Conservation Holidays Locations
Each Conservation Holiday is based in a particular part of our Project 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.
Dundreggan
 Bog pool on Dundreggan with birchwood and the peak of Binnilidh Bheag visible behind. |
Trees for Life purchased the 10,000-acre Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston in 2008. It is now our field base and the site of our tree nursery. Dundreggan is often descibed as a 'lost world of biodiversity' as a huge number of rare and endangered species have been found here in recent years. At least 60 priority species for conservation have been recorded here, some of which were previously unknown in Scotland. If you're lucky, you might see pine marten, red deer or some of the many local bird species from our wildlife watching hide.
There are plenty of opportunities to explore the estate on the day off, with the hills of Binnilidh Mhor and Binnilidh Bheag on the doorstep. There is also the chance to visit our wild boar, who have been resident on the estate since 2009 and are helping us with bracken control.
Work sites offer dramatic views of the glen, where tree planting will be the main focus of the work. Other tasks include non-native removal, seed collection and survey work. Accommodation will be at Dundreggan Lodge, which is located on the estate.
Glen Affric National Nature Reserve
 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 Glen Affric Chalet Park.
Corrimony
At Corrimony, above Strathglass, we are helping the RSPB restore Caledonian
Forest and wetland to an area of former conifer plantation.
The reserve 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 Glen Affric Chalet Park.
More about visiting Corrimony.
Nursery Weeks - a gentler option
In 2012 we are running four Nursery weeks for volunteers 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 Dundreggan Lodge, and will include collecting, planting and transplanting native tree cuttings, preparing seedbeds and work on our aspen propagation project. Accommodation is at Dundreggan Lodge.
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 (in the 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 Project 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 Highgarry Lodges.
Last updated: Friday, 04-May-2012 18:26:06 CEST