BTCV Edinburgh Diary

Tuesday 20th January

We were back at Muiravonside this week,the group was split into two teams to continue cutting down and burning the rhododendron.The fires were quite easy to get going thanks to the skill of our fire genie, Kate and very quickly the rival teams were waging war on the rhododendron but there was only going to be one winning team lead by Ronnie. At the end of the day we made sure both fires were left in a suitable state for the team to return in the morning.

Wednesday 21st January

Anna skillfully brought us back to Muiravonside today, the fires still had a lot of coals left from yesterday and the hardy BTCV adventurers had no problem getting them going again so some of the group continued to burn whilst others cut down the rhododendron . The mud continued to claim victims.

Thursday 22nd January

Chris brought the group back to Mud Valley where the group continued to burn the rhododendron again the fires were easy to get going all they needed was a boost from our specially modified flaming device. This was our last day here for a while but the Ranger was happy with the work done.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 14:08 0 comments  

Labels: Muiravonside Country Park

Our achievements removing litter at Craigmillar Castle Park on 7th January have been recognised on the s1 Craigmillar website.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who helped out.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 12:21 0 comments  

Labels: Announcements, Craigmillar

On Tuesday we went to Muiravonside where the Stirling group had done a fine job chopping down a lot of rhododendron. Our main task was to get the branches to the fire site and burn them. Sounds simple but it wasn't! We had to negotiate steep, muddy slopes to get the wet branches down to very damp fire sites. Kate and Gemma didn't seem to be having too much difficulty, but the other fire eventually got going around lunchtime (with a little help from a convenient plastic box lid). By the end of the day, just about everyone had slipped in the mud or fallen in the stream, except Anna...

We were back at Muiravonside on Wednesday, where Anna proceeded to fall in the mud as often as possible. Luckily there were plenty of embers left to start the fires again quite quickly (useful for drying wet socks). Halfway through the morning, those of us looking after one of the fires couldn't quite get the rhododendron down the hill fast enough; so we recruited Gavin to help us out. We then couldn't burn the branches fast enough to keep up with him while the other fire ran out.

Thursday saw us working in the orchard of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital correcting Chris' mistake (well it was just before Christmas...). So we were taking up the carpet in the orchard (no, really) and re-laying it the other way up. We also prepared more of the ground for carpet paths by digging out the top layer of nettle roots. It was a bit of a dreary, overcast day but everyone got a lot of good work done.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 15:21 0 comments  

Labels: Muiravonside Country Park, Royal Edinburgh

Last Tuesday we braved the snow and ice to visit Cammo. Our task there was raking a meadow that had been mown in November. Our task was made considerably more challenging by the cut grass being frozen to the ground. We made the most of the situation though, by raking what we could into a big pile, putting a hat, scarf and coat on it and making a "hayman". Unfortunately by the time the snow started to fall the hayman had been rugby tackled and so couldn't be turned into a snowman.

On Wednesday we went to Craigmillar Castle Park to remove a lot of litter. We found 3 motorbikes, lots of fencing wire, a fridge door, some carpet and several beds to add to the rest of the rubbish. The whole area looks very neat and tidy, and we were thanked several times by local residents. At lunch time we went to the newly installed adventure playground and tried out the climbing frames and slides. Nicky used waterproof trousers to prevent her getting wet on the slide, but this did make her fly off the end several times.

On Thursday we went back to Ravelston Woods to repair a fence. We put in about 20 new fence posts and connected them with wire. Untangling the wire was quite a challenge.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 12:48 0 comments  

Labels: Cammo, Craigmillar, Ravelston Woods

Hello everybody!!! First of all, I´m sorry I couldn't write to you before, because since I came back here, I have been very busy (family, friends, looking for a new job and grant), but in spite of everything, I don´t forget you, in fact, the only thing of Edinburgh I don´t miss is the Scottish weather, because since I came back here, everyday is raining or snowing and very very cold, it looks like I brought the Scottish weather with me. How are you??? I hope you´re fine and everything is ok in your lives.

Well, I send you this e-mail because I want to wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! with your families and friends. Have a good time.

A big hug from the Basque Country. Fatima.

Posted by BTCV Edinburgh at 14:02 0 comments  

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