or money at a problem for convenience rather than learning a skill ourselves or working with someone around us. This cuts ourselves off from a source of joy in the long term. For example, when we form a carpool with neighbours or friends, we spend less, protect the environment, and spend more time with others. When we learn to cook, we can more easily share healthy, non-wasteful meals with others.

There are so many things we can do to take care of people, including ourselves, and the Earth and the benefits are shared by everyone.

Those of us with permaculture experience at TCV are working to bring even more of these principles to our projects. From designing full forest gardens that model nature while providing food, to designing ponds that fill and hold water naturally based on an understanding of contours and soil, permaculture takes the great work we are already doing and makes it better. Permaculture principles and practice can be used by groups and organisations belonging to the Community Network in a variety of situations – allotments, community gardens and spaces, conservation areas, educational establishments, and waste ground. Anyone can work to minimise their waste (or see it as a resource) and design with nature to maximise the positive impact of their projects.

Camilo and fellow Senior Project Officer Lauren Lochrie recently ran ‘A Taste of Permaculture’ workshop in Glasgow, which they hope to repeat in the not-too-distant future.

If you are interested in learning more about permaculture, there are many local resources available. The Scottish Permaculture Association offers introductory courses, as well as full design courses and a diploma.

Visit their website for information on courses, events, and discover the many ScotLAND Centres (Learning, Activity, Network & Demonstration) – permaculture sites you can visit around the country. www.scotland.permaculture.org.uk

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Glasgow HogWatch: Saving Scotland’s Hedgehogs Launched earlier this year, TCV’s Glasgow Hogwatch project is the first of its kind in Scotland. Funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, the project aims to map and monitor hedgehog populations across Scotland, improve their habitats, and engage with people throughout the country to help this endearing mammal. The project will run until June 2020 and is being overseen by TCV Senior Project Officer Kirsty Crawford. Here, Kirsty outlines how people can get involved: Glasgow Hogwatch is a species focused conservation project seeking the help of volunteers, community groups, schools and residents to report hedgehog sightings, take part in nocturnal wildlife surveys, and help make small changes in the community to benefit hedgehogs.

Kirsty Crawford with spiky friend during a visit to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue.

European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) numbers have been gradually declining for almost 60 years. Exact numbers are difficult to pin down, but research estimates just one million hedgehogs are left in the UK, an alarming 97% drop from the 30 million or so that once roamed in the 1950’s. The main reasons for this decline are the severe loss of hedgerow habitat in the countryside and increased urbanisation. More gardens are being turned into decked patio areas, being fenced off or paved over, and more new roads fragment the hedgehog habitat.

Hedgehogs travel around one mile each night through local gardens and parks to find enough food and search for a mate.

If you have a fully enclosed garden you might be getting in the way of their plans, and possibly even preventing love from blossoming!

Inspired by many successful projects in England, Glasgow HogWatch aims to find out more about Scotland’s hedgehogs, information which is currently limited.

The project relies on people power and citizen science activities to help spread the message and record data. There are three main elements to the project, and many ways in which you can get involved.

1 Surveys and conservation activities 2 Spreading awareness, public events and training 3 How you can help Despite the project’s name and some of the surveys being held in the Glasgow area, this is a Scotland-wide project which needs support from all areas.

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In recent years the hedgehog has topped the polls as Britain’s favourite mammal.

It is largely a creature of lowland areas and habitats – farmland, woodland edges, hedgerows, and increasingly urban gardens, parks and cemeteries. The hedgehog’s average lifespan is 2-3 years and it is our only mammal with spines – about 7000 of them! It is mainly nocturnal and feeds on many things including insects, berries, amphibians, worms, and slugs – so is known as the gardener’s best friend. Its name comes from the fact that it frequents hedgerows, so ‘hedge’, and ‘hog’ comes from its pig-like grunting noise. It has also been called urchin, hedgepig and furze-pig!

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KIRSTY CRAWFORD

The survey group at Pollok Country Park.

• Date • Location: postcode and address or grid reference • Status: alive/dead/roadkill Email your sighting details to kirsty.crawford@tcv.org.uk

Surveys and conservation activities

Spreading awareness, public events and training

Nocturnal surveys are taking place in two key areas in Glasgow where teams of volunteers, under licence, have been searching by powerful torchlight for any hedgehogs. Any hedgehogs found will be tagged and vital data recorded such as sex and weight. The surveys will be repeated in the same locations in 2020.

In the meantime, in other key areas we will implement practical conservation changes to make the areas more suitable for hedgehogs. This includes planting and connecting-up areas of hedgerow, installing hedgehog homes, and managing parks more thoughtfully for hedgehogs.

We are hosting many public events and training courses. Upcoming events include:

Recording sightings We are asking for hedgehog sightings from across Scotland. You may have one visiting your garden at night, or unfortunately spotted one dead at the side of the road.

Whatever the case, please do get in touch, and a photo is always welcome.

• Hedgehogs in Care and in the Wild Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, Beith – Sunday 28 July (£10 for Hessilhead members, £20 for non-members) • Create your own Hedgehog Home Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth – Wednesday 14 August (Free) • Hedgehogs in Care and in the Wild Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue, Beith – Saturday 24 August (£10 for Hessilhead members, £20 for non-members) • Hedgehog surveys September 2019 – dates and details to be confirmed.

Schools: We are currently carrying out footprint tunnel surveys in school grounds in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. If you are a teacher and would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you.

Contact kirsty.crawford@tcv.org.uk HogHoles

Full details will be available on TCV Scotland’s Facebook page or on Twitter @TCVCitSci

How you can help Submit a sighting When did you last see a hedgehog in Scotland? Hedgehog sightings are vital to the HogWatch project. It is important to track hedgehog populations and pass the information on to the relevant national databases so we can create an accurate picture of hedgehog health in the UK. If you have recently seen a hedgehog or have one visit your garden, please send us three simple pieces of information:

A small mammal footprint tunnel for monitoring hedgehog traffic.

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If you think you have, or are curious to find out, if hedgehogs are using your garden we have a loan scheme where you can borrow the small mammal footprint tunnels and all the equipment you need to carry out a footprint survey. Using safe ink and by baiting with a small piece of food you can see if any hogs are leaving prints in your garden. We can provide you with footprint guides to help you identify any prints found, whether of hedgehogs or other garden visitors. If you are able to pick these up from the TCV office in Royston, Glasgow for a one week loan, please do get in touch.

sean hill

We currently have four primary schools in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire taking part in footprint surveys in their grounds.

Each class involved is working towards their school becoming hedgehog friendly.

They are creating action plans to make small changes within the school grounds and raising awareness by creating posters for their local neighbourhood, plus presentations for their school assembly.

• Create your own Hedgehog Home Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Grangemouth – Wednesday 17 July (Free)

Volunteer Individuals: Get in touch to sign-up for our September 2019 hedgehog surveys in the Glasgow area – dates and locations are to be confirmed. You will receive full training and support, learn about hedgehog behaviour and ecology, and how to safely carry out our torchlight surveys.

Research has concluded that one of the main reasons why hedgehogs are declining in Britain is because our fences and walls are becoming increasingly impenetrable, reducing the amount of land accessible to them. One of the easiest ways you can help is by making sure hedgehogs can pass freely through your garden by creating a hole in your wall or fence. Around 13x13cm is the perfect size – big enough for hedgehogs but too small for most pets.

Encourage your neighbours to do the same and help create hedgehog highways through your community and across town.

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Rob Bowker

Rescue sick or injured hedgehogs Hedgehogs are nocturnal, generally feeding from dusk to dawn, and sleeping during the day. If a hedgehog is out and about during daytime, especially if it’s staggering around, there may be something wrong. If you suspect a hedgehog to be ill or injured it’s best to put it somewhere secure such as a cardboard box lined with newspaper or a small towel, provide a bowl of shallow water, and call the Scottish SPCA or a wildlife rescue centre such as Hessilhead in Ayrshire for advice. When picking up a hedgehog, a thick pair of gardening gloves may be handy!

Scottish SPCA animal helpline – 03000 999 999 Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue – 01505 502415 Hedgehog friendly gardens Hedgehogs aren’t particularly fussy and can thrive in the less tidy or messy parts of the garden. Once you have connected-up your garden with a ‘Hedgehog Hole’ there are some other simple changes which you could make. Here are some key features which can help your local hogs:

Hedgehog homes: Whilst semi-natural features such as those listed above are much better nesting options for hedgehogs, they can and do use specially made hibernation homes, or ‘hibernacula’.

These can be bought from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and RSPB, or better still – why not make your own?

They can be created using untreated wood, plastic boxes and other materials.

Guidance is found on the Hedgehog Street website, an example shown below left.

Ponds: This hedgehog-friendly feature is often overlooked but every garden should have one! Hedgehogs will benefit from having a year-round water supply, and they will thrive on the added insects and amphibians that the pond will attract.

Hedgehogs are excellent swimmers but be sure to include a gently sloping edge in your pond for them to escape and prevent them from drowning.

Many more fantastic ideas and hedgehog advice can be found at www.hedgehogstreet.org

Rob Bowker

steve kidgell

Food and water: With more hedgehogs now relying on our gardens, the first step could be to leave out food and water each night to encourage any new neighbourhood hogs, or look out for ones who are already passing through. Wet or dry cat or dog food is absolutely fine for hedgehogs, and you can also buy specific hedgehog food from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, RSPB and many pet shops and garden centres. Don’t put out milk as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and also avoid leaving out bread which is low in energy.

Log and leaf piles: This is one of the best garden features for wildlife, especially hedgehogs, plus it’s easy to create. Log piles provide a safe, secure site for breeding or hibernating and offer a year-round food supply for hedgehogs, particularly insects which love dead wood.

Collect any old dead wood from your garden and pile it up in a quiet corner – the bigger, the better. Not only can leaf piles be used as a potential nesting site but they can also be used for bedding material for any other nest sites or hedgehog boxes in the surrounding area. Please be careful when tidying leaf piles as there may be a hog in residence!

Please show your support for the Glasgow HogWatch project by following our updates on Facebook @TCV Scotland and on Twitter – @TCVCitSci. We regularly update our events and any hedgehog sightings.

Please get in touch if you’ve spotted a hog in the last few months.

Summer 2019

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CTSI Awards – we won!

until it was recommended by my local centre so I thought I would give it a bash and I have liked it ever since.”

CTSI

What activities have you been involved in, and any favourites?

“I like it all – planting wildflowers, snowdrops, gardening and weeding. I also like the walks – I had never been up Alva Glen before.”

Have you learned anything new whilst volunteering with TCV? “I’m learning new stuff every time I go out with the group. Before last week I had never heard of a yew tree – now I know there is a yew tree in Perthshire that might be 5,000 years old, the oldest tree in Scotland.”

Proud recipients of the Community Impact Award, from left to right: Dennis Toon (EPIC Chair), Garry Aitkenhead (EPIC/TCV Volunteer Officer) and Tim Lewis (TCV Operations Leader).

Local hero Brian Garry aitkenhead

Creating Community Impact EPIC (Enabling Projects in Clackmannanshire) and TCV scooped the ‘Community Impact Award’ in the Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) Awards announced in early June.

The Awards celebrate the achievements of staff and volunteers from across the voluntary sector in the ‘wee county’ – Clackmannanshire.

The ‘Community Impact Award’ was given in recognition of EPIC/TCV’s partnership which is enhancing the local environment whilst benefitting the health and prospects of the volunteers involved in groups like the EPIC Green Gym. Josh Thornhill, Senior Project Officer, says: “The EPIC Green Gym is accessible to everyone, aiming to provide an environment which is free from barriers.

We are working to engage with volunteers across a broad spectrum of backgrounds, ages and abilities to offer anyone an opportunity to take part. The Green Gym works on sites across Clackmannanshire, accessing the local environment and heritage with the sessions split equally between conservation tasks and exploring local heritage.

The Green Gym supports the local community to enable them to achieve their long-term goals. In doing this, the group can introduce and signpost volunteers to other opportunities and interests in the area. By working across a spectrum of activities, the volunteers are able to explore and develop their skills and passions.”

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Do you hope your volunteering will lead to anything?

“I’m just taking it as it comes!”

Brian Douglas with his well-deserved Newcomer of the Year Award.

One of the EPIC volunteers, Brian Douglas, won the CTSI ‘Newcomer of the Year Award’ for his volunteering with the group. Josh Thornhill says: “Brian has been working with the EPIC Green Gym since October 2018. He has become a core member of the group, the first to get stuck into new tasks with an infectious sense of humour. During his time with us, Brian has planted wildflowers and his first tree, maintained paths, removed invasive species and explored the glens throughout Clackmannanshire.”

Here, Brian answers a few questions about his volunteering: Why do you choose to volunteer and why EPIC? “I like working outdoors. I didnae ken anything about TCV and the EPIC project

Can you sum up your volunteering experience?

“It’s a good laugh, and I’m learning something new all the time.”

Josh adds: “Brian, like many other people involved with Green Gyms around the country, regularly walks to the shops and takes part in community activities.

However, he had lived within sight of Alva Glen his entire life without venturing the 2km to the large waterfall at the top end.

Brian has several medical conditions that pose potential barriers to participating outdoors. However, with larger gloves, suitable footwear, a bottle of Lucozade and the occasional supportive arm, Brian has achieved and shone throughout our time together. We look forward to the next year with him.”

If you would like to join the EPIC volunteers, details are available at: www.tcv.org.uk/scotland or contact josh.thornhill@tcv.org.uk

And congratulations … … to the Wimpy Park Community Group who won the CTSI ‘Fundraising & Sustainability Award’. The group, who recently joined TCV’s Community Network, are working to regenerate Wimpy Park, a green space within a walled garden situated within the Bowmar Estate in Alloa. Find out more about the group at: www.facebook. com/WimpyParkCommunityGroup

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Award winning garden

Video viewing

Congratulations to Community Network members The Friends of Pacitti Community Garden in Glasgow who were awarded both ‘Best Community Garden’ and ‘Overall Winner’ in the annual Evening Times Streets Ahead Awards, which celebrate the wonderful work being carried out in communities across the city. The Pacitti Community Garden is located in the Kinning Park area, just south of the River Clyde, and was started in 2012 by local residents and business owners who decided to turn a derelict dumping ground at the back of the Yellow Bird chip shop into an attractive community growing space. The garden is named after the late Mario Pacitti, original owner of the Yellow Bird and stalwart of the local community. More details of the garden are on Facebook at: Pacitti Community Garden@Kinning Park

Four diverse groups belonging to TCV’s Community Network are featured in short videos highlighting their activities to involve local people in conserving and developing local greenspaces, habitats and growing places. The fabulous four are: • Alva Glen Heritage Trust • Northern Corridor Community Volunteers • West Glasgow Green Gym • Polbeth & West Calder Community Garden

Pacitti Community Garden Also in the Streets Ahead Awards, TCV’s Glasgow Midweek Volunteers group were nominated in the Glasgow City Council Environmental Initiative category but lost out to the fantastic Urban Roots project in Toryglen. So, well done Urban Roots, and for our Glasgow team – there’s always next year!

Welly Boots Toddler Group A group of young tots have recently been enjoying the nature to be found in Falkirk’s Camelon district. The Welly Boots Toddlers Group is one of many activities organised as part of Camelon CAN (Camelon Action in Nature) – providing outdoor experiences for local residents of all ages.

Carolyn Dick, TCV Senior Project Officer, says: “The Welly Boots Toddler Group gets parents and wee ones out exploring the nature that surrounds their community. The outdoors is a great learning resource for this age group. We go out even if it’s wet – we like mud! We’ve delivered a range of activities including forest exploration and creating animal habitats. A favourite of the group was canal dipping during which the kids found lots of tadpoles and minibeasts.

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In their different ways each group is making a real difference to their communities and those taking part. The videos can be viewed at youtube.com/tcvfilms

Finding funding

We also go for wild walks through the trees, which helps the children improve their balance on the uneven forest ground.

Another favourite thing when we’re out and about is splashing in puddles – everyone loves to splash!”

Camelon toddlers having a splashing time.

The latest issue of TCV Scotland’s Funding Update lists the major sources of funding for community and environmental projects. The Update is available at www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/ communities/supporting-localprojects

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Community network member

Branching Out on the banks of the Clyde

By Calum Easton, Aspiring Communities Service Co-ordinator

parklea branching out

Parklea Branching Out (PBO) in Port Glasgow is situated on the banks of the River Clyde and covers approximately 3 acres of land. Within this setting our beautiful gardens have many significant and diverse benefits for all, which include connecting with nature, social interaction and learning new skills.

Parklea offers a therapeutic and horticultural environment for participants, volunteers and members of the public. We provide a range of services and therapeutic and creative workshops which involve training, supported employment and work experience which empower individuals to acquire new skills and increase their confidence.

With a supportive and inclusive environment at Parklea we believe that the natural environment coupled with horticulture and learning can help everyone regardless of their age or disability, and provide a wealth of opportunities such as: • recreation • socialisation • education • achievement • health and wellbeing • employment opportunities • recovery

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Parklea ‘regulars’ Davy and Cameron.

Most importantly we want everyone who comes to Parklea to enjoy the feeling of being in touch with nature which has a positive effect on our mental and physical health. We also learn so much from each other and gain new skills from the knowledge and experience of our dedicated Parklea staff and volunteer partners.

Our participants learn how to grow and care for plants, plant propagation, container and vegetable gardening, as well as herb gardening. Our garden is also used

to attract various species of birds, bees and butterflies with the ecological benefits they bring.

Local Community PBO also works with our local community and school groups to help improve the Parklea site and surrounding areas. In February and March of this year PBO, with support from TCV Leaders and volunteers, helped with lots of clearance work to develop our new Growing Together community food growing spaces, funded

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by the Climate Challenge Fund. TCV staff and volunteers from the local Coves Reservoir Green Gym also helped with lots of logging for our biomass boiler, plus moving and replanting fruit bushes to clear the area for the new growing spaces, ready for the growing season ahead.

Skills and Training PBO Community Options programme provides opportunities for local young people to improve their practical, social and academic skills to allow them to achieve goals including employment and further education. Funded by The Aspiring Communities Fund, which is supported by the European Social Fund and Scottish Government, a group of five young people were given the opportunity to work with TCV staff on the construction of the new community growing spaces whilst gaining a Dynamic Youth Award. The project enabled the young people to gain practical skills using a range of tools and equipment to build the raised beds. They were also involved in the planning of the space to make sure we provided the best possible area for all users to the site.

The enthusiastic Healthy Walks group. involving young people in learning about and creating new accessible paths within the Parklea site and gardens. We have now completed 2 path building projects working in partnership with Paths for All. A total of 12 young people have planned and built the paths within the PBO site to improve accessibility for all. Leading on from this partnership we are in the process of installing signage around the

environment as people get in the habit of walking rather than using cars for short journeys. These walks have proved very popular with our most recent walk having 17 participants. This is linked to funding from the Smarter Choices Smarter Places fund to encourage people to cut down on car journeys. As part of this we are working with our service users to create a userfriendly travel information card for getting to Parklea via walking, cycling, bus or train. We hope that by having people with additional support needs contribute to the creation of this document it will be truly accessible for all. This will promote more environmentally friendly travel and increase independence for those with additional support needs.

Education

Another big focus of Community Options is to help improve soft skills, so participating in this project contributed to the young people developing their team working, communication and confidence. The young people also learned about different methods to use the natural resources we have available to grow in the most environmentally friendly way possible. As pictured above, the raised beds are now up and running with a range of veg including spinach, broccoli and onions being grown.

The Community Options programme is also

Summer 2019

Parklea park and wider area. This will help local people and visitors to safely and confidently access the natural spaces that the Parklea and Kelburn Park areas within Port Glasgow have to offer.

Health In May, PBO launched our Health Walks, which are open to all. We recognise walking can provide a range of benefits including improved physical health, mental health and social inclusion. Encouraging people to walk more can also be beneficial to the

Development classes are regularly held to help participants improve their literacy using the John Muir Award scheme.

Over the summer months and working in partnership with our Community Learning and Development Adult Literacies, we will be running our third John Muir Award, which will include a variety of interesting and fun environmental-based activities within the Parklea gardens and park We will be exploring the local flora and fauna and planning for the creation of a wildlife pollinator garden within Parklea to attract our local wildlife. This is a popular programme at PBO and offers new learning experiences and an appreciation of our natural environment.

To find out more about Parklea Branching Out, please visit our website at: www.parkleaassociation.org.uk

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Free Community Network membership!

• Discounted insurance through Zurich Municipal • Access to the Grantfinder funding database and to the

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 youtube.com/tcvfilms

Long-standing Network members, Alva Glen Heritage Trust.

Chestnut Fund • Discounts from TCV suppliers of tools, trees, and forest school equipment • Mini handbooks to download free • Up-to-date resources including health and safety and risk assessments • Access to the Community Hub – an online tool to record volunteer records, task information, collate data and create reports • Quarterly UK newsletters – which offer information, news, updates and stories from members of the Community Network

• Discounted Practical Handbooks • Additional information and support to groups in Scotland

Unit 7C Henderson Road Longman Industrial Estate Inverness IV1 1SN T 01463 811 967 E inverness@tcv.org.uk

This offer is open to existing and new members, and has been made possible through the generous support provided by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Eligible groups include community organisations, Friends of groups, schools, wildlife groups, allotment and growing projects etc. Details of this great offer and an application form are available at: www.tcv.org.uk/communities

Unit M1 143 Charles Street Glasgow G21 2QA T 0141 552 5294 E glasgow@tcv.org.uk

ANDY BALLARD/PIXABAY

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.

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 9 West Gorgie Park Hutchinson Road Edinburgh EH14 1UT T 0131 664 6170 E edinburgh@tcv.org.uk

Editor Graham Burns E g.burns@tcv.org.uk ©The Conservation Volunteers 2019. Charity registered in Scotland SC039302, and England 261009. TM The Green Gym programme is registered and protected across the UK and the EU.

TCV Scotland Head Office 24 Allan Park Stirling FK8 2QG T 01786 479697 E scotland@tcv.org.uk

Scottish Badgers have asked us to put a call out to other Community Network members. If your group comes across badgers in your area and you want to know more about this unmistakable mammal, the Scottish Badgers website has lots of information regarding the study, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts and natural habitats.

Visit www.scottishbadgers.org.uk

TCV UK Head Office Sedum House Mallard Way Doncaster DN4 8DB T 01302 388883 E information@tcv.org.uk

[NetBul-Summer-19/GB/RB]

As part of TCV’s 60th anniversary celebrations during 2019 we are offering eligible groups a year’s free membership of the TCV Community Network, which encourages and supports community groups and organisations to enhance their local greenspaces. Community Network membership provides a number of benefits:

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

nature.scot

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