BTCV Edinburgh Diary

At least for us at BTCV anyway. We had an enjoyable last week of the year.

On Tuesday we went back to Hailesland Child and Family Centre where we had done some work earlier in the year. To finish our job there we had to erect a willow structure and make some steps to go next to the planters we had previously made. The willow structure went up in no time, but we took longer over digging out the area for the steps. We managed to dig out the area and built the structure for the steps. The steps have now been filled with wood chippings and the turf has been put back around them, so our task at Hailesland is complete. Well done to everyone involved. It looks fantastic.

On Wednesday we went out to Livingston to Riverside Primary School. Here we put up another couple of willow structures. We made an arbour around a seating area in the garden and also put in a tunnel heading towards the pond. We finished putting up the structures surprisingly quickly, and ate lots of mince pies and Christmas biscuits to finish the day.

Our final day of the year on Thursday was the "Surprise Christmas Project". We went to the Hermitage of Braid and worked with the rangers to edge some of their flower beds, scrape the paths, cut down and burn some elder trees and cut two tonne bags of holly for a wreath workshop on Saturday. We stopped working early to enjoy mulled wine and Christmas pudding around the fire before going home.

In the evening on Thursday we had our annual Christmas Quiz. We had a good turn out with people from Stirling and Inverness, as well as the Edinburgh rangers, joining us. Thank you to everyone who came, and congratulations to the winners; Charlie's Angels.

Posted by Gemma at 15:33 0 comments  

Labels: Hailesland Family Centre, Hermitage of Braid, Riverside Primary School

The 4th December was Kenny's last day as a Volunteer Officer with BTCV as he moves on to a new job with Napier University. Kenny has been a great VO, the office and tool store have never been better organised and his practical skills and knowledge will be missed. I would like to thank Kenny for all his hard work and wish him all the best in his new job.

As Kenny leaves us I would also like to welcome Anna as our new Volunteer Officer. Many of you will have met Anna as she has been volunteering with us for a few weeks now and I am glad to say that she has accepted the VO challenge and I look forward to working with her.

Posted by Chris Peach at 16:14 0 comments  

We spent the week of the 18th, 19th and 20th November working on behalf of the CEC Biodiversity Officer to manage and improve the woodland areas on the North Edinburgh Cyclepaths. This meant the removal of sycamore and ash, clearing ivy from walls and also checking whether the bird boxes we put up last year had been used over the past nesting season. Of the 19 bird boxes 11 had been used, 6 had not and 2 had been destroyed. Not a bad return.

I was away at BTCV Scotland's Staff Conference the week of the 25th, 26th and 27th so everyone had the week off to rest and recuperate.

The first week in December promised snowfalls of epic proportions but never quite delivered. On the 2nd we worked with Caroline from the CEC Countryside Rangers to clear pathways and fix fencing in Ravelston Woods. On the 3rd we went to Muiravonside Country Park to tackle more rhododendron, it was good to be joined by the Stirling volunteers so we could really crack on with it. On the 4th we were in Burdiehouse Burn LNR working with Jessica from the CEC Countryside Rangers to repair fences and clear litter.

Posted by Chris Peach at 15:52 0 comments  

Labels: Burdiehouse Burn, Muiravonside Country Park, North Edinburgh Cycle Paths, Ravelston Woods

For the last couple of weeks we have been working at Muiravonside Country Park out in West Lothian. It is a beautiful area, but unfortunately the rhododendron has grown a little out of hand. We were helping Ian the ranger to cut down some of the tree-sized shrubs, then carry them up to the fire site and burn them. We managed to demolish a huge area, leaving the ground open for regeneration of native plants, so we deserved our soup from the cafe at lunch time.

Recently we have also helped out at Blackford Pond, cutting back laurel from the paths and benches around the pond, and clearing mud from the paths. We have done some drain maintenance on the Pentlands on a bright clear and incredibly cold day, where we got amazing views of the highlands and Ben Lomond but had difficulty cutting through the ice on the paths. Another day we were lower down on the Pentlands, helping build picnic benches and compost bins at the Harlaw Visitor Centre.

This week we'll be out at the North Edinburgh Cycle Paths all week, cutting back some of the ash and sycamore trees there to allow regeneration of native species such as holly, and next week we will be having a week off.

Posted by Gemma at 11:03 0 comments  

Labels: Muiravonside Country Park, North Edinburgh Cycle Paths, Pentlands

Last week we made our first visit to Hopetoun House in South Queensferry. We helped Peter and Fiona, the rangers, to cut back rhododendrons that were starting to grow over the path, and then burned them in a very big fire. We were assisted by their buggy with a trailer, which meant we didn't have to drag the branches all the way over to the fire, but just pile them in the trailer and unload them at the other end.

When we arrived at the house, Peter told us about the history of the grounds. He added that the Hopetoun family don't live in the whole house any more, only in a small part of it. We asked which bit they live in so he told us it was from the steps up to the centre door as far as the south wing, on all 4 floors. Sounds like a big enough part of the house to me.

During the two days we spent at Hopetoun we saw a variety of wildlife, including sika deer in the field next door and buzzards flying overhead both lunch times. We also heard a tawny owl, but couldn't make out what it was doing awake in the middle of the day.

On Thursday we went out to Maiden's Cleuch on the Pentlands doing some maintainance on their drains. The day was wet and windy, but we had a small amount of shelter behind the trees and were luckily not far from the van so could shelter in it for lunch. We cleared the mud and grass that had overgrown into the drains to prevent the paths from being washed away this winter. We finished our work just in time. As we were leaving the rain came to give us a good send off.

Posted by Gemma at 15:03 0 comments  

Labels: Hopetoun House, Pentlands

It was a sad week last week as Fatima finished her internship with us here, made even sadder by her continually bursting into tears anytime someone mentioned her leaving. Fatima has been a great addition to the VO team always smiling and laughing (often with no idea what we were all joking about).

I would like to thank Fatima for all her hard work over the last 4 months and the great contribution she has made.

Posted by Chris Peach at 13:12 0 comments  

On Tuesday, we went to The Pentlands Regional Park, where we were raking The Wild Life Meadow. As the day went on, I was trying to escape from Alan's sense of humour (because four months haven't been enough to understand him in a normal conversation!!!), so the rest of the group and me used the hay, we had been raking, to bury Alan, but finally, he broke free and could feel the freedom again. What a pity!!!

On Wednesday, Chris didn't realise that the group were tired, so instead of allowing us to rest, he split the group to do four tasks!!! (because one task is not enough for Chris!!!), which consisted of:
1: Planting flower
2: Path reconstruction
3: Fishing pond weed
4: Resurfacing steps
5: Rest (if we have time)

The surprise came by the hand of Sarah and Gavin, because they brought two apple pies (they were absolutely great!!! Thanks!!!).

On Thursday, we were at Craigmillar Castle Park, where we were cutting down vegetation, specificallly, laurel, snowberry and elder, which we burnt on a big big big bonfire. At the end of the day, while we stood around the fire, I was given a postcard that made me break into tears that I couldn't read your messages at that time. But I want to tell you all:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE FOUR MONTHS!!!

It has been an unforgetable experience and I will never forget this:
1: mud
2: bonfire
3: biscuits
and the last but the best: all of you.

I wish you the best for your lifes. See you. Fatima.

I hope the next time, we meet, I'll be able to understand you and your sense of humour.

Fatima

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 13:38 1 comments  

Labels: Cammo, Craigmillar, Pentlands

On Tuesday, at Hailesland Family Centre, the group finished construction on the maze for the mighty midgets. And also, we put the flower beds in position in order to allow the children another place to plant vegetables and flowers. Furthermore, we put bark in amongst the flowers and watered them.

On Wednesday, the group led by Gemma and Fatima ventured along the Water of Leith, where they were responsible for cutting down the vegetation and burning it in a bonfire. Apart from this, they also were cleaning the muddy Rocheid Path (of course, the btcv adventurers are getting used to the mud). At the end of the day, we improvised a cooker from the bonfire and had chocolate banana fritters and toasted marshmallows.

On Thursday, this was going to be the longest day of our lifes. We arrived at Poet's glen at ten o'clock and we comenced work on the bridge. It was half past three and we were still building the bridge. It was half past four and we were still building the bridge. It was half past five and suddenly we finished building the bridge and the week. Congratulations!!!

Fatima and the little help from Edinburgh.

Posted by ronnie at 15:29 0 comments  

Labels: Hailesland Family Centre, Poet's Glen, Water of Leith

The saga continues.
Last Tuesday the intreped btcv adventurers were out at Burdiehouse Burn. It was a miserably typical scottish day, the rain was on and the harr was lying over the hills . One half of the group led by myself set about bringing down what was left of the fencing that had been destroyed by vandals in preparation for work to begin tomorrow on its reconstruction. Fatima took the other half of the volunteers and were resposible for collecting the very rare and collectable burdy burn rose flower seeds for distrubution in the meadow .Which Chris ,who after equiping himself with the latest grass busting technology, had turned into Mr.Strimmerman and proceeded to clear the meadow. Millie, the rangers mascott, was responsable for overseeing the day.
Day two of the saga.
It's Wednesday and the hardy btcv advnturers returned to the burn. The harr was starting to lift and the beast of burdiehouse was no where to be seen, so Kenny led some of the volunteers and began rebuilding the fence and even though the presence of the beast hung over them all day, they proceeded with millie keeping an ever watchfull eye they finished . Gemma continued to do work on the meadow and Fatima collected more of the very rare burdy burn rose.
The final day.
It's Thursday and the hardy btcv adveturers battered but not beaten from there escapades at the burn were sent on a daring mission to Cammo. The harr had lifted and after a cold start, the sun came out . The group led by Chris started to do a lot of path scraping in preparation for the second phase of the mission and after a breif refuiling at dinner time, they proceeded to resurface the paths with gravel. So after a very productive week, the hardy btcv adventureres returned to headquarters to prepare for the next epic saga.
Ronnie with a little help from the Vasque Country.

Posted by ronnie at 13:58 0 comments  

Labels: Burdiehouse Burn, Cammo

OnTuesday we were at Harlaw. There we got very very very wet because of the "light showers" (as the forecast promised). During the day, we were cleaning the muddy path (we love the mud at BTCV). We were also putting the visitors' centre garden in good conditions, that means cutting down the vegetation and picking up the weeds. While all of us were doing these tasks, Kenny, in his loneliness, was building a wonderful but sad wall beside the famous muddy path (because as I said we love the mud at BTCV).

On Wednesday, at Hailesland Family Centre, the sun came out slowly, very very very slowly (as the forecast didn't promise). We started the construction of flower beds in order to create a new garden for the kids. That day, of course, we missed the mud, but not for a long time, because on Thursday, although it was a sunny day, we started digging, so suddenly the mud came out.
Before the mud overwhelmed us, we were able to create a maze for the mighty midgets to play in.

For the time being, we haven't encountered the mud.

Fatima and special colaboration Ronnie.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 13:35 0 comments  

Labels: Hailesland Family Centre, Pentlands

Last Tuesday we went to the Hermitage of Braid and spent the morning attacking cherry laurel. The idea was to allow people walking on the path next to the house to be able to see the house, and we cut down a lot of laurel. It all got piled up in a big heap to dry out, then we can have a nice big warm bonfire over the winter.

After lunch we started replacing the fence along the side of the path so that people walking along admiring the house wouldn't fall down the hill and into the burn. It turned out to be a bigger job than we thought because the supports holding the path up were rotten and we had to replace them too.

We got a short section of fence completed, but went back on Thursday to complete it.

On Wednesday the group went to Meadows Yard out by the sea. They finished off a new pond that was being made there by covering the liner at the edges, and cut back vegetation around the site.

As well as finishing the fence on Thursday we had another tackle at the Himalayan balsam along the Braidburn. It seems never ending but we won't let it beat us.

Posted by Gemma at 14:44 0 comments  

Labels: Hermitage of Braid, Meadows Yard

the hardy btcv adventurers were once again out continuing the fight against the invasives.on Tuesday of last week we were out on the offensive in haddington where the group led by myself and Chris along with the volunteers took up arms against the mighty nettles it was a hard campaign but btcv were victorious our hard work cleared an area for work to begin on creating a site for the second wave.
on the Wednesday Chris led the second wave of hardy btcv adventurers battling against the extreme rain ventured out to finish work on the allotment area regardless of the rain the job was completed.
day three of our adventures this week was an excursion to the distant land known as bog hall.where the btcv adventurers led by Kenny and myself along with the volunteers worked to clear a local car park we did some vegetation cutback and did some general tidying up to improve the access to the area.

Posted by ronnie at 11:53 0 comments  

Labels: Pentlands, Tynepark

On Wednesday 13th we made this year's final valiant offensive manoeuvre in the ongoing battle with the invasive species on Corstorphine Hill. This time it was Himalayan Balsam's turn to feel our wrath as we tried to pull as much of it up as possible before it seeds.

On Thursday 14th we put the finishing touches to our third and final garden at Murraypark Nursing Home. I have had the privilege of being involved in this project from the outset two years ago when all there was was a lovely manicured lawn and then we came along and dug it all up. What we have left in its place though is a brilliant trio of gardens each with its own unique design and features, though the main theme is most definitely decking! The new gardens provide the staff and residents with space to relax and enjoy the outdoors which wasn't possible previously and I have lost count of the number of times I have been thanked by the staff of the home for the work we have done. So, thank you all for all of your hard work in helping make Murraypark such a success!

Posted by Chris Peach at 14:16 0 comments  

Labels: Corstorphine Hill, Murraypark

Last Tuesday we were up on the Pentlands. We were putting a path in from the car park at Hillend. We put a short section of path in a couple of years ago, but the top of that bit was getting very wet and muddy so we went to extend it further up the hill.

We were joined in the morning by another group of volunteers from Penicuik. They helped by barrowing loads of hard core up the hill to where we were digging out turf. The ground was saturated when we arrived, and as it rained for most of the afternoon we got really wet and muddy. The mud was the colour and consistency of melted chocolate, but probably didn't taste quite the same...

In the end, despite the rain, we completed the task and made 20m of new path. We also had to put a drain in, as the new path was getting under water as the rain got heavier. The drain seemed to do the trick, and the path should be there for many years to come.

Gemma

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 15:12 0 comments  

Labels: Pentlands

Last Tuesday we were at Craigmillar castle i led a group of four volunteers which consisted in Dave cat and Chris and myself Ronnie doing some path reconstruction in preparation for Scotland in bloom coming to view it.Kenny Gemma and Fatima led the other volunteers and done some vegetation cutback general ground maintenance and a litter pick we all had a good day the weather brightened up as the day progressed.
Wednesday at hermitage it rained so we all got soaked but we stuck to the task like the true btcv environmentalists and completed the bat and bird boxes.after dinner those who were willing to brave the elements ventured out into the wilderness to do some vegetation cutback.
Thursday it was still raining and the hardy btcv adventurers ventured out onto the unknown area known only as the dark side of Corstorphine where we took up arms against the mighty Himalayan triffids the battle raged on for several hours and there were many casualties but btcv were victorious our flanking force were on the other side of the hill installing a few seats.after the battle we returned to headquarters and prepared for our next mission more to come

Posted by ronnie at 13:54 0 comments  

Labels: Corstorphine Hill, Craigmillar, Hermitage of Braid

On Tuesday, we were working at Murraypark. On the one hand, we finished with the decking and on the other hand, we carried on making the handrail. As soon as we started working, the surprise came by Eileen's hand and her fabulous cake, because of her birthday. Happy birthday and thank you Eileen!!!
The week carried on with Stanwell Nursery, where first of all we made six wooden flower beds and then, filled in them with soil in order to get them ready for use. Once more, the surprise came, but this time by Ronnie's hand and his wonderful cake. It was due to his birthday. Happy birthday and thank you Ronnie!!!
To finish the week, we went to the Pentlands. There, we were making a footpath with the Pentlands Ranger Martin's help.
Fatima

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 12:56 0 comments  

Labels: Murraypark, Pentlands, Stanwell Nursery

Last Tuesday we went up to the Pentlands. We split into two groups, with one group going up Scald Law in the morning and the other group staying in the valley, and then we swapped over in the afternoon. Both groups were doing path work; mending cross drains up on the hill and filling in big holes and muddy puddles on the paths in the valley. The sun came out in the afternoon so we put sun cream on and lay on the grass by the burn after we finished work.

Posted by Gemma at 09:08 0 comments  

Labels: Pentlands

Last week we went to Burdiehouse Burn where we took the rubbish out of the river and we made the path with the help of the ranger Jessica. Also we went to Corstorphine Hill. There we dug out the invasive species like Himalayan balsam and picked up the rubbish. To finish the week we went to the Pentlands in the Regional Park. We flattened a path and we made a ramp to the bridge and filled in some holes with stones.

And that's all folks!

Fatima

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 16:21 0 comments  

Labels: Burdiehouse Burn, Corstorphine Hill, Pentlands

On Monday 21st Boukje will be leaving BTCV Scotland to take up a new position with a landscape architecture firm.

Boukje has been involved in many projects during her year with BTCV, primarily her work has been with the North Edinburgh Community Centre Greenspace Initiative which has seen the transformation of community centres and their communities in Granton, Drylaw and Muirhouse. She has also been central to the planning and design of many of the mid-week projects we have undertaken.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Boukje for all her very hard work and help over the last year!

Chris

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 13:48 0 comments  

Labels: Announcements

Last week we went back to Murraypark to continue with the garden at Tweed House. At the start of the week we were faced with a big muddy hole with a couple of bits of wood, but we managed quite a transformation.

On Wednesday we were expecting a large delivery of plants, so our first job on Tuesday was to prepare beds to put them in. We had to remove lots of turf and find somewhere to put it before we could dig over the ground and cover it with weed-proof material.

Our plants turned up as promised on Wednesday, so we got as many into the ground as possible straight away. There were a few left for Thursday, but when the bark chippings were delivered late on Thursday morning all the plants were in and we could cover the weed-proof layer and make it look very attractive. It was quite a challenge not to lose sight of some of the plants under the bark, but when they get bigger it will look very colourful.

Between putting all the plants in we managed to continue with the decking. We finished the frame and fixed it into the ground, then started to attach the posts for the handrails to go around the decking. The rain on Thursday held off, so we managed to get all the handrail posts fixed in place and concreted in, and even got some of the decking laid.

There are pictures of our work so far on our picture site. We will be going back next week to finish it off.

Posted by Gemma at 21:11 0 comments  

Labels: Murraypark

last week at ravelstone woods we spent the morning clearing japanense knotweed which we burnt on a fire that kenny and the ranger lit.it was agood day weather wise we stopped for lunch at 12 30and had a game of cards there were a couple of new volunteers that came out with us who seemed to really enjoy themselves.after lunch we spent the afternoon doing some path scraping and clearing vegetation that was pertuding on to the path and we finished up at 3 pm then we collected up the tools and made our way back to the van.this was the second time we had been there in the last year.

Posted by ronnie at 12:59 0 comments  

Labels: Ravelston Woods

Hi there! This is Leticia, and because today is my last day with BTCV I'll write this post to tell you what we did last week.
On tuesday we went to the Hermitage of Braid. Our job there was cut down the big branches of the trees that are next to the road, because some of them were touching the top of the vehicles. We met there a lot of kids, in an school trip. They were having fun, as we did, and hopefully the weather wasn't to bad, just a soft rain during about half an hour, but that was nothing now that I know the Scottish weather, the one that you are so proud of.
On wednesday we worked with the rangers again, but this time we went to Cramond beach. It's there a beautiful sp. of rose, wich is not autochthonous, and because it's invasive the other plants can't grow up next to it. So we had to remove this rose from the beach. It seemed to be easy, but we didn't realise that it was a hard work, until we started to pull out the plants, and discovered the long roots that they had under the sand. Some of theme were longer than 3m, or 10 feet sorry, hahaha! The weather was windy but nice, and at lunch time we went to the island. Fraser tried to have his bath but it wasn't enough water for him. Next time!
On thursday we went back to Pentlands, to the car park were we had been the week before. This time we coulndn't start a fire, so we lift all the branches in packets for the next time. It was more luck for the drain that now is unblocked. It was Kenny's birthday, and he brougth a very nice muffins for all of us, uummmm!
Now is time for me to say good bye. I'm willing to go back home, because I miss my family and friends, but I know I'll miss you. It's been very nice to meet you and work with you. I think you are doing a great job and I hope we'll keep in touch.
Thanks for everything, a big hug and a lot of kisses for all of you!
Leticia.

Posted by Anonymous at 13:20 0 comments  

Labels: Cramond, Hermitage of Braid, Pentlands

It may sound glamorous, but lifting crowns has nothing to do with royalty. We spent the last week removing the lower branches on trees in various parts of Edinburgh.

Lots of trees were planted for the millennium, and they are now big enough to need a bit of attention. Unfortunately it's difficult to get between them, so we have been learning how to cut lower branches off trees with minimal impact on the trees, and helping to clear out the undergrowth between them.

On Tuesday we were up on the Pentlands, in a car park miles from anywhere. On the way we got caught behind a herd of cows being moved to a new field a few kilometres down the road. It really made a mess of our nice clean van... As the car park is so isolated people seem to like dumping things there, so we cut back the vegetation to make it visible from the road and hopefully discourage them. It rained quite heavily in the morning, so we had a bit of trouble starting a fire to burn the branches, but we persisted and had roaring flames by the early afternoon so we could sit and appreciate our hard work. We'll be going back there in a couple of weeks to finish trimming and unblock a drain.

On Wednesday we were out at the Hermitage of Braid doing a similar task to make a bridge clearer, and on Thursday we were at a school in Duddingston helping with their trees. It's amazing how much you can get cleared with so many people, and last week our minibus was overflowing. We had to ask several people to make their own ways to the sites, as the good weather seems to have brought more people out with us.

Sadly this is Leticia's last week with us as she is going back to Spain next week. It's been wonderful working with her, and I hope she enjoyed her time here. We will have a new Spanish VO, Fatima, starting with us in two weeks time.

Posted by Gemma at 11:06 0 comments  

Labels: Duddingston, Hermitage of Braid, Pentlands

Congratulations to all those who helped with Gardening Scotland 2008. Our jigsaw garden gained a Silver-Gilt Award, that's only one off a Gold. Pictures of the garden are on our photo site. Thank you for all your hard work.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 19:46 0 comments  

Labels: Admin, Gardening Scotland

I’ve just had a very enjoyable and productive 2 week period out at Oatridge and then at Ingliston preparing for the Garden show….. a lot of tricky wood-work that for a long time resembled boxes with lavvy seats attached all around them…. Then it all came together for the exhibit, and a grand exhibit it was….. something to be proud of………once we rubbed out the pencil marks etc.

Looking around the rest of the show earlier today……(it starts tomorrow)…….there are vast numbers of exhibits there now in all different styles…….the Jacussi exhibits, the Dry Stone Walling Association’s fine collection of arches, Jupiter’s jig-saw…. But what I was struck by was the huge influence that TV garden “makeover” shows have had on the majority of exhibits….. Exhibits that tend to look as if they’ve been constructed from a flat pack bought at IKEA with plants “slotted” into their allotted spaces or as if they’ve “popped up” in a teletubby landscape…. Many looking as if a large part of the finished product came from high energy industrial rather than human labour intensive horticultural processes…..(the sort of things the Volunteers do all the time and are so good at).

I did ask Heath at one point, “where’s the dung?”…….and wondered about the feasibility of an exhibit which could be at the same time attractive and relate to the “muck” aspect of gardening…… I often pass by various of Edinburgh’s allotments and I guess that that’s the kind of gardening approach that I tend to identify with…. And there’s still plenty of demand for allotments…………

I do recognise that the TV makeover approach has made gardening, of a kind, much more available to many more people but I wonder whether it’s an approach that’s really capable of getting people involved in the real dirty handed and sweaty processes of horticulture.

Rob Hainsworth

Posted by coalhole at 20:29 0 comments  

Labels: Gardening Scotland

I am sure that you will all wish to join me in congratulating Gemma who has gained a Ranger position in Fife! It is a fitting reward for all her hard work with us over the last 12 months.

The other good news is that as it is a part time position Gemma will be able to carry on working with us a Volunteer Officer so we can still look forward to her excellent baking!

Posted by Chris Peach at 17:44 1 comments  

Labels: Announcements

once the clouds lifted and we were let to work in some nice sunshine i took a group of four volunteers and we continued to put up the rabbit fencing of which we have about half of the whole job completed.kenny led the other half of the group and constructed one of the gates needed on the job. we enjoyed our ususll game of cards at dinner time and had a good laugh in the meantime.one of the volunteers had a slight mishap with ao ongoing problem with a lopsided bench which we aim to fix the next time were there but all in all everyone enjoyed themselves.the job itself has at most two days left untill completion.next entry to follow shortly

Posted by ronnie at 11:22 0 comments  

Labels: Jupiter

We've created a map showing the sites we work at. What's more, the sites will eventually link to their respective photo albums and blog entries! Look at Corstorphine Hill and Blackford Pond for an early taster of the future.

If you view the larger map then you will also get a list of all the sites shown on the map. You'll also notice a new link to this map on the left for easy access in the future.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 13:38 0 comments  

Labels: Admin

Last week we had a great time. It was hot and sunny so we enjoyed ice creams while sitting round the bonfire.

On Tuesday we went to Corstorphine Hill and helped flatten a path as well as take out more salmonberry. At lunch time we had a great game of cricket/rounders in the sunshine.

We went to Burdiehouse Burn on Wednesday. We had a bonfire and took rubbish out of the river. We found a shopping trolley, prams and lots of unidentified things, and Willie was so enthusiastic he fell in. Luckily it was so warm his clothes dried and he enjoyed ice creams with the rest of us.

On Thursday we cut down more laurel around Blackford Pond and burnt it. No-one fell in this time, but we still had time for more ice cream.

Posted by Gemma at 11:10 0 comments  

Labels: Blackford Pond, Burdiehouse Burn, Corstorphine Hill

We're making an online collection of photos from our recent projects. You'll find them here:http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/BTCV.Edinburgh

If you have any photos you would like to include please let us know and we can add them.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 11:55 0 comments  

Labels: Admin

We've started to keep a blog of our activities at BTCV Edinburgh. We'll aim to give a weekly report, so keep checking back to find out what we've been up to.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 19:19 0 comments  

Labels: Admin