Borders Forest Trust

Volunteering

Conservation volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, take healthy exercise in the great outdoors and to meet new people. Our volunteers not only help us out in woodlands but play a part in all aspects of the Trust’s work – providing administrative support, helping at events and contributing to publications. The work of volunteers is central to the aims of Borders Forest Trust.

Why not help us achieve our vision of restoring native woodlands in the south of Scotland by becoming a BFT volunteer?

Community Woodland Volunteering

We offer volunteers the opportunity to get involved with a wide range of woodland conservation and management activities such as tree planting, seed collecting, path maintenance, pruning and brashing, controlling introduced invasive species and taking part in wildlife monitoring.

Community Woodland Officer Lisa Brydon co-ordinates our Woodland Volunteering & Youth Training project, which runs two days a week and provides opportunities for volunteers to carry out a range of activities in community woodlands in the Scottish Borders. The youth training element of the project provides training in woodland management and countryside management skills, leading to formal accreditations. Volunteers meet on Wednesdays in Galashiels at 10am for transportation by minibus to community woodland sites. To find out more please contact Lisa on 01835 830750 or email lisa@bordersforesttrust.org

Carrifran Wildwood Volunteering

Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the Carrifran Wildwood project, including planning, fundraising, publicity, seed collection, planting, checking of fences and other site work. Volunteers have planted some 50,000 trees at Carrifran, about one tenth of the total, and volunteer work on site amounts to about 400 person-days per year. A regular group of volunteers carry out tasks almost every Tuesday and special one-off weekend events also take place.

Volunteer Calendar 2011-12

Visit the Events page for upcoming voluntter dates. Please note: Some tools will be provided, but bring your favourite spade if convenient. Some of the planting is on steep rocky slopes and may involve a substantial walk and burn crossings, but there are always other things to do closer to the road.

Remember to come in appropriate wet weather/fleeced clothing and bring a pair of heavy waterproof gardening gloves to protect your hands. A pair of jeans and a t-shirt are definitely not sufficient for your comfort or safety! We also strongly advise walking boots as parts of the site are very slippery. Finally, remember to bring your lunch and a drink.

Meet at 10 am at the Carrifran car park (grid reference NT 159115) on the A708 Moffat to Selkirk road. For more information on one-off or regular volunteering at Wildwood contact the volunteer co-ordinator George Moffat on 01835 830750 or email george@bordersforesttrust.org

Corehead Volunteering

Why not play a part in the planting and ecological restoration work that’s taking place at Corehead and the Devil’s Beef Tub? Conservation volunteering takes place every Wednesday at Corehead, with pick-up at the Moffat Ram on Moffat High Street at 9.30am. For more details call 01835 830750 or visit the Events page for dates.

Your help and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated!