PHoto: PAul CAmPBell
welcome to the Autumn network Bulletin from the Conservation Volunteers in Scotland. in this issue:
the Queen’s Green Canopy has announced that following the death of Her majesty the Queen, the initiative will be extended to the end of march 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memoriam to honour Her majesty.
the Conservation Volunteers (tCV) are proud to be an active partner of the Queen’s Green Canopy with 20,000 free tree packs available now for communities across the uk.
As announced by the Queen’s Green Canopy, the nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee was due to conclude in december – the end of the Jubilee year.
Glasgow’s
However, as the official tree planting season in the united kingdom is from october to march, the initiative will now be extended to include this full tree planting season, beginning in october 2022 and concluding in march 2023.
tCV is proud to be working with the Queen’s Green Canopy to help create a living legacy in honour of Her majesty’s extraordinary service to her country and her people.
the interactive map created by the Queen’s Green Canopy to showcase the planting projects across the united kingdom will also continue to the end of march 2023, giving people an opportunity to be part of this special legacy.
for more information on how to get involved please visit www.queensgreencanopy.org or apply for your free trees here.
Red squirrels are a welcome sight in the woods. ©PAul wHiPPey
Scotland has a vibrant and growing community woodland scene, recently joined by Culduthel Woods Group in Inverness, as they explain:
Culduthel woods Group has worked to take a small, somewhat neglected woodland in the Culduthel area in the south of the city and transform it into a thriving new 16 acre community wood. the innovative part of the Culduthel story is that the land was technically “ownerless” after the former owner had dissolved their holding company. we worked to form a new steering group, a new charity, raise funds and local support, and then researched and navigated the complex legal process to claim the land. All this has taken nearly four years, working throughout the pandemic and meeting virtually. the wood’s opening event in July of this year saw nearly 250 local residents celebrating with a fabulous woodland Gathering, pictured above.
PA ul CA m PB ell
the group’s objectives are:
To advance the environmental protection and improvement of Culduthel woods, following the principles of sustainable development, by the conservation, management and enhancement of the natural habitats and the plant and animal species therein.
To promote education within the community about the history, management and habitats of Culduthel woods and to enable use of the woods by schools and other organisations for educational purposes.
To advance citizenship and community development by encouraging voluntary activity and recreation in, and by promoting civic responsibility for, the Culduthel woods.
the wood is close to inverness royal Academy, the largest secondary school in the Highlands, and within walking distance of four primary schools. we felt it important to address the neglected area and were concerned about safety as trees were becoming dangerous, walls were falling down, paths were in poor state of repair, and there was some vandalism.
we had to commission lawyers to find out about the site’s history and ownership status. And we took advice from a wide range of advisory bodies and lawyers to navigate a way through the process of claiming the land using the ‘prescriptive claimants process’. this work was supported financially by Highlands & islands enterprise (Hie), and finally resulted in a set of deeds being obtained in may 2022 with a ‘provisional watermark’ which will be removed within 10 years if there is no legal challenge.
A tree survey was commissioned by the group, and we persuaded Highland Council to address the situation of the 50 most dangerous trees. this was urgent work for the community but also cleared the way for us to commit to take on the liabilities associated with owning and managing the wood.
Public support for the group was developed through a public meeting and formation of a steering group. A big community consultation exercise then assessed what people
PH oto S: C uldut H el wood S G rou PCulduthel woods Group is a finalist in the Helping it Happen Awards 2022 run by Scottish land and estates. the Award winners are announced on 5 october.
did or didn’t like about the woods. Assistance was given by Aultnaskiach dell SCio and Abriachan forest trust, and funding was granted by Scottish forestry. enough support was generated to form a new charity and a consultation on our proposed management plan for the wood attracted 250 comments. 95% of people supported the management proposals that had been developed and all the individual management proposals were supported by at least 80% of people. Some proposals found favour with 97% of people
e.g. ‘we should manage the woods to encourage more wildlife’.
we want to undertake surveys and make records of all the plants, animals and fungi that are found in the area. this will help inform our approach to management of the woods.
the Culduthel experience has been shared though presentations at the 2021 annual conference of the Community woodlands Association, and the group has been commended by the Scottish land Commission who tweeted about the group’s exemplary compliance with the Scottish Government’s land rights and responsibility Statement. we worked with Community land Scotland on a special national seminar on how to address ownerless land issues in Scotland as part of the land reform agenda, and hosted a secondee intern from the Community woodlands Association for three months to work on promoting community engagement, especially with young people.
forthcoming plans include finalising the wood’s management plan and developing a youth training scheme for local schools. local groups are encouraged to get involved and there are monthly volunteer sessions, which have been supported by Scottish forestry, Albyn Housing Association, and the Co-op to purchase tools and materials etc. Volunteer activities include:
• Removing old fences
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• Clearing invasive species eg rhododendron and snowberry
• Repairing a drystone dyke
• Path building and maintenance
membership of Culduthel woods Group is free and new volunteers are very welcome!
Charcoal making and coppicing are two of the practical skills covered in upcoming tCV Scotland training courses. Both events are being held ‘in-person’ at Stoneheap wood, near Stoneyburn, west lothian, and they provide a great introduction to these traditional woodland crafts.
most of our training courses and learning events are now back to being held on-site, although the pandemic has shown that there are certain advantages to online events, so we shall continue to host some virtually.
details of all our upcoming environmental training and learning events are available on eventbrite read all about it
Charcoal making and coppicing are both covered in ‘woodlands’, one of ten online ‘how to’ conservation guides with advice and instructions to manage your countryside and green spaces. written by experts, these tCV handbooks have long been considered the definitive conservation guides. All the practical processes are explained in easy to follow, plain english, accompanied by over 2,000 line drawings throughout the ten titles. And pages can be printed and taken out in the field.
All ten guides are available for an annual subscription, starting at just £12.50 (plus VAt) for individuals and £6.50 (plus VAt) for Community network members. A bargain! details of all ten handbooks and how to subscribe are available here
tCV’s online handbooks:
dry Stone walling l fencing l footpaths l tree planting & Aftercare l Hedging Sand dunes l tool Care l urban Handbook l waterways & wetlands l woodlands
Charcoal making. StoneHeAP wood Coppicing at Stoneheap Wood.TCV sees nature, the outdoors and local community greenspaces as a rich resource for learning, skills and employability. This ranges from recognising the incidental learning of all our volunteers to running training courses and delivering long term traineeships and apprenticeships. We believe that as well as specific training programmes or employability schemes, many people will need handson work experience, placements and traineeships in order to gain the practical experience and skills they need to get into employment.
Abigail (Abby) McKay and Gregor McLeod, both 23 years old, recently completed their nine-month paid traineeships with the Conservation Volunteers as part of the uk year of Service. towards the end of their traineeships, Abby and Gregor reflected on their experiences during the programme.
i was introduced to the uk year of Service scheme with tCV through my job coach. we were looking for a position that combined my geography degree, and passion to work with people and the outdoors. the role with tCV sounded perfect!
during my time on the programme, i have been involved in a variety of projects that have helped me gain valuable experience. Prominently, i have worked with the tCVsupported Seven lochs wetland Park on the outskirts of north Glasgow on communitybased projects. my role has been split mainly between assisting with the Seven lochs employability Programme (SleP) and nature-based activities for young people.
SleP has involved environmental activities such as landscaping, horticulture and heritage conservation, along with lantra accredited skills training. outside of the Seven lochs project i’ve attended lots of tCV events that have taken place throughout Scotland’s Central Belt. whether working on a big event such as planting wildflowers, bird box making, or litter picking – it’s been great to work as part of a large tCV team.
Abby weeding in the garden at the 15th century Provan Hall.
Along with hands-on conservation activities i have understood the benefits of outdoor learning for young people. within the Seven lochs area we have worked with youth groups, schools, and college groups to provide enjoyable outdoor sessions exploring and learning about the local area. i have also gained skills working with adults with additional needs. learning and meeting new people has grown my passion to work with people to enhance their self-confidence and encourage new experiences. And the importance of community has really stood out for me.
Abby surveying bees and butterflies with Seven Lochs volunteer Tom at Hogganfield Park.
Bird box making at an Interfaith Glasgow community event.
the traineeship gave me other diverse learning opportunities. i had fun completing my lantra drive-on-mower training, and i also achieved my forest School training which focuses on the holistic development of young people.
discovering the beauty of the Seven lochs wetland Park has been an absolute positive. i have loved working with the volunteers i’ve met at SleP, the friday conservation group, the wildlife surveys, and the various events we organised. for me, the volunteers make tCV so unique.
looking forward, i am going to continue working with young people. By engaging with all the different groups, i have appreciated the importance of being outdoors and having a connection with nature. i would like to incorporate my love of sports to encourage outdoor, active education for young people. the staff at tCV have been nothing but welcoming throughout my traineeship. i have definitely made some friends for life!
Before the traineeship began, i had been a regular volunteer with the tCV Stirling midweek Group for just over three years, so was already familiar with the set-up of what the work might entail and already knew many of the staff and volunteers that i would be working with.
Working with the Stirling Volunteers and Enable Green Gym the majority of the 9-month post has been spent working alongside and supporting Senior Project officers ettie Shattock, and more recently douglas traynor, on their volunteer sessions across Stirling and the forth Valley area. the main responsibility we’ve shared has been organising and running the Stirling Volunteers.
Having worked with the midweek Group for virtually the whole post, it has been extremely rewarding and encouraging to see the benefits that working in the outdoors has brought to the volunteers who regularly give over their time and effort each week.
Gregor erecting a box at Drumbowie Community Park in Standburn, near Polmont, for species such as blue tits. ettie SHAttoCk
these benefits have included learning new practical skills, building their confidence, meeting new people who are friendly and welcoming to all, and improving both their physical and mental health and wellbeing simply by being outside and working in the natural world.
Being involved in the enable Green Gym sessions in Stirling has also been incredibly uplifting to take part in. the time and effort taken to bring people with complex additional support needs outdoors and interacting with the world around them has been remarkable and rewarding to be a part of.
A huge advantage of this traineeship has been that you could shadow different project leaders and interact with staff and trainees from other offices to find out what their sessions are like. i have been particularly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to support a number of staff based out of the Stirling office and it has given me privileged insights into the variety of activities that tCV provide and deliver.
Another benefit of being on the traineeship is you have a wide range of fantastic training opportunities provided by tCV to improve your existing skills and work on building new expertise and gaining qualifications to increase the chances of future employment within the environmental conservation sector.
Qualifications like the lantra Brushcutters and trimmers course and opportunities to learn the right techniques for woodland management were extremely useful in developing my competency in practical skills that will be crucial going into job interviews. other courses like those revolving around outdoor and mental health first aid, risk assessments and safeguarding, were all invaluable in understanding how tCV sessions are safely managed and delivered.
Working as part of a team and leadership responsibility my confidence and self-esteem have improved massively over the traineeship as i’ve been
Five trainees recently completed their UK Year of Service traineeships with TCV. Pictured from left to right are Luka Coutts, Abby McKay, Gavin Mulgrew and Gregor McLeod, whilst Kirsty Purves was unavailable that day. We thank them all for their hard work and enthusiasm over recent months and wish them the very best for the future. AnnA HAmilton
able to instigate conversations and engage in discussions much more than before. my self-belief and sense of purpose has also hugely increased.
i personally feel like i’ve had the chance to gain a lot more experience in situations that were perhaps more outside my normal comfort zone than what was usual at the start of this traineeship. working at tCV has been an enormous help in coping with that and the staff are always very supportive and encouraging in working through any unfamiliar scenarios.
for example, i had little experience of leadership before the traineeship and initially wasn’t exactly comfortable speaking in front of a group of volunteers about a session. now with sufficient preparation, i feel that i can give a competent introductory talk to volunteers, regular and new, and explain the necessary safety measures during a work session.
Where I’m hoping to go after the traineeship
it’s been simply brilliant to have worked in some fantastic greenspaces with the most amazing team of staff and volunteers across the forth Valley area, and i’ve built up a far greater knowledge and understanding of what it takes to be employed in the environmental conservation sector.
i would like to give the biggest of thankyous to every staff member and volunteer at tCV Stirling who have made this traineeship the most fantastic and fulfilling placement possible. they truly are some of the most skilled, knowledgeable, hard-working, genuine, brilliant people one could ever hope to work and be part of the team with. everyone has made this a joy to have experienced and i can’t thank them enough. Cheers guys, it’s been a blast. All the best!
Gatehouse of fleet lies in the heart of the fleet Valley national Scenic Area in dumfries and Galloway. many of the town’s community projects are supported by Gatehouse development initiative, as Company Secretary Ken Smyth explains:
the Gatehouse development initiative (Gdi) provides ‘umbrella’ support for community projects and can save smaller projects the need to be formally established in their own right. we can provide support with fundraising, provide insurance and public liability cover, and provide book-keeping and accountancy services. Getting involved in our many projects is open to all, and projects each have their own project manager and usually a project team.
Amongst the projects which Gdi delivers are the community website and a community magazine, Gatehouse News, six times per year. And we support a number of environmental activities:
the Fleet Valley Volunteers meet every wednesday morning to work in the landscape in and around Gatehouse – keeping paths clear, creating habitat piles, planting trees and restoring woodland. these tasks keep the largely retirement-age volunteers physically active in a lively, social group. As council funding is squeezed the group has taken on the maintenance of the town Hall Garden, a pretty, council-owned garden on the site of the former town hall.
the Gatehouse Squirrel Group is active in protecting our important red squirrel population, monitoring numbers of both reds and greys, and the group recently established a popular wildlife hide in the Cally woods on the edge of the town.
we also have our community cycling project Wheels of Fleet which supports community cycling by running workshops in bicycle maintenance and road craft, and also organises community-led bike rides for young and old. the project hires out bikes daily or longer
term to both locals and visitors and it takes in donations of unwanted bikes which it refurbishes or strips down for spares. the project is thriving and has recently provided over thirty bikes to ukrainian refugee families.
the dry Stone walling Association was founded in Gatehouse in the 1960s to preserve and encourage this traditional craft. today our area is still criss-crossed by drystone dykes and this rural craft continues to flourish across the country. over the years Gdi has been involved in a number of european heritage projects and drystone walling is one of the traditional crafts which we have championed at these meetings with our european partners. earlier this year Gdi organised a five-day drystone dyking course for forestry apprentices in the local Cally woods. the course participants are pictured left and above, and they also feature in a short video which can be viewed here
we are always open to approaches from the community for a new project. if they can show a community need, can lead on it, and pull a team together to take it forward, the Gdi is there to assist and to help make it happen.
Gatehouse of fleet website
we were delighted earlier this year when one of our volunteers, Hayden McGuckin, was named young Volunteer of the year in the 2022 falkirk Volunteer Awards organised by CVS falkirk.
15 year old Hayden was one of seven pupils from St Mungo’s High School who attended regular outdoor sessions run by tCV at several locations including Calendar Park in falkirk and the Jupiter urban wildlife Centre in Grangemouth. the Jupiter Centre was also the base of a summer growing programme for the young people and their families.
Hayden was nominated for the volunteer award by Emma Griffith, tCV Senior Project officer, and Ankale Denovan, his Cld teacher at St mungo’s. emma said:
“Hayden has been an incredible worker throughout his time with us and we have seen a massive positive change in his behaviour, knowledge and skills. He has been doing a range of activities such as pruning hedges, litter picking, cutting back brambles and trees, putting up bird boxes (pictured on next page), weeding, sowing and growing vegetables, path maintenance, plus plant and wildlife identification. Hayden now knows a number of plant names and will often ask what a plant or bug is. His observations and hard work prove he is a fantastic young volunteer and if given good instruction and attention, he would be a brilliant gardener, landscaper, builder or groundsman. As a volunteer he has proven time and again that he can put in the work and actually enjoys it, especially if he is outside. It is great to see how proud he is of his work as he has brought many of his friends and family to the site to show them all the work he has done.
Through his volunteering, Hayden has learnt how to respect those leading a group, how to respect tools, how to work well with others, and that he actually loves to graft. He learned how to use tools safely and how important safety is on a work site, and why PPE
Hayden with his Young Volunteer of the Year certificate. AnkAle denoVAn
Hayden with his mum Bernadette (right) and TCV’s Emma Griffith. lynSey HAnSford
Hayden putting up bird box. emmA GriffitH
is important to keep everyone safe. Getting him to volunteer and work outside has really changed his attitude to work. It took time but once he trusted us and actually got to work, he quickly realised that he enjoys the outdoor work and in a short time can completely transform the world around him for the better.”
Hayden received his Award certificate in early September from Lynsey Hansford, interim Partnership manager of CVS falkirk. And, in addition to his volunteering award, Hayden and the other St mungo’s pupils all successfully gained their Bronze duke of edinburgh’s Award, which emma describes as “a great achievement for them all.” Hayden is currently attending a six month Sports Course at forth Valley College to gain extra qualifications, after which he hopes to become an apprentice in an outdoor setting.
Hayden (bottom right) working with his family, another pupil from St Mungo’s and TCV’s Emma at the Jupiter Centre. AnkAle denoVAn
over recent weeks tCV’s Glasgow team, led by Senior Project officers Bo Couch and Craig Young, have been helping to develop the new Gro Garden at the Queen elizabeth university Hospital, in Govan, in the south-west of the city. the garden is deigned to provide a calm, welcoming and attractive space for hospital staff and patients, as well as Govan residents. And wildlife will benefit too.
the Gro Garden’s main feature is a timber-walled garden with 12 large planters and several ‘green roof’ shelters, all constructed of recycled timber. tCV’s volunteers have filled the planters with soil, which will feature a selection of shrubs, pollinator-friendly flowers, and some impressive specimen species. for watering the plants, two large wooden barrels will collect rainwater from the shelter roofs.
the green roof consists of a layer of compost wrapped in hessian and covered with broken slate chips. the volunteers made slits in the hessian through which they’ve planted a variety of sedum ‘plug’ plants. Sedums, often called stonecrops, are succulent flowering plants which are very hardy and don’t require extra watering or regular maintenance, so are ideally suited to roof gardens. And they are good for wildlife, attracting a wide variety of butterflies, bees and other insects.
much of the approximately 0.7hectare site, roughly the size of a football pitch, is being sown with wildflower meadow mixes, and our volunteers are also planting 5 large standard rowan trees.
the garden will officially open this autumn, after which we will run two 90minute dropin activity sessions on one day per week for staff, patients, and members of the local community. the sessions will be run by Rebecca Ramage, Senior Project officer, who says: “The activities will be mindful and creative, and inspired by nature and the garden itself. Sessions will include Hapa Zome (leaf dye), observational drawings, creating birdfeeders and making God’s eyes, to name just a few! I hope those who get involved will feel a sense of ownership and community spirit over the garden. Participants will be encouraged to stay for as long or as short as they like, and perhaps be inspired take their activity away with them to finish at home.”
the Gro Garden has been developed on behalf of nHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and designed by award-winning landscape architects erZ Studio and engineers woolgar Hunter. Glasgow wood has constructed the walled garden, planters and roof structures, whilst mw Groundworks have been responsible for the groundworks, paths, landscaping, and meadow planting. So, along with the input of tCV’s staff and volunteers, the Gro Garden has been very much a team effort.
the programme is being supervised by Kevin Fairclough, Senior Project officer, who says:
“I’m grateful for the opportunity TCV has given me to skill-up the lads and pass on my knowledge and experience of working outdoors. I have seen and heard each one of them change as they’ve developed new skills and learnt about themselves whilst working outdoors in nature and with me.
I’m aware that each day is a positive step forward for them!”
The Falkirk Green Skills trainees, from left to right: Liam Maxwell, Ross Murphy, Harrison McCarroll, Ryan Smith, and Logan Robertson, with supervisor Kevin Fairclough. SteVe rAwSon
A group of young trainees, aged 16-18, are well into their Green Skills employment-based training programme with tCV in the falkirk area. this is a paid 12 month programme (until march 2023) funded by falkirk Council to increase the trainees’ job prospects, particularly in the ‘green jobs’ sector – council departments, landscaping and gardening firms etc.
the outdoor-based Green Skills is aimed at young people who find that classroom-based academic learning doesn’t best meet their needs. the trainees were referred to the programme through falkirk Council’s employment and training unit.
the programme is centred on improving public access across the John muir way green space corridor as it stretches through the falkirk area, particularly within kinneil estate, Bo’ness. the young team have been involved in a variety of tasks on the way to learn new skills, including building new paths, maintaining path surfaces and steps, strimming vegetation along path verges, and repairing sections of boardwalk running through a pond/wetland area where they learned basic woodwork skills.
the Green Skills team have also carried out gardening tasks at Jupiter urban wildlife Centre, Grangemouth, and built and installed planters for tamfourhill Community Hub, working with volunteers from tCV’s Stirling midweek Group. they have also erected a dead hedge boundary fence, and repaired post and rail fencing and maintained steps at muiravonside Country Park. A current project is to rebuild a long section of box steps (25 steps), and tasks in the coming months will include repairing drystone walls, installing piped culverts to improve path drainage, and strimming more vegetation along the paths. these activities will give the trainees new skills to learn and will help to improve those already gained on the programme.
the trainees are also attending work experience placements with tCV’s Stirling and Jupiter midweek volunteer groups, as well as the kinneil Green Gym. throughout the year the team are working towards the John muir Award, and the programme also funds lantra qualifications in skills such as Brushcutters/trimmers, and woodchippers. As well as gaining practical knowledge, the trainees are also improving their ‘soft’ skillsconfidence, self-esteem, communication, and teamwork.
“Absolutely brilliant work guys!” Angus duncan, outdoor Access team leader, falkirk Council.
Commenting on the programme, one of the trainees said:
“It’s given me an insight into work, what real work is like whilst getting proper training, as well as giving me a broader mindset when it comes to the environment. I like working outdoors quite a lot and this project has brought to light the fact that when you’re out here and working and people see the work that you’ve done – they appreciate that…they’ll go out of their way to say thanks for the work that you’ve done, and I really like that. The course has a lot to give because it gives you a better mindset when it comes to the world around you. It’s great having someone like Kevin as my supervisor because he’s very into nature. When I was a kid I always used to like to study birds and stuff, so meeting up with someone like Kevin is very broadening.
“There’s a lot less pressure here. In school there’s a lot of pressure – it’s mostly memory based, whereas here it’s more skill based, which I prefer.”
Another one of the lads said:
“I think it’s about having an interest in what you’re doing. I think if folk were in the same position as me in school and not really enjoying it – it’s a good way to get out and get outdoors. I think getting in a routine is good as well…. once I left school I wasn’t doing much for four or five months …and then having to wake up at half seven and get yourself back into a routine like a nine to four job – it’s good, that’ll set you up for things after that as well. This kind of thing is going to be a better environment for me than school. I’ve never done any work like this before but it’s what I want to do …it’s good to get into.”
they are a common sight at this time of year. Here, Rosie Strachan, tCV Senior Project officer, takes a look at the wonderful world of fungi.
As summer ends and autumn takes full swing, we might notice some changes in the nature around us. the leaves are beginning to turn, flowers are beginning to hide away, and some of the creatures we see on our walks are starting to prepare for their long winter hibernation. Although autumn is often seen as a month of quieting down, one endlessly interesting feature of our landscape is only starting to pop through and flourish. that being fungi, including mushrooms. mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of certain fungi, so all mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms!
Being neither plant nor animal, fungi are one of the five generally recognised ‘kingdoms’ of living things. there’s a lot more to fungi than just the mushrooms we see on the surface. their full power/potential is yet to be realised, with mycology (the study of fungi) being a relatively young field of science. But many interesting discoveries and uses surrounding fungi are being explored. Being some of the oldest forms of complex life (existing for around 5/6ths of the earth’s lifespan), they are deeply engrained in the functioning of the world’s life systems. Here are some interesting aspects of the fungal kingdom:
many discoveries are being made surrounding fungi’s potential in the fight against environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. their importance to carbon sequestration and ecosystem health is one which is, arguably, understated in discussions on climate change and the solutions to it. the large web of underground roots, known as mycorrhizal, work with trees to help absorb carbon from the soil. not only this, but many plants grow in symbiosis with fungi, around 80 – 90%, meaning much of the earth’s plant biodiversity is reliant on fungal relationships. fungi’s ability to improve soil health, take up carbon, and encourage the growth of a variety of plant species make it essential to our environment.
fungi’s ability to decompose is not only essential for forest and many other ecosystems’ health but has the potential to help with one of society’s largest environmental problems: pollution and waste. mycoremediation, the research surrounding how fungi can be used to solve environmental problems, has found some promising ways in which fungi’s unique decomposition powers can be used in oil spill clean-ups, and to remove dangerous contaminants. there has also been investigation into fungi’s decomposing effects on radiation. their ability to break down substances such as petroleum can bring a natural, more cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable way to deal with pollution and the presence of harmful chemicals on earth.
with the environmental impact of our farming activities being a major issue of today, fungi’s potential to help in this sector cannot be understated. regenerative agriculture is a large point of discussion, as we try to find ways to work with nature within our farming practices. As mentioned previously, fungi’s symbiotic relationship with plants and soil health can have obvious positive impacts on farming and food growth, but additionally there has been potential discovered in their ability to act as a natural pesticide. Certain fungi species have been seen to control insect and pest populations. removing the need for chemical pesticides is something essential to soil and ecosystem health and can contribute to a much more sustainable form of agriculture.
fungi are a food source for wildlife including red squirrels, deer, slugs, snails and many insects. And of course, cultivated mushrooms and some wild varieties such as ceps and chanterelles are edible for humans, but the golden rule is neVer pick wild mushrooms unless you’re 100% sure they are safe to eat. the best way to enhance your knowledge of fungi is to learn from an expert. fungi and wild food foraging walks are increasingly popular, and there are also fungi identification courses from organisations including the field Studies Council – see below.
references:
fungi in ecosystems – (bettersideoflife.net)
https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus/ mycorrhiza
do fungi feast on radiation? – Scientific American
How fungi Can Clean up Pollution – Biological Strategy – Asknature
fungi can help forests tackle climate change. Here’s how | world economic forum (weforum. org)
friendly fungi help forests fight climate change –BBC news
(Pdf) mycoremediation - a potential tool for sustainable management (researchgate.net)
(Pdf) mycology: a neglected megascience. (researchgate.net)
(Pdf) role of fungi in Agriculture (researchgate.net)
with their many uses and importance to the natural world, cultivating fungi can be a great thing to do for your local environment. one of the easiest ways to encourage fungi is to leave some deadwood in a suitable garden corner or woodland setting where you don’t mind a little untidiness. As the wood gradually rots, fungi will make an appearance.
Science has often neglected fungi, with many of its discoveries only coming recently compared to other fields such as botany. However, the potential is now being realised, and we are finding the ways we can benefit from this incredible kingdom. we are only just beginning to tap into the fungal kingdom’s weird and wonderful properties. with their unmatched decomposition capacities, essential and mutually beneficial relationship to plants, and impact on soil, they can have numerous positive effects on our society and can make the fight against climate change infinitely more productive. if we work with their natural properties, we can produce benefits for the environment and people alike.
the field Studies Council runs training courses in fungi identification at many of its centres, including those in Scotland. readers of this Bulletin are eligible for a 20% discount from all field Studies Council courses in Scotland. to claim your discount
simply add ‘TCV20’ to the ‘Voucher code’ when checking out of course booking. Course information and booking details are available here
British mycological Society
natureScot – fungi
Here, a Friends group describe their efforts to conserve Langlands Moss, a wetland gem just to the south of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
the Friends of Langlands Moss Local Nature Reserve are a group of local people who became very concerned about the impact of creeping industrial development on langlands moss over a decade ago. the moss is a rare and valuable habitat, a lowland raised peat bog, and home to distinctive species of plants, insects and other wildlife. So, we came together and formed a fully constituted group in 2006. working in partnership with South lanarkshire Council Countryside and Greenspace Service, Scottish natural Heritage (now natureScot) and other interested parties, we are dedicated to improving and preserving langlands moss local nature reserve, for the benefit of both wildlife and the local people.
our first task was to improve the hydrology and water levels of the moss which was slowly drying out. Since the site’s designation as a local nature reserve (lnr), many of
Retiring chairperson, Maureen Potter (with white wooly hat), assisted by Yvonne McWilliams, planting an oak tree to commemorate Maureen’s 16 years of being Secretary, then chairperson of Friends of Langlands Moss. Jim mCintyre
the original drainage dams had deteriorated due to fire damage, weather and vandalism. we realised that to improve the hydrology we would have to begin a new damming programme and that would cost money!
we started from scratch, so we applied to the Big lottery fund and Scottish natural Heritage for money to purchase damming material. we did extensive research and after much discussion we opted for APe heavy duty recycled plastic piling as a suitable damming material with a projected lifespan of forty or fifty years. A boardwalk was also installed over the moss with interpretation panels but unfortunately there have been two large fires at the site caused by vandals which have severely damaged the boardwalk.
the friends of langlands moss haven’t been deterred however and in 2020 work began to enhance the condition of the bog by felling an adjacent non-native spruce plantation, installing more dams and repairing the boardwalk to allow access across the moss again.
Recycled plastic piling acts as a dam.
Scotland has a variety of lowland wetland habitats including raised bogs, as highlighted by natureScot who state: lowland raised bog is a very special type of wetland, which gets all its water from rainfall, snow and mist. these bogs began to form up to 8,000 years ago in shallow depressions, where poor drainage stopped the vegetation from rotting. instead, peat was formed.
the peat is formed mainly from sphagnum mosses, which are able to hold 20 times their dry weight in water. this ability to act like a sponge helps to reduce how much water floods down our burns at peak flows.
Peat formed from decaying sphagnum mosses builds up at a rate of just 1mm per year, slowly making the bog rise above the surrounding land. on some raised bogs, the peat is 11m deep. the peat at the bottom of the bog gives a unique insight into the climatic conditions found in the area several thousand years ago. on the bog surface, the very acid conditions encourage plants like cranberry and the insect-eating sundew to grow. Colourful dragonflies and damselflies breed in shallow pools.
Blanket bog is another type of peat bog found in Scotland.
the area bounded by the lnr more than doubled from approximately 20 hectares to 47 hectares. this work was done in partnership with the SlC Greenspace team and Green Action trust as part of a £202,000 peatland restoration project through the Peatland ACtion programme, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by natureScot and partner organisations. Peatlands in good health are valuable carbon stores and can make a significant contribution towards Scotland’s net-zero targets to reduce greenhouse gasses, particularly carbon dioxide, which will help tackle climate change. the South lanarkshire View reported that langlands moss alone is estimated to hold over 132,500 tonnes of stored carbon, which equates to nearly 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
the friends group volunteers support the lnr through conservation workdays - e.g. maintaining the wildflower meadow, taking part in Butterfly Conservation Scotland Bog Squad days and litter picks. we also run events such as bat walks, easter activities and deliver talks to raise awareness of the site and the importance of peatlands in general. keep an eye out on our facebook page for reserve news and upcoming friends’ activities – all welcome!
natureScot’s make Space for nature campaign encourages everyone to help reverse nature loss and fight climate change. A range of seasonal activities encourage you outdoors to benefit both nature and your own health and wellbeing. find out how you can make Space for nature this autumn.
Join the #idigtrees phenomenontoGetHer we will plant 3 million treeS for the climate, wildlife and communities! Applications are open for tree packs for the coming planting season. Claim your free trees here
ith support from players of People’s Postcode lottery, tCV’s Community network offers free one year membership to community organisations, large and small, who help care for their local greenspaces.
he Community network has 1,900+ member groups spread throughout the uk, with over 270 in Scotland.
Find out more and join the Network here
the network Bulletin is produced quarterly by the Conservation Volunteers in Scotland and features groups belonging to the Community network, plus news of tCV’s own projects and volunteers.
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Views and opinions expressed in the network Bulletin do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or of the Conservation Volunteers.
Editor Graham Burns E g.burns@tcv.org.uk
©the Conservation Volunteers 2022. Charity registered in Scotland SC039302, and england 261009. tm the Green Gym programme is registered and protected across the uk and the eu