‘Yesss….one down, six to go!’ – A quote from:
a) Your partner shouting about some sport involving a ball…
b) An over-excited volunteer installing plastic dams into a bog…
c) Your manager’s reaction to the news that you just got a new job.
Okay, so its not your usual reaction to the news that you’ll be losing one of your employees, but this is no ordinary situation really. It’s more of an ultimate goal which should hopefully be achieved at the end of a TCV Natural Communities traineeship. It’s kinda the whole point of the programme.
So, for those of you who don’t already know, I will be leaving TCV and Stirling Council in less than two weeks to embark on my next big adventure as the brand new Activities Park Ranger at Rouken Glen Park, employed by East Renfrewshire Council. This will be a great opportunity for me to put into practice all of the experience and skills I have learned during my time at TCV, and continuing to enthuse local communities into getting involved in nature and conservation. I am very excited about starting this new post.
And so, onto my activities over the last month…
The end of October saw me up to my eyeballs with a funding application for a community project with the Friends of Plean Country Park. After lots of hard work, the application was submitted and we are still waiting for the result of that….so fingers crossed.
Of course, the end of October also meant Halloween. This year, I was roped into helping the Friends of Plean Country Park to put on a spooktacular evening of halloween themed activities, including a ghost walk around the park. I took on the role as Sir Horace Horsealot (the headless horseman), and scared the living daylights out of a number of children, reducing most of them to tears….oops, maybe I was a bit too scary!
Headless Horseman, Zombie Coal Miner and the Child of the Pond
The next day, I lead a less scary night walk in Cultenhove after COP’s Halloween party. I introduced the children to the world of bats. I had two dead specimens courtesy of Dougie (my fellow ranger), which the children and some of the adults loved. I also showed them how to use a bat detector and what sounds they could expect to hear on a warmer night, as it was around -2C that evening.
In the middle of October, we held a
community action day at Wester Moss and Fallin Bing. In the morning we focused on the moss, removing dead birch trees and damming drainage ditches, which was great fun using a comedy mallet 🙂
I trust my volunteers completely!
In the afternoon, we focused our efforts on Fallin Bing, removing a stand of birch saplings from a south-facing slope to allow bird’s-foot-trefoil to return. This is an important habitat for a variety of butterflies including common blues.
Birch removal from Fallin Bing – in my trendy wellies!
In October, everyone involved in TCV Natural Communities 2012 gathered together in Edinburgh for a showcase of everyone’s hard work throughout the year. Each trainee did a presentation – following strict rules – NO POWERPOINT ALLOWED. So….I had to think outside the box…and look what I came up with…..
My Giant Butterfly!
Pole-sawing action!
The last month has been a flurry of maintenance jobs and action days. From a day of vegetation clearance from the horse trail at Plean Country Park, where I was let loose with a pole-saw, to a Drystone Dyking workshop at Plean Country Park and a day of Blackthorn removal at Gowan Hill in Stirl
ing.
Drystane Wall complete! Good work team!
My best goalie impression after cutting a path through the Blackthorn!
Righty, well, I think that’s my last month and a bit covered, and with less than two weeks left, I have 3 meetings, a trip to RSPB Mersehead to visit Jude, Badger Survey training and Tree Planting at Forthbank Loop to fill my time.
Natural Communities has been a great experience for me and I have loved every minute of it. I have met and worked with loads of absolutely fabulous people, and made some friends for life.
I would like to take a moment to thank TCV and Stirling Council for giving me this opportunity and supporting me throughout the year, they have been truly excellent!
So, it is with a friendly wave and a smile that I say a fond farewell to everyone involved in my Natural Communities Traineeship. I’m sure it wont be the last time you see me!
And, for the final time, I say cheers and cheerio!
Off on my next big adventure!