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Update - the year 2003
On this page ...
February 8-9th Wiston Lodge...
March
15-16th Linlithgow...
March 23rd Craigmillar...
April 5-6th Carrifran Valley...
April
13th Birsley Brae...
April 26-27th East Lothian woodlands...
May 11th Union Canal, Wester Hailes...
June 15th Holyrood Park...
August 24th Esk Valley...
September 14th Corstorphine Hill...
October
12th Hopetoun House...
Find out about past years - 2000, 2001, 2002.
February 8-9th Wiston Lodge...
After
a comfortable trip in the lovely new minibus, we arrived at Wiston Lodge at about
10:30am and familiarised ourselves with each other by playing some name games.
Once everyone knew each others names, we set about deciding what our schedule
for the day would be.
Since it was a willow weekend, the weekend had to involve willow in some way or another. After much deliberation, we decided that we should make a willow dragon. We started the dragon after lunch, and took most of the afternoon and the following morning to complete it, but by the time it was finished we all agreed that it was pretty impressive.
The food at Wiston Lodge was great (as always), everyone got on well and although the weather was pretty chilly, it has to be said that it was a really enjoyable weekend.
David Jack (Green Team participant and member of the Management Committee)
We arrived at Waterloo Place at 8.45am, and were met by a very enthusiastic team. After wondering why we seemed to have so much more luggage than everyone else, we left in the minibus for Linlithgow. We dumped our bags at the accommodation, which was chilly to say the least, then headed down to Linlithgow Palace where we met the ranger. He took us around the loch and told us about the land - who it is owned by and used by, the wildlife, the trees and the running expenses. We had lunch and played some icebreaker games including Zip, Zap, Boing. The afternoon was spent making woodland paths. We cut down intruding trees to allow more light to get into the copse and used the branches to direct people by the path. Some of us decided to walk back to the accommodation but the five minute bus ride turned into an hour and a half walk. When we arrived back we had tea then played pictionary for a while before bed.
We had breakfast and made up our packed lunches then got back in the bus and returned
to yesterday's site where we continued our work. We removed a section of fencing
to allow access to one of the new paths. We dug around tree stumps and cut them
down under ground level so that people didn't trip over them. Next, we cleared
snowberry from grass verges where it was beginning to invade. We had lunch and
then after being attacked by some sheep we walked back up to the Palace and were
given a guided tour by the ranger. From the very top of the tallest tower we could
see right across the lake to where we had been working. It was very satisfying
and we arrived back in Edinburgh tired but happy.
Laura Murray, participant.
March 23rd Craigmillar Castle Park
When
we arrived at the site we were told that we wouldn't be working where we'd originally
planned because the area had been burnt down by vandals the previous week. It
was a shocking sight to see the five hectares of tree plantation that was totally
ruined. We moved further down the hill to a section the fire hadn't reached and
set up base camp.
We were shown the different kinds of trees and taught how
to plant them then we got to work. After a break for lunch we walked around the
hill and past the castle. We were told to explore an old willow from different
angles and taught to appreciate the beauty and presence of this one tree. We continued
planting until we ran out of trees. In total we planted around five hundred trees
in the day. Then we discovered that a mallet had disappeared and we had to wander
through the grass looking for it. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack
and we haven't found it yet....
Laura Murray, participant
April 5-6th Carrifran Valley...
On Saturday we all met up in Edinburgh and put our bags in the bus that would take us to Carrifran Valley where we would be planting trees. It would be a very long journey, we would be sitting down for about one and a half hours.
When we arrived we got out of the bus and promptly got our bags out and unlocked the door to the village hall, that we would spend the night in. After settling in we went down to the waters edge of St. Mary's Loch and sat on the dry grass and had some tea and biscuits. While we were there we met up with a man called Davie who was the person that was going to tell us what to do and help us at Carrifran Valley.
After
meeting Davie we jumped back into the bus and made our way to Carrifran Valley
passing on the way Gray Mare's Tail. When we arrived at Carrifran we meet up again
with Davie. He talked to us about planting and how to do things. We walked to
a river, crossing it by climbing over on a fence, and reached our planting zone.
After being told we had to plant 250 trees we got to work as the sun blazed down
on us. When we had finished and walked back to the bus we were shattered. It had
only taken 1 hour to plant the trees but it takes all the energy you've got out
of you.
As we got back to the hall spirits were high and the kettle was on for more tea. After the tea we got the Frisbee out and played around with that for a while. Then Kate (one of the leaders) showed us how to make knifes out of slate, this takes a long time trying to get the perfect edge. We lost track of time and it was soon dinner time.
The next morning we were awoken very promptly and had breakfast about 10 minutes after getting up. As soon as we had finished breakfast and made our lunch we were in the bus again going to Carrifran. After reaching the planting zone we got to work planting 350 trees this time and after planting those we were given another 200! It took a while to complete. In total we had planted about 800 trees in less than 2 days.
When we got back to the bus we packed up and got on the bus and started the drive back to Edinburgh we were totally worn out. We all had a great time.
Rory Marland (Green Team participant)
April 13th Birsley Brae...
On Sunday the 13th April, the Green Team went to Birsley Brae. First we did a name game then we split into three groups and got down to work. The group I was with did bramble cutting and we got quite a lot cut back. There was another group doing litter clearance and another doing tree planting. We did about half an hour of each task and then swapped. After the swap I was doing litter picking. Me and Rachel, one of the leaders, found dog mats and all sorts of other things. Then it was lunchtime. After lunch, one of the participants, Zia, had the idea of having a tyre race down the hill. I came third in my race.
After
that, we did some environmental art. We had two groups and each group had to decide
what the other group was going to do. We decided the others should make a dome
that everyone could fit in. They decided we should make a fence which turned out
quite rustic but not very stable! We had about twenty minutes to do it - our fence
got more and more wobbly. When the time was up the other group had completed their
challenge. The dome was very well-made and very stable. It was a lovely day and
great weather. Hope to see all the participants again on another project.
Sarah Allan, Green Team participant and member of Management Committee.
April 26-27th East Lothian woodlands...
The projects planned for the weekend of 26-27th April were for two sites, Pishwanton Wood near Gifford and binning wood another small forest near our accommodation at Innerwick. The former is an environmental site made from and incorporating only natural materials, the latter is a forest that was felled before the Second World War then subsequently replanted in the 1950's.
At
Pishwanton Wood the team had a very productive afternoon, performing a wide variety
of tasks that included wood cutting, compost sieving and distribution, tree protection
and flower bed lining. The team worked very hard all afternoon and were thoroughly
satisfied with the outcome at the end of the day.
At our second location, Binning wood, our task was rhododendron clearance. The team found this activity very enjoyable and rewarding and, indeed, there was an incredible amount of progress to be seen by the end of the afternoon. Overall it was an enjoyable and productive weekend. Well done team!
Ross Muir, Green Team participant
May 11th Union Canal, Wester Hailes...
On the 11th of May the Green Team went to the canal at Wester Hailes to help create a wildlife pond. Though the pond had been dug several years previously it still seemed devoid of plant life. This, however, hadn't deterred a pair of swans from nesting on the site. The water plants arrived by barge and we soon got to work planting them at the edge of the pond. This was mucky work, canal mud not being the cleanest thing to work with, and I was soon splattered with dirt.
By
lunchtime most of the plants were in place and we turned our attention to cleaning
up the rubbish. Among the crisp packets and bottles we found four and a half traffic
cones and a traffic barrier; it's amazing what you can find if you look hard enough!
We also planted some cherry trees on the banks of the pond, some of which will hopefully grow into blossoming beauties. The swans, who until now had been quite passive, were a bit alarmed by our tree planting antics and so we gave them a wide berth. At the end of the afternoon a canal ranger came to visit us and show us some of the things that live in the canal. We had a canal dip with nets and found a lot more than we expected; the water was teaming with life. Every one had a good day despite the heavy showers and muddy canal.
Robert King, Green Team participant
June 15th Holyrood Park...
An exiting and adventurous Sunday was waiting for us. We met at the new Education Centre in Holyrood Park at 10.30am. We were given a briefing on our days excursion, then aimed our compasses towards Arthur's Seat. The slopes ahead were steep and full of nettles. Once we arrived the Holyrood Park ranger explained our challenge and what we had to do. We were introduced to " the enemy of the day" the so-called rosebay willow herb. We were told that this plant was introduced from North America and when it flowers, one plant can spread over 8,000 seeds! We were amongst thousands of these plants. So before the enemy could flower we started pulling them out… it was a race for time!!
Among thirty volunteers managed to tear up and rip out the enemy. It was a hot and gorgeous day and the nettles were also enjoying our company. (Thank goodness we had our gloves!!)
While clearing the area we had time to share other experiences and a photographic session. By 12.30pm we decided to have a break for lunch and charge new energies for the second task of the day. This was building bird nest boxes. Thanks to some of us, they discovered that a hammer can be a very skilful tool. They would be put up at the back of Arthur's Seat.
When
everything was ready, a pleasant walk up to the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel gave
us the opportunity to play some games including a home made "Twister" on the chapel's
stony walls. (Head on green stone, left foot on black…a matter of balance). The
day was over and at 5pm we set off with the satisfaction of having accomplished
our tasks all in one day.
Fatima Fernandez, Green Team participant
August 24th Esk Valley...
Hewan Wood and the stunningly beautiful area around Roslyn Chapel were the sites for this Sunday's work, and a total of 21 Green Team volunteers split into five groups tackled the long list of tasks prepared by the Esk Valley Trust. Local volunteers joined each party, sharing their knowledge of the area and explaining why each task was so important in the conservation of the natural environment.
One group of volunteers enjoyed a pleasant walk to Hewan Wood, where they repaired a fence and some stone steps. The damaged stumps of young trees were also removed from the site. The walk back to Roslyn Chapel turned out to be very informative as the local volunteers pointed out the flora and fauna along the way.
Meanwhile at Gardener's Brae by the Chapel, the other groups worked on a chicane
fence to allow access for pedestrians while excluding horses. Ragwort, toxic to
animals, was removed from several fields nearby under a blazing hot sun, with
frequent rehydration breaks.Lunchtime saw a water fight, started by Kate of course!
Calm was restored and the tasks at Roslyn Chapel were completed just before collection
time at 4.30pm. It was a very full day with lots of laughs, and the weather allowed
us all to really enjoy being in the countryside.
Nick Forrest, Green Team leader
September 14th Corstorphine Hill
On a pleasant Sunday morning in September, around 20 of the Green Team met at Corstorphine Hill. The plan for the day was to paint the signs dotted around Corstorphine Hill. Firstly we did some 'get to know' activities and warm up games. Then we located the signs which we were going to paint and split into 2 groups and went off in search of the, at first illusive, signs. In these groups we split into 3 sub groups, 'the scrapers', 'the slappers' and the delicate painters. We then spent the rest of the morning painting the signs (to make them more obvious) in between mouthfuls of blackberries.
We stopped for lunch just after noon, basking in the sunshine. After lunch we took part in some warm up games to get ourselves ready for the afternoon's activities. We then trekked further up the hill and one group destroyed the evil rhododendrons while the other group went to find their individual quiet spots. We then performed even more civic duty when we spotted some smouldering fires around the foot of some trees and we were told by the ranger to call the fire brigade, who arrived subsequently. We then as a group played a ball game then headed to the 'Walled Garden'. At the 'Walled Garden' we impersonated the activities of a tree and the John Muir awards were presented, which proved too emotional for some. After the ceremony, the 2 groups went and painted their final signs and we met back at the car park to conclude an enjoyable and successful Green Team one day project.
Matthew Pinnons, participant
On arrival at Hopetoun House we played some team-building games to get to know everyone. The task for the day was to cut down and burn the invasive rhododendron bushes from a slope where a path was to be made at a future date. We were given our usual tools briefing and warned that where we were working was a bit muddy. That was an understatement! The slope was very steep and exceptionally boggy. As a result most of us sunk into the mud up to our ankles at some point throughout the day. We were given hard hats to wear while sawing down branches then we set to work.
When we stopped for lunch we ate on the beach looking at Fife across the Forth.
It was a lovely view. As an activity before resuming work we collected leaves
and learnt what trees they came from and how to identify them. Then we kept working
until eventually we had to stop and make sure that the fire was out properly before
we left. When we looked back up at the slope we saw that we'd cleared lots of
rhododendron and we all went home tired but happy with the huge difference we
had made.
Laura Murray, participant
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