As some of you may know, FWAG Scotland went into administration two weeks ago, and I am sad to think that my dream job of being a FWAG advisor no longer exists. However, things are not as bleak as I first thought. Tony and Rory, my colleagues and mentors at FWAG Scotland, have started a new business called the Farm Environment, which will aim to build on the good work done by FWAG. In many ways, my job may be even more enjoyable, as we will be able to take on extra projects and advisory work, which may not have fitted in with FWAG. Already, we have secured some work for the following round of SRDP applications, and we are looking at new projects to do.
This week, I finished off the last of our FWAG work, and went to Seafield to dig the Great Crested Newt ponds, which I have been planning since the start of my apprenticeship. Unfortunately our funding fell through when FWAG went bust, but West Lothian Council stepped in to provide funding to dig the ponds at Seafield Local Nature Reserve. We dug a total of six ponds, as well as sorting out some of the drainage issues at the site. Below is a video of our second day of digging, to give you a bit of insight of what a day as a BTCV apprentice involves.
One of the ponds nearing completion.