Conservation Holidays Locations
Each Conservation Holiday is based in a particular part of our Target Area, with the week’s tasks at different sites in the locality. The accommodation will usually be a short drive of around half an hour from the sites, but may be longer due to the remoteness of some work locations.
Glen Affric
 Island on Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin |
The Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, is often described as one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland and contains one of the largest remaining fragments of Caledonian Forest. Volunteers will be working at sites in Cougie, Glen Cannich and Glen Affric, planting trees, removing redundant fences and felling non-native trees, to help the Caledonian Forest extend north and southwest. Volunteers on these weeks will have an opportunity to look around the tree nursery at Plodda, and the week may include a day's work on the nursery. Accommodation will be at Plodda Lodge.
Dundreggan
This year we will be working on the 10,000-acre Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, which is owned and managed by Trees for Life. Tree planting will be the main focus of the work with other tasks such as non-native removal, seed collection and survey work. Accommodation will be at Dundreggan Lodge, which is located on the estate.
Achnashellach
Located in upper Glen Carron, Achnashellach is on the northern boundary of Trees for Life’s Target Area. Much of this site is Caledonian Pine Forest, under-planted with non-native plantations. We’ve been assisting Forestry Commission Scotland by removing these non-native trees, restoring a wetland area and carrying out some survey work. Work on these weeks will include tree planting (spring), fence removal and non-native removal. Accommodation will be at Attadale Cottages, Strathcarron.
Corrimony
At Corrimony, above Strathglass, we are helping the RSPB restore Caledonian
Forest and wetland to an area of former conifer plantation.
The reserve (RSPB page) offers the chance to see many rare birds, such as
black grouse, golden eagle and merlin. We will be planting trees here, getting involved in wetland restoration, and felling non-native trees.
Some of the work sites are remote and may require a long walk over rough terrain, so a good level of fitness is necessary. Accommodation will be at Plodda Lodge.
More about visiting Corrimony.
Plodda Tree Nursery Weeks - a gentler option
This year, we are running three Nursery weeks for those who want to make a practical contribution to the restoration of the Caledonian Forest, but who may be unable to keep up with the pace of our other Conservation Holidays. The work will be based around Trees for Life’s nursery at Plodda Lodge, and will include collecting, planting and transplanting native tree cuttings, preparing seedbeds and work on our aspen propagation project. Accommodation is at Plodda Lodge or Tomich Holiday Chalets.
Isle of Skye
We will be working on Forestry Commission Scotland’s Kinloch Hills Native Woodland Restoration Project. This 7,400-hectare site is on the eastern side of this beautiful island. FCS is working to restore native woodland, heath and bog. Our tasks will include planting native broadleaves (spring), non-native tree removal, ecological survey work and fence removal. Some of the work sites are remote and require long walks over rough terrain, so a good level of fitness is necessary. Accommodation for these weeks will be at the Flora MacDonald’s hostel, near Armadale.
Glen Moriston
Glen Moriston lies near the southern boundary of the Trees for Life Target Area and has a band of mixed woodland winding its way along the course of the River Moriston, with plantations and patches of native woodland on the hillsides. The work will be on Forestry Commission Scotland’s Inverwick Forest and nearby estates. The forest is important for black grouse, a rare and declining species, and improving the habitat is a focus for our work. We will be removing redundant deer fencing and felling non-native trees, with the possibility of planting trees to help benefit the grouse. Accommodation for these weeks will be at Dundreggan Lodge.
Glen Garry
Owned by the Forestry Commission, this new work site is situated near the river Garry, south of Dundreggan, amongst stunning pinewood reserves that have been designated for protection and restoration at an international level. Volunteers on these weeks will be planting trees and felling non-native species, with the possibility of ecological survey work or some fence removal work. Accommodation will be at Dundreggan Lodge.
Last updated: Wednesday, 25-Aug-2010 15:59:58 BST