This week we got to see lots of the Countryside Rangers, and to do something a wee bit different from the norm.
On Tuesday we got to the top of Blackford Hill, took a look at the weather, and then changed our minds and headed down to the relative shelter of Blackford Pond. It was much more pleasant out of the wind and so we all got stuck into clearing the steps. There was also rather nice gazebo in which to have lunch.
Wednesday the sun was out and it was lovely and warm, so this time we made it up to the top of Blackford Hill. We split into two groups and one group painted the gates, which looked very nice, while another group put up a new signpost further down the hill. We then cut back all the vegetation round the carpark so the hill looked its best for the Blackford Hill Festival they had on Sunday.
Thursday was a day that really had us testing our problem solving skills. We were removing carved standing stones from Burdiehouse Burn and putting them back up at the path intersections. It was a day of things going wrong when first the generator did not work and then we discovered solid rock about six inches into the hole we were digging. Jess, our ranger for the day, solved our first problem as she knew of a friendly neighbour who let us borrow a plug, and the second problem solved itself in the end when we found a change in the rock type just a few inches back from our original hole. It went from solid rock, to a mixture of sandstone layers and what looked like coal. We also had a good idea of forming the concrete into a lip that went underneath the harder rock to really make sure the stone doesnt move. This meant that we managed to get the stone set in really deeply this time so they should stay put from now on.
Overall it was a very productive week and a nice chance to see the Rangers again.
To view photos of past and present project and our volunteers in action please copy and paste this link into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/BTCV.Edinburgh