Volunteering and Team Building Opportunities In the John Muir Centenary Year 2014 Pishwanton is a project of The Life Science Trust: Quince Cottage, 4, Baxtersyke, Gifford, EH41 4PL Phone: 00 44 (0)1620 810259, Email:admin@pishwanton.com, Registered Scottish Charity : SCO20705 .
Practical Tasks at Pishwanton: Throughout the year there are many physical tasks performed at Pishwanton as part of the daily work on the land. Tasks at Pishwanton can involve woodland management; both tree planting and felling, footpath maintenance, fence construction, clearing bracken or ragwort, hand farm work, harvesting & processing herbs for tea and medicinal use; all of these task are suitable for day or a variety for weekend stays. Longer-term projects more suitable to week-end or week longs stays include Green Building courses, Landscape planning and conservation and maintenance of existing buildings.
Building Confidence through Challenge: Problem solving abilities as a team are strengthened in an unfamiliar environment. Finding new ways to work together and the confidence gained through mastering a new skill or task can be transferred back to the work place. The work at Pishwanton can be physically challenging. It has been deliberately designed this way.
Green Gym: Bring a team along to join in and contribute to the running of the project and get a good workout in the fresh air at the same time. We can provide team challenges if you would like to bring two or three smaller teams to be set a challenge. For teams looking for a less physical challenge, there are many more gentle tasks available to take part in to support the project, i.e. herb harvesting and processing or various craft based activities, such as hurdle, gate or fence making.
Creative tasks: Land-based skills are available as creative workshops for teams looking to create something together. Willow-weaving
About the team at Pishwanton Pishwanton Community Wood Project is a place of peace at the foot of the Lammermuir Hills. Pishwanton Wood is like a jewel of semi-wild nature in our modern mechanised world. It is a project of the Life Science Trust, (Educational Charity No SCO20705).The Trust purchased the land in 1992 to research, teach and promote educational methods that enable people to rediscover a healing, physical and spiritual connection with the natural world. Fully in line with John Muir’s legacy.
Background to the Project All of us are responsible for the way we shape our landscape, whether we are conscious of it or not. We are also all a product of the place in which we grew. At Pishwanton, our concern is how do we go forward today with an enlightened consciousness, appropriate to the 21st century to shape the landscape of the future through actively shaping ourselves.
Pishwanton Rangers for the day, weekend or week—what we offer: There are many activities that take place at Pishwanton on a daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal basis. Depending on the time you would like your team to visit, the day, weekend or week can be structured to suit your teams needs and required outcomes. There is a calendar of planned volunteer weekends. Additional days and weekends are available by arrangement.
Team residential: Hostel style accommodation is available for stays of 2 days or more. A team challenge can be extended with an evening meal cooked together at the end of the day. Evening activities can include nature walks, local story-telling and team quizzes. There are also local eateries in Gifford which can also offer an alternative option with prior bookings. Booking: When booking please indicate the size of the team or teams you wish to bring and the type of activity in which they are physically able to participate in. i.e. Please indicate the level of physical work required by your team when booking e.g. easy, medium, hard and approximate numbers for each type of activity, if you know this in advance. This can be amended, but an indication helps with initial planning to accommodate all needs and arrange the support required. If an overnight or longer stay is planned then please provide numbers and state whether accommodation through Pishwanton is required. A booking form will be sent out along with accommodation prices at Pishwanton and local establishments. Booking can be made in various ways: Website: on-line: www.Pishwanton.org and link to Corporate and Team Building Activities Email: by initial email contact to: admin@pishwanton.org Telephone: by calling one of the following numbers and talking to a member of staff or leaving your contact name, number, organisation name and a summary of requirements and a member of staff will contact you to discuss further. Pishwanton Office: 01620 810259 Pishwanton Wood: 01620 810931
Corporate Involvement If would like to support this project through a ‘one-off’ or regular donation/sponsorship. Please complete the donation/ sponsorship form included in this booklet. One-off or regular donation can be ‘general’ in support of the whole project, or it can be for a specific aspect of the project. Please state which when completing the donation/sponsorship form. Malcolm Lemmon— Master Craftsman in Green building, over 30 years experience. Enjoying a well earned tea break!
Site for Pine Lodge
Drawing of Elevations of Hawthorn/ Ash
Student Chalets & Accommodation—Plans are completed, Foundations started. Donations will support education in sustainable building and creation of unique buildings supporting local sustainable tourism. Team working creating raised beds.
Early days… Garden Planning
A garden to educate and train a wide range of people. A place to relax in and enjoy.
The Community Garden—Donations towards the Community Garden can support regular supervision of volunteers and payment of specialist staff for people attending for therapeutic reasons. Farm Animal Upkeep—Donations towards Farm Animal Upkeep ensure animals are available to view and visit around the year. Courses run throughout the year in animal observation/drawing, land/farm and craft work. Working Clydesdale horse.
Malcy one of our cashmere goats allows teaching of traditional crafts from cashmere.
Our small herd, support teaching of biodynamic farming methods.
Our flock provide wool for courses.
Why Sponsor or Donate to Pishwanton? People are increasingly becoming aware of the medium and longer-term affects on the environment and society through both personal and business decisions. Sponsoring or Donating to this highly ecological project can support your business ‘mission statement’ and/or overall long-term plan to support a sustainable environment, community and world. In addition to specific aspects of the project given over-leaf; it is also possible to support a ‘structure’ with-in the project: Education—inclusive, promoting confidence and the ability to observe, question and build a sustainable world. Care and Support— a deep understanding of the importance of teaching & supporting gentle, clear & thoughtful communication with people with special needs. Conservation— working with all the kingdoms of nature in harmony, to further our understanding of the natural world. Please consider which best fits to your business ethos or long-term goals. How would my company benefit? Your company logo can be added to our Corporate Sponsor/Donor page on our website and Facebook page, in return for a commitment of a regular donation or significant sponsorship of an area of the project. For donations over £10,000, your logo will appear on all our correspondence and marketing materials, for that project. If your company would like to sponsor a partial or complete build for one of the Student Chalets and, please contact Chief Executive (Margaret Colquhoun) for current build prices. Your company logo will then be displayed on the completed Chalet.
Prices 2014 Team Away Days: Sliding scale of ÂŁ50-ÂŁ150 per head/per day depending on numbers attending and type of tasks included in the day. Prices for bookings of more than 1 day will depend on number of supervisors and types of tasks over the days booked. Team Residential: When booking a residential, a small reduction in the price per head/per day may be possible, depending on number of days spent at the project and the aim of the stay. Booking accommodation through Pishwanton could also bring a reduction for consecutive days booked. This will depend on the time of year and number of days booked. Corporate Volunteers: If your organisation would like to support your staff and this project by allowing staff to attend a volunteer day free of charge, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for an information pack. Occasionally a volunteer would be required to be able to work unsupervised and therefore skilled volunteers are normally requested, unless attending an organised volunteer day. Please see volunteer page on website for organised dates. If your organisation in unable to support this project by attending an away day. Please consider supporting us in one (or more) of the following ways: Become a Corporate Friend of Pishwanton Make a general donation with or without Gift Aid
through website: www.pishwanton.org
Sponsor Land care or Education
and click on JustGivingTM logo
Or offer a gift for a specific aspect of the Project: The Community Garden
The Student Chalets & Accommodation
Farm Animal Upkeep
Once your booking has been received you would then be invited to visit Pishwanton Wood and walk through the proposed day or days with one of our land/craft team, to confirm your exact needs.
The Team at Pishwanton look forward to meeting and working with you!
Size of Team: ……...………………………………………. No. for Hard Physical Tasks: ……..…………….…………. No. for Medium Physical Tasks: ……..….…….…………. No. for Light Physical Tasks: ……..…………….………….