Summer 2014 1

www.tcv.org.uk/scotland

Summer 2014 for TCV SCoTland’S CommuniTy neTwork

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Join in, feel goodCreating Skelmorlie’s Sunshine Garden

– see page 11 for the full story.

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People volunteer with TCV or their local conservation group for various reasons. Here, linda Taylor, a ‘regular’ with TCV in Inverness, explains why she volunteers:

think all the volunteering I do is great, and they say how happy it makes me. And I really think the experience I have had with TCV has made me more employable. I feel that I have gained a lot of new skills and knowledge that I can maybe use in the future some day.

I have always cared about the environment but the most significant change for me is that I now feel a lot more knowledgeable than I was. And I’ve learned skills I didn’t think I could do, making me more confident in myself. I just want to say how much I have enjoyed volunteering with TCV and how much it means to me being part of the Inverness group helping to look after the countryside, protecting the amazing nature out there, and making it a better place for us all.

And, in answer to the question of whether I would recommend volunteering with TCV to others – I certainly would, and I have!

Why volunteer?

I chose to volunteer with TCV because I love being close to nature and looking after the countryside doing important projects that make a difference. I also like meeting new and interesting people, being valued for what I do, and being in the outdoors. I found it easy to start volunteering with TCV. I initially wrote a letter to the office in Munlochy, near Inverness, and received a nice, friendly reply and welcome. I’ve been volunteering with TCV since 2010, starting with the Dingwall Green Gym and its half-day projects which I loved, but soon I fancied doing full days with the Inverness midweek group.

The most enjoyable part of my volunteering would be all the worthwhile projects we have done, including some very interesting ones. These have included tree planting, the removal of non-native species like Giant Hogweed, rhododendron, and the New Zealand Pigmyweed at Loch Flemington, plus dam building on the Peffery River, and various other tasks. The other volunteers are always great to work with and very friendly, and I’ve made good friends while volunteering with TCV. We all work really hard and help each other. I think we have a good, strong team here in Inverness with a very good team leader!

I think my life would be quite different now if TCV didn’t exist because I have been very inspired by it. My family and friends

TCV runs volunteer groups in most of our cities, including Stirling, above.

Linda Taylor, an Inverness ‘regular’.

“I have always cared about the environment but the most significant change for me is that I now feel a lot more knowledgeable than I was.”

Volunteering opportunitiesTo find out what volunteering opportunities are available with TCV, visit www.tcv.org.uk/scotlandAnd, to see if there’s a local conservation group near you, a good starting point is the Community Network and its many member groups around the country. Many are listed at www.btcv.org.uk/volunteer/index2.htmlOr, look at the new Project Finder at www.environment.scotland.gov.uk – see page 5.

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Receiving a warm reception

The fantastic contribution volunteers make to the management of the nature and landscapes of Scotland

was celebrated at a recent parliamentary reception at Holyrood, hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage and sponsored by Alison McInnes, MSP, North-East Scotland. In the past year SNH has supported around 90,000 volunteering opportunities, either directly on National Nature Reserves or through grants to organisations including The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and Community Service Volunteers (CSV). The

Holyrood reception also highlighted the benefits of environmental volunteering for communities and individuals, and featured the work of TCV and the many community projects and groups we work with, supported by SNH.

TCV was represented at the event by Callum Sinclair, TCV Scotland Operations Director, who was one of the key speakers, plus staff members Julia Duncan, Ali Lawson and Anthony Morrow. And TCV’s Chief Executive Julie Hopes, and People

& Change Director Orla Cochrane, were also on hand to lend their support. The reception was a wonderful opportunity for community groups to showcase their projects, to find out what others are up to, and to make useful new contacts. The event’s key message was simple:

Volunteering – get out and make a change!

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TCV staff Anthony Morrow, Ali Lawson and Julia Duncan

Portlethen Moss Conservation Group

Urban Roots Intiative

Reception sponsor – Alison McInnes, MSP

Polbeth and Wester Calder Community Garden Green Gym

SAMH Redhall Walled Garden

Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves

Shettleston Community Growing Project

Friends of Possilpark Greenspace

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Key speakers: Oonagh Aitken, Director of Social Action & Volunteering (CSV); Paul Wheelhouse, Scotland Minister for Environment and Climate Change; Ian Ross, Chairman (SNH); and Callum Sinclair, Operations Director (TCV Scotland).

Westquarter Wildlife Group

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Burn baby, burn?An item in the Spring issue of the Network Bulletin prompted John Wombell from Strathpeffer to get in touch. For 20 years John and a group of dedicated volunteers have been involved in efforts to eradicate Rhododendron ponticum from the 20 hectare garden at Kinlochourn estate, in the West Highlands.

Like many voluntary groups, including TCV, John’s garden team have used the most popular rhododendron control method of cutting down and burning the bushes (although depending on the circumstances the cut material may also be left to rot or chipped etc). However, cutting alone will not kill the bush as new growth can sprout from the cut stump so herbicide (usually glysophate) must also be applied. But according to John this still doesn’t guarantee success in killing rhododendron:

“We tried some stump painting with herbicide after cutting but that met with mixed success. Then we tried stump drilling and injecting but that also gave mixed results.”

However, in the last few years a new method has been used at Kinlochourn, and some other locations – stem injection in which herbicide is injected into standing rhododendron bushes. This method has had a high success rate of killing rhododendron bushes which can then be left as standing dead wood, or cut and cleared (or burned). Stem injection requires proper equipment and training for the operators, as happened at Kinlochourn where contractors have been used, with John Wombell an interested onlooker:

“The results so far have been very impressive. Our garden group has watched this work with great interest and so we have turned our hands to other projects in this wonderful woodland garden, which is slowly being transformed by the removal of roddy.”

The success of stem injection is highlighted in a 2013 report commissioned by Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage. ‘A critical review of work undertaken to control invasive rhododendron in Scotland’ isn’t the snappiest of titles but it clearly states

the report’s aims. It was written by John Parrott and Neil MacKenzie of Coille Alba, a small environmental charity in the north of Scotland which aims to support the sustainable management of native woodlands. Their report outlines the origins of rhododendron, its introduction to the UK in the 18th century, its subsequent spread, and its detrimental effect on our native plant life. It’s interesting to read that the problem of rhododendron has been recognised for a long time and that efforts to control it in one Lincolnshire wood go back as far as 1930, and continue to this day!

The Coille Alba report highlights the different methods of rhododendron control and their relative merits and disadvantages. The advantage of cut and burn is its immediate visual impact and it lends itself as a communal project for groups of volunteers, and some people just like big fires! However, if you don’t keep on top of the situation the cut rhododendron may just re-grow. Other control methods include spraying and mechanical flailing, both of which also require the use of herbicides.

Another relatively new method is ‘Lever and Mulch’ which uproots the bush and has the advantage of not requiring herbicides, although to be fully effective does require people trained in the technique.

So, whilst stem injection appears to have particular advantages, the correct method or combination of methods of rhododendron control used, will depend on the types of sites, age of the bushes, time of year etc, plus the skills of those taking part. Whatever methods are employed the eradication of Rhododendron ponticum throughout Scotland is still very much a work in progress which will take many years (if ever?) to complete.

John Wombell added:

Another thing to note is that according to the FCS guidance on ponticum, the seed is only viable for 12 months after shedding and it needs both light and moisture to germinate. Newly emerged seedlings are tiny and they can take several years slowly growing in ground vegetation before they emerge and are big enough to be seen. So for a number of years after all ponticum at a location has been stopped from flowering eg killed by injection, considerable vigilance and effort will be required to deal with emerging seedlings. The best way to deal with this problem is to hand weed and remove for burning. One advantage of injection that also applies to Lever and Mulch is that as the dying leaves fall off to the ground this light excluding mulch helps prevent seed germination. What we have seen and experienced at Kinlochourn would certainly support these observations.

Cutting and burning may be the most popular method of rhododendron control used by volunteer groups, but is it the most effective?

Rhododendron was introduced to the UK as an ornamental shrub, to provide shelterbelts, and as cover for game birds. Like other varieties of rhododendron the hybrid ponticum has attractive flowers but it can outcompete and suppress native plants, severely impacting on the biodiversity in affected areas.

A critical review of work undertaken to control invasive rhododendron in Scotland can be downloaded at www.coillealba.org.uk

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find your match!A new ‘matchmaking’ service for volunteers looking for opportunities to get involved in environmental projects with local voluntary groups has just been launched.

involved in, as more voluntary organisations become aware of this free service and create new project profiles.

There are wide ranging benefits of getting more people, of all ages, involved in recording environmental observations. As scientists, we get more data to help improve our understanding of environmental changes. Taking part in Citizen Science projects not only improves volunteers’ understanding of the environment, but changes their attitudes towards it and motivates them to take more action to protect it. This has been a key finding of research that The Conservation Volunteers has carried out for Scotland’s Environment Web.”

Buglife is just one of the organisations who have added projects to this new service, and Craig Macadam, Buglife’s Scotland

Director has praised the Project Finder:

“This is a fantastic idea and like all good ideas it is very simple. In effect it creates an online directory of organisations which will make it much easier to promote our opportunities to volunteers.”

Project Finder includes details of opportunities to volunteer with the many Citizen Science and Citizen Action projects already active in Scotland.

Citizen Science projects are designed to improve understanding of the environment through local monitoring. This includes recording local sightings of animals and plants, observing weather patterns or helping check the quality of air, land and water.

Citizen Action projects improve the local environment through initiatives such as beach litter collections, making gardens more wildlife friendly or promoting safe walking and cycling routes to school or work.

Scotland’s Environment Web also provides an easy to use interactive toolkit with advice and help for anyone who wants to set up their own Citizen Science and Citizen Action projects. The website will feature updates from Citizen Science and Citizen Action projects as part of continuing to provide the most up-to-date environmental information available. Find out more at www.environment.scotland.gov.uk

The new Project Finder is available through the recently re-launched Scotland’s Environment Web – www.environment.scotland.gov.uk – and includes an easy to use search feature to help people identify projects of interest to them.

A UK first for environmental projects, local voluntary groups such as those belonging to TCV’s Community Network can register their profile and volunteering opportunities free of charge. Already a number of organisations have posted details of projects taking place all over Scotland including surveys of birds, bats, hedgehogs, glow-worms, butterflies and Scottish Dragons, and a reptile and amphibian conservation project. There are also projects covering subjects as diverse as juniper flowers, invasion by non-native species, the quality of our coasts and coastal heritage at risk. Paul Griffiths, Principal Scientist in SEPA and Citizen Science lead for Scotland’s Environment Web, says:

“We’d like to think Project Finder is the equivalent of speed dating for volunteers as it can help identify projects that appeal to them very quickly as well as support voluntary groups in promoting their opportunities as widely as possible. We want to see this useful resource expand with lots of new environmental volunteering opportunities that users can search and get

Thousands of volunteers are involved in Citizen Action projects to improve their local environment. This can be as simple as planting some wildflowers.

Citizen Science helps us understand the world around us.

Creating Space to growTCV Scotland will soon be launching a new food growing initiative called ‘Space to Grow’ on the Wyndford Estate in Maryhill, Glasgow. The project will be delivered in partnership with the Wheatley Group and Cube Housing Association and will improve the health and well-being of residents on the estate. Initially this will involve setting up a Green Gym food growing initiative in the heart of the community at the Maryhill Hub. The allotment site will be accessible to all and activities will focus on bringing the community together to increase physical activity, grow food and eat healthily. More details of this exciting new project will be given in the next Network Bulletin.

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By Anthony Morrow, TCV Natural Communities Co-ordinator.

June 16-18 saw the successful running of TCV Scotland’s first ‘Natural Breaks’ residential outing, giving young carers the opportunity to experience, enjoy and engage with Scotland’s amazing natural heritage. Five young people, aged between 13 and 18, from East Renfrewshire Carers braved the wilds of Strathyre*, clouds of midges, and the scorching Scottish sunshine to take part in a range of activities over 3 days and 2 nights, alongside their Development Worker Cat Scott, plus TCV’s Amy Styles (OPAL Community Scientist) and Andy Ruck (Youth Engagement Officer).

Young carers help to look after family members who are unable to look after themselves due to illness or disability. There are estimated to be over 100,000 young carers in Scotland providing essential support for family members, so for this particular group of young people the Strathyre trip was a well-deserved break from their normal caring responsibilities.

In advance of the break, TCV worked in partnership with national youth agency Young Scot, consulting with over 60 young carers from across Scotland to shape the programme. Delivering on the identified needs of those consulted is vital to making any project a success, and through this process we were brilliantly placed to deliver the type of break that young carers themselves wanted to take part in! The

Strathyre group’s input didn’t stop there, for over the course of the three days they were given creative control over the content, times and order of the activities – something they all revelled in.

From team building games to wildlife species identification and a 5km hike uphill (including a lunchtime stop with a view), to a no-holds-barred water fight, the group proved to be up for absolutely anything and really threw themselves whole-heartedly into each of the activities! We are looking forward to holding a second residential break with them over the summer, at another location in Scotland’s beautiful outdoors with a completely new range of activities.

Natural Breaks is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Investing in Ideas’ programme. For further information about Natural Breaks, please contact Anthony Morrow: a.morrow@tcv.org.uk or 07827 308149.

Young Carers take a break

*Strathyre is in the Stirling area of the Southern Highlands and forms part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Ideal accommodation for our Natural Break was provided at the Strathyre Outdoor Centre, operated by the Craigvinean Outdoor Centre Trust and Volunteer Development East Lothian.

When asked what they thought of their break in the countryside, the young participants’ comments included:

Best bits?

“The chance to choose everything.”

Where are we?

“In a crazy but nice area which is amazingly quiet.”

Best bits?

“Morgan hugged a tree!”

What i enjoyed most about this break –

“The walk, ...being outdoors.”

Best bits?

“The view from the top of the hike.”

Worst bits?

“Walking the hike.”

Shortly after the Strathyre break, Cat Scott, Development Worker, reflected on the experience:

“It really surprised me when we were away how many of the group started talking more about their care role and home life – it’s always a bit tricky with this age group to get them to open up about what’s going on. They must have felt a bit more free being away, or more relaxed than usual.”

Where are we?

Enjoying the Strathyre countryside, from left to right:

Cat Scott, Morgan Jeffrys, Darryl Todd, Liam Jeffrey, Andy Ruck,

Callum Holland, Amy Styles, and Sarah Donohue.

PHOTOS: ANTHONY MORROW

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By Amanda James, Garden Convenor

The Potager Garden in Kinross started in 1996 as a community garden with the particular aims of educating children from the local primary school about gardening in balance with the environment, and to encourage healthy eating. The site, of one eighth of an acre, is owned by Perth & Kinross Council and was previously unused, after having been the nursery for plants around Kinross. We are a registered charity, run by a group of volunteers, and funded by plant sales and some local grants for particular projects.

Each summer term a Primary 5 class regularly visits the garden for some teaching sessions, where they grow vegetables and flowers in L-shaped beds, which were originally laid out by the BBC Beechgrove Garden Hit Squad. The pupils return after the holiday for a harvest and tasting session, and their families are encouraged to visit to see what they have been learning with us.

We encourage anyone from the community to visit or help in the garden, which is open every day during the summer. For a couple of years we had a gentleman with early dementia who enjoyed volunteering with us, which also gave some respite for his wife. We have a raised table bed which can be tended from a seated position, and the garden is wheelchair accessible.

We use organic methods in the garden and encourage wildlife such as bees and other pollinating insects with companion planting*, a nectar bed, and insect hotel.

Our natural predators include birds, hoverflies, ladybirds and frogs. We have an automatic watering system, with drip hoses in beds and sprinklers in the cold frames, which saves work and also conserves water compared with using normal hoses.

We also join in with community events around the town and hold coffee mornings for cancer charities at the garden. These events encourage new visitors and are an opportunity for us to sell our plants and produce. We have had visits from the Brownies and Guides, other schools and nurseries, and residents from local sheltered housing. The garden is also featured in the new edition of ‘Scotland for Gardeners’, by Ken Cox, from Glendoick Garden Centre. We are active members of Trellis and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, and have hosted a networking meeting with them, plus visits from MSPs and Councillors on a study tour. We joined TCV’s Community Network to access its insurance scheme which is flexible and suited to our particular needs, which ordinary insurance companies sometimes don’t understand.

In 2013 a grant from the local newsletter fund enabled us to develop a new sensory area in the garden, with a ‘Discovery Path’ with ‘treasures’ set in it, a solar powered water feature, planting with interesting textures, colours and scents, and even bamboo poles to rattle!

We have used the CSV Make a Difference Day to encourage new volunteers to help us with an end of season tidy-up in October, and always welcome volunteers of all interests and abilities, at any time. Our volunteer group meets on a Monday morning and visitors are welcome for a cup of tea – unfortunately our only lack is toilet facilities!

The garden can be seen on Google maps – postcode KY13 8EQ. If you would like to arrange a visit, or have any other ideas or questions about the garden, please contact me at: amanda@tyafon.plus.com or visit our website www.potagergardenkinross.com

A potager garden is a French or English style kitchen garden with both ornamental and edible plants, often laid out in a formal geometric design.

*Companion planting involves placing different plants close to each other which can improve soil nutrition, provide protection from the wind or sun, and attract beneficial wildlife, or conversely act as a decoy for harmful pests.

Kinross Potager garden – a garden for everyoneP

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Harvest time with Kinross Primary.

Part of the new sensory area.

The gates to the garden showing the geometric layout of the beds in the potager area, whose shape is also used as our logo.

The vegetable beds in midsummer.

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The outdoor education projects have seen the schoolchildren, from Primary Two upwards, undertake topics ranging from woodland biodiversity to geology:

• Alva Primary, in partnership with the River Forth Fisheries Trust, studied river invertebrates, and reared 250 trout eggs which were successfully released into the Alva Burn.

• Coalsnaughton Primary enjoyed workshops on geology, including rock identification and soil sampling.

• Menstrie and Strathdevon Primaries completed workshops on river dipping and learned how to identify species and river pollution.

• Tillicoultry Primary studied Scottish woodlands, learning how to identify different types of trees and woodlands, and how to measure trees.

• Muckhart Primary took part in the OLP’s first Forest School sessions including scavenger hunts, den building, use of tools, creating music from natural materials and played various games including ‘meet a tree’.

Amanda Joaquin, the Volunteer Development Officer who facilitated the workshops, said: “It has been tremendous fun once again and I have really enjoyed this year’s workshops and have been really impressed with the children’s commitment and knowledge.” The project culminated when six short animated films about the children’s experiences of the workshop learning were

premiered at ‘Schools Day Event’ which gave all the schools, plus staff and parents, the chance to view their own and each other’s work. The schools again worked with Red Kite Animation, who were involved in the project last year, to help create the films which illustrate the topics they studied.

Amanda added: “Making the animated films is always a real highlight of this entire project. Jim Stirk and his team from Red Kite do a wonderful job with the children who perform the voices for the films and make hundreds of puppets and drawings to be used in them.”

In true Oscars night fashion, trophies and certificates were handed out at the premier by Councillor Les Sharp (Clackmannanshire West) in recognition of categories such as Best Comedy Animation which was won by Muckhart Primary, Best Animation Motion which was won by Strathdevon Primary, and Best Character Designs which was won by Alva Primary.

The films were screened again on 21 June at Ochils Fest Day – the OLP’S family friendly centerpiece of the month long Ochils Festival – and can now be viewed on the OLP website as part of the online Virtual Visitors Centre.

The Ochils Landscape Partnership works with local people to conserve and celebrate the heritage of the Ochils and Hillfoots. The OLP is based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, and comprises of 20 local organisations, including TCV Scotland. For further details on the OLP and its 22 current projects in the area, visit www.ochils.org.uk.

Animated pupils

Getting youngsters involved in, and enthused about, their local environment was the aim of a programme of School Workshops run in recent months by the ochils landscape Partnership and six Hillfoots primary schools.

Bug hunting.

Exploring the concept of a food chain.

Amanda Joaquin (right) and a Coalsnaughton Primary pupil testing soil pH.

Menstrie Primary pupils kick sampling Menstrie Burn looking for ‘indicator’ invertebrate species as an indication of the burn’s health.

Creating a soil horizon.

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A new volunteer group, the Bog Squad, has recently been launched by Butterfly Conservation Scotland to carry out rehabilitation works on damaged peat bogs across the Central Belt.

Scottish peat bogs are key wildlife habitats providing homes for bog specialists, such as the Large Heath and other rare butterflies, including the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Green Hairstreak. Bog edges also provide vital homes for rare moths such as the Argent & Sable, Lunar Hornet and Wood Tiger. Many Scottish bogs are in a poor state after being planted

Bog Squad launched

with alien conifers, damaged by drainage, used as dumps and stripped of peat for garden use. But Scotland’s bogs are increasingly valued for their biodiversity and the ‘ecosystem services’ they provide, such as flood prevention and carbon storage.

Most of our lowland raised bogs, or mires, are in the Central Belt, Aberdeenshire and in Dumfries and Galloway. Many are small and isolated in landscapes of intensive agriculture. Bog Squad Project Officer Sarah Green says: “Peatlands are not only beautiful and fascinating places with their own unique wildlife – they also help us to reduce flooding and combat climate

A bog specialist: the Large Heath butterfly.

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The Bog Squad’s first work party was held at Langlands Moss Nature Reserve,

near East Kilbride. Here, they joined members of the Friends of Langlands

Moss to install plastic dams to help maintain the

Moss’s water levels.

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change by locking-up carbon. We are now recruiting and training volunteers to help conserve these wonderful places.”

Information about the Bog Squad, including upcoming work parties is available at www.bogsquad.weebly.com

fRee one to one mentoring if you belong to a small organisation which is developing an outdoor learning, community gardening, or environmental project and you would like some guidance and support, then TCV may be able to help you. we currently have opportunities for eight organisations and their managers/leaders to benefit from free mentoring by TCV staff who can provide guidance on how to get started, possible sources of funding, valuable contacts in the sector etc. you/your project worker and our TCV staff member will meet up once a month over a six month period and focus on your particular area of development. This might include project development, managing volunteers, working with corporate organisations, fundraising, developing a health project, or working with young people or schools.

your TCV mentor will be a friendly face to bounce ideas off, give you some practical advice, and point you in the direction of further information and resources. if you are interested in joining the mentoring programme, which is supported by Scottish natural Heritage, please contact Julia duncan for further information at j.duncan@tcv.org.uk or call her on 07843 069559.

Welcome......to the following groups who have recently joined TCV Scotland’s Community Network:

Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park

Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves

North East Scotland FEI (Forest Education Initiative)

Port of Menteith Primary School

Renfrewshire Environmental and Restoration Group

Viewpark Conservation Group

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engaging Minority ethnic (Me) communities Members of our Minority Ethnic (ME) communities are often absent from the broad range of environmental activities being undertaken across the country, from conservation volunteering to community gardening. But things are changing, as current TCV initiatives in Glasgow and Edinburgh show.

Making connectionsIn Glasgow, Shilpa Saxena has a 3 month internship with TCV as ME Engagement Officer. Here, Shilpa outlines her project which is funded through the Equality Internship Programme:

My role is to bring ME communities together with each other, and with TCV, by making them aware of the potential of TCV’s environmental programmes. As I network in Hindi or Urdu and build relationships with ME organisations and community-based centres, I’m discovering that ME engagement has endless possibilities encompassing a wide range of TCV activities. From generating interest in citizen science groups outdoors, to forthcoming food growing projects, ‘natural learning’, and practical volunteering of green spaces, I evaluate the barriers and suggest the solutions for successful ME involvement.

After contacting ME organisations in Glasgow I’ve discovered that many people have high skill levels and ‘nature’ based

experience, from qualifications gained in their homelands (including Nigeria, China, India and Sri Lanka) e.g. in agriculture, and many have been involved in farming or forest conservation programmes. Much interest is apparent and conservation is not such an alien topic after all in ME societies.

I’ve realised a growing awareness of what can be done in Glasgow to create and reclaim green spaces. Already, ME community based centres are reflecting their environmental global concerns, and of wellbeing and nature based therapeutic stress relief through their educational programmes or involvement in the outdoors. Building on ‘natural’ integration with ME youth groups is important too.

So far I’ve created an awareness of what various projects TCV can offer to our ME communities – the potential is unlimited. I also hope there will be wider representation in the public sector organisations which I have visited to expand on their already growing social/environmental activities. I envisage that all barriers are challenged and ME engagement is integrated with all community engagement. No differences should exist.

On a personal note I have always loved nature and want to ‘go big on it’. Perhaps I’ll seek a path in countryside management or study an aspect of agriculture or agronomy. Whatever I end up doing, this experience has been invaluable.

As an example of integration and involvement, families from Glasgow’s ME communities, including refugees and asylum seekers, have recently been involved in Discover Me – a natural play programme held in Glasgow’s parks and green spaces and an opportunity for families ‘to learn, play, explore and discover’. More information about the programme, funded by Inspiring Scotland, is available from www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/join/child-led-play

Growing Spaces for MEMembers of Edinburgh’s Minority Ethnic communities are developing their gardening and food-growing skills over the coming months as part of TCV Scotland’s ‘Growing Spaces for Me’ – a learning programme of workshops covering the basics of food growing, from plot to pot.

Each workshop covers a particular aspect of growing, including herbs, fruit and vegetables, soil types etc. The workshops are taking place at locations across Edinburgh including some of the participants’ own gardens. The project ends with a celebratory harvest meal at the end of September which will involve the participants cooking produce they have grown themselves. As well as the benefits to the individuals involved it’s hoped that different minority ethnic and food growing organisations will learn new skills and ways of working from each other.

Growing Spaces for ME is a partnership project between TCV Scotland, Beyond the Veil Edinburgh, and Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (www.elgt.org.uk).Shilpa

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Growing Spaces for ME began with vegetable and herb planting in the courtyard of Blackhall Library.

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Creating Skelmorlie’s Sunshine garden

A corner of the grounds at Skelmorlie Primary School, by Wemyss Bay on the Clyde coast, has been transformed into Mr Mac’s Sunshine Garden, thanks to the joint efforts of TCV, RBS, and the school’s pupils, staff and parents.

The new garden features raised beds which the pupils have planted-up with a colourful array of flowers, herbs, shrubs and strawberries. And, trees have been planted and benches installed. As well as being a pleasant spot for the pupils and staff to enjoy, the garden will also attract a variety of birds, butterflies and other insects.

The garden’s construction involved much backbreaking effort by RBS employees and TCV volunteers to erect the planters made of railway sleepers, and to shift tonnes of soil and path material. It didn’t help that the project coincided with a couple of unseasonably hot days, although ice lollies were provided to combat the heat!

The RBS team came from its Mortgage Centre in nearby Greenock. Their input to the garden is outlined by RBS’s Gavin Connell: “What started as just another Community Investment proposal soon developed into something bigger. When I and my colleague Caroline Low first visited the school we thought we were going to see what we could do to help with a new garden the school was looking to develop. A few hours of weeding and planting were the initial thoughts. This soon changed!

On the initial visit myself and Caroline got to judge a competition the school had ran where the pupils had designed the garden they would like to see. On returning to the Mortgage Centre we decided we would try to do something better than a few hours for the school. We found out that RBS had a charity

partnership with The Conservation Volunteers and after a few phone calls discovered we had a new joint scheme called Nominate a Patch for RBS to support worthwhile community projects. TCV agreed to adopt this as our first ‘Patch’.

There then followed five days of groups from the Centre digging, lifting, shifting, sawing, shovelling and concrete mixing to get to the (almost) finished garden. Myself, Caroline and some other folk who had participated in the project attended the garden’s opening ceremony where Mrs Muir, Head teacher, announced that the garden would be named

’Mr Mac’s Sunshine Garden’ in memory of Donald McAnespie, the school’s popular janitor who passed away while in service. On an appropriately sunny day in June the ceremonial ribbon was cut by Gladys McAnespie, Donald’s wife, and pupils got to do some planting. The school and Mrs McAnespie were delighted with the garden and wanted to pass on their huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen for them.”

In addition to its staff’s involvement, RBS paid for most of the garden’s plants and materials, with some help from the school’s Enterprise Group of pupils.

TCV’s input to the project was overseen by Graeme Anderson (Operations Manager) and Chris Peach (Corporate Support Officer), who said: “It’s been a lot of hard work but a real pleasure to help create Mr Mac’s Sunshine Garden, and strengthen the links between the local community, RBS and ourselves.

Skelmorlie Primary has a colourful new wildlife-friendly space and a fitting tribute to Donald McAnespie, including the strawberries – Mr Mac’s favourite fruit.”

Mr Mac’s Sunshine Garden was the first Nominate a Patch project in which RBS employees, supported by TCV, undertake worthwhile community projects located near their branches and centres of operation. A further three Nominate a Patch schemes will be held across the UK this year.

Summer 2014 11

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TCV Scotland’s community, health and environmental volunteering activities are supported by:

follow us online8

vimeo.com/conservationvolunteers

twitter.com/tcvscotland #Joininfeelgood

facebook.com/tcvscotland

Where to find usTCV Scotland Head office24 Allan ParkStirlingFK8 2QGT 01786 479697 f 01786 465359e scotland@tcv.org.uk

c/o GB LinersKirkhill PlaceKirkhill Industrial EstateDyceAberdeenAB21 0GUT 01224 774705e Aberdeen@tcv.org.uk

c/o Highland BirchwoodsLittleburn RoadMunlochyNear InvernessIV8 8NNT 01463 811 967e inverness@tcv.org.uk

Unit M1143 Charles StreetGlasgowG21 2QAT 0141 552 5294 f 0141 552 0418e glasgow@tcv.org.uk

Glasgow Life Green GymBlairtummock House20 Baldinnie RoadEasterhouseGlasgowG34 9EET 0141 276 1785e Julie.WilsonGL@glasgow.gov.uk

Jupiter Urban Wildlife CentreWood StreetGrangemouthFK3 8LHT 01324 471600 f 01324 471600e jupiter-nursery@tcv.org.uk

St Joseph’s AcademyGrassyards RoadKilmarnockKA3 7SLT 01563 526144 ext.2067e scotland-education@tcv.org.uk

The Granary 44 Mortonhall Gate Edinburgh EH16 6TJT 0131 664 6170 f 0131 664 0583 e edinburgh@tcv.org.uk

TCV UK Head officeSedum HouseMallard WayDoncasterDN4 8DBT 01302 388883 f 01302 311531e information@tcv.org.uk

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The Network Bulletin is produced three times

annually and contains news and features on Community Network member groups,

plus TCV Scotland projects, programmes and volunteers.

12 networkbulletin

The Network Bulletin is published by TCV Scotland.

Views and opinions expressed in the Bulletin do not

necessarily reflect those of the editor or of

The Conservation Volunteers.

editor Graham Burns  e g.burns@tcv.org.uk 

T 0141 552 5294

©The Conservation Volunteers 2014. Charity registered in Scotland SC039302, and

England 261009. Green Gym is a Registered Trade Mark.

Recycled paper

‘green Ability Conference’ donaldson’s School, linlithgowWednesday 22 October 2014

• Providehands-onpracticaltaster sessions for delegates to experience the power of the outdoors

• Provideopportunitiesfornetworking

• Signpostorganisationsto funding, fundraising training and other learning opportunities for growing work in this area

Who’s it for? Anyone who supports disabled people and wants to integrate environmental and outdoor based activity into their programme of work.

interested?To register your interest in attending, please contact Tricia Burden at t.burden.tcv.org.uk

improve your skillsCheck out details of TCV Scotland’s 2014-15 Training Programme of one and two day courses covering a wide range of environmental and leadership skills at: www.bit.ly/TCVScotlandTrg or sign-up to our monthly eBulletin with news of latest courses, campaigns, funding opportunities and networking events at: www.tcv.org.uk/scotland

feVa forum exchange ‘green Health in later life’Stirling – Tuesday 16 SeptemberThis sharing good practice event will highlight the opportunities and benefits of outdoor activity for older people, including those suffering from dementia. Aimed at anyone wishing to develop opportunities for older people to get active in the outdoors.

Further details from Graham Burns: g.burns@tcv.org.uk

Aberdeen on the moveTCV has a new base in Aberdeen. After a period of homelessness Pete Brinklow, Community Project Officer, has gathered-up his tools, computer and chipped coffee mug and moved to Kirkhill Industrial Estate in Dyce. Earlier this year Pete’s co-worker in Aberdeen, Yvonne Stephan, moved on to a new job with the RSPB. Yvonne (with Pete’s help) was responsible for all our volunteer and community projects in Aberdeenshire and we wish her a belated thanks and good luck in her new role.

Bringing people together from disability and environmental organisations to increase access to nature and enjoyment of the outdoors for people with a disability.

What is it?A free outdoor-based networking event, the Green Ability Conference will bring together disability sector agencies and environmental sector organisations to learn about and share good practice around the impact outdoor spaces can have on people with disabilities in terms of health and well-being.

The event will:• Showcaseexamplesof

outdoor activities for those with a disability

Save the date!

Coming up!