TCV Edinburgh (EBAT): Flying Volunteers – Woodland and River

Join a mobile conservation session supporting woodland establishment and river corridor monitoring— varied and high-impact work
About this Event

🌱 About This Event

Join The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) for a Flying Volunteers session working across Colinton and Redford Woods, focusing on woodland aftercare and river corridor monitoring.

This session is part of the 🌱 About This Event

Join The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) for a Flying Volunteers session working across Colinton and Redford Woods, focusing on woodland aftercare and river corridor monitoring.

This session is part of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Team (EBAT) programme, contributing to the Edinburgh Nature Network—a city-wide effort to restore and connect habitats—and the Urban Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy.

🌿 Nature isn’t just for wildlife—it’s for people too.
Through TCV’s Nature for All approach, we create opportunities for people to actively contribute to nature recovery while building skills and experience.

⏰ How Our Volunteer Days Work

We aim to deliver sessions Tuesday–Thursday each week, though this may vary depending on conditions.

• Sessions typically begin at 10:00
• Some may finish earlier or run longer based on tasks

🌿 That’s the nature of working outdoors.

📍 Session Details

📅 Date: Thursday 18 June
🕙 Start time: 10:00
⏱ Duration: ~3–4 hours
📍 Locations: Colinton & Redford Woods
📍 Meeting Point: ///lame.worm.losses

🔧 Programme Focus – Woodland Establishment & Habitat Connectivity

This session focuses on:

• Supporting young woodland establishment
• Managing vegetation to improve tree survival
• Monitoring and managing river corridor habitats

👉 These habitats are key components of the Nature Network, acting as ecological corridors linking sites across the city.

⚡ What Are Flying Volunteer Sessions?

Flying sessions are designed to:

• Cover multiple sites in one day
• Deliver targeted, time-sensitive work
• Maximise impact across the programme

👉 They can be more physically active and fast-paced than standard sessions.

🌳 What We’ll Be Doing

This session will include a mix of woodland aftercare and ecological survey work, such as:

• Installing wool mulch mats to suppress competing vegetation
• Carrying out woodchip application around young trees
• Conducting “beat-up” surveys (checking tree survival and condition)
• Walking sections of the Braid Burn corridor to identify and record INNS

We may also:

• Carry out targeted control of invasive species if encountered
• Discuss woodland structure and long-term development
• Explore how these areas link into the wider habitat network

👉 A varied session combining practical work and observational ecology.

🌿 Why This Work Matters
🌳 Woodland aftercare:

• Improves survival and establishment rates of young trees
• Reduces competition from grasses and ruderal vegetation
• Supports development of future woodland habitat

🌊 River corridor monitoring:

• Helps identify and manage Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)
• Supports native vegetation recovery
• Maintains bank stability and habitat quality
• Enhances connectivity between sites

🔗 Nature Network impact:

• Strengthens ecological corridors
• Improves species movement across the landscape
• Contributes to long-term resilience of urban ecosystems

👉 Early intervention and ongoing care are critical to long-term habitat success.

🔬 Citizen Science Opportunities

This session includes elements of applied ecological monitoring, such as:

• 🌿 Identifying invasive and native plant species
• 📍 Recording locations of INNS along the corridor
• 🌱 Observing tree survival and growth patterns

👉 These observations contribute to long-term management decisions and monitoring across EBAT sites.

🌍 Building a Community

Flying sessions are supported by a core group of volunteers helping deliver high-impact conservation across Edinburgh.

Through EBAT, volunteers are:

• Establishing new habitats
• Monitoring ecological change
• Building practical and ecological skills

👉 This is hands-on conservation contributing to real landscape-scale outcomes.

👥 Who Can Take Part?

Everyone is welcome, but this session is particularly suited to those who:

• Enjoy physically active outdoor work
• Are comfortable with moving between sites
• Have attended previous sessions (helpful but not essential)
• Are interested in woodland and habitat connectivity

👉 If you’re unsure, feel free to get in touch.

🌿 What to Expect

Directly:

• Practical woodland and habitat work
• Survey and observational elements
• Movement between sites

Indirectly:

• Learn about woodland establishment and INNS
• Build practical conservation experience
• Improve fitness and wellbeing
• Be part of a proactive, high-impact group

🧤 What to Bring

• Sturdy footwear
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Water/snacks

All tools and gloves are provided.

🆕 New Volunteers

If this is your first session, please contact me after booking with:

• Emergency contact details
• Any relevant medical information

♿ Accessibility & Transport

🚐 Transport is available for up to 4 volunteers
👉 Additional lifts would allow more participation—get in touch if you can help

📣 Get Involved

👉 Book your place and come get involved

👉 Help establish woodland and protect river habitats

👉 Support biodiversity across Edinburgh’s Nature Network

👉 Nature for All starts here