Background Information for August 2026:
The biggest job will be clearing bracken to maintain footpaths to the quarry, around it and beyond. Between the quarry and the road we have a mixed woodland, moorland site after clearing the conifers, with 2 areas of peat. We want to encourage some clearings with the sphagnum mosses, lichens,wild flowers and to clear regrowth on access paths.There are at least 1500 new trees with guards that need care. There may be time for some rhododendron clearing above the walled garden to prepare for more tree or shrub planting. Checking for regrowth in cleared areas of rhododendron we always do.
Maintaining and expanding our register of trees, bats, birds, flowers, plants, butterflies, moths, insects and animals would be great to do and anyone with skills and knowledge would be most welcome.
There will be many other tasks to be identified at the start of the week.
Volunteers need to be confident about working in woodland with some dense undergrowth and unpredictable footing.
It’s a wonderful place to be, from the Tarset burn with trout and otters up through the ancient woodland, past the lake and ponds, to the moorland and meadows.Red squirrels always a highlight.
A typical woodland working day starts around 9:30 after breakfast and optional communal prayers. You will be out in the woodland completing various tasks within your comfort zone until your mid-morning break of hot drinks and biscuits. You’ll then be back out in the woodland until 12:30 when you’ll return to the house for a large hot lunch. Following lunch, you’ll generally be back outside by 13:30 and come in at around 16:30/17:00 with an afternoon break in-between.
