BTCV Edinburgh Diary

Last week we did several different tasks. On Tuesday we went to the Four Winds Nursery in Inverleith Park to help them build some new steps. The steps look incredible, and we have seen lots of people admiring them.

On Wednesday we spent our first day this year on the Pentlands. One group disappeared in the morning to collect juniper cuttings, and we didn't see them again until lunch time. It sounded like they'd walked a long way, and they still had time to collect 700 cuttings which were taken down the the Inch nursery at lunchtime to be planted. The rest of us cut back gorse from one of the paths at Hillend and made a big bonfire.

On Thursday we went to Corstorphine Hill. In the morning we were removing litter from a few areas of the hill. In the end we collected about 20 bags. After lunch we went along to the walled garden and helped dig over a bed for planting, remove some old fencing and put in a new picnic bench.

Last week we also welcomed Alaitz, who has come over from Spain for a few months to help us out. This week is also my last week before I start my new job at Hopetoun House. I hope to see some of you there. Thank you for the wonderful experience at BTCV over the last couple of years. I've made new friends, learnt new skills and helped other people, and after all, isn't that what BTCV's all about?

Gemma

Posted by Gemma at 13:54 1 comments  

Labels: Corstorphine Hill, Four Winds, Pentlands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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