South Ayrshire Council Ranger Service are offering the opportunity for young persons aged between 13-18 to learn new, or develop existing, skills in practical outdoor work. These sessions will introduce essential environmental conservation skills like basic bushcraft, use of manual hand tools and invasive non-native species control. The programme will run on a fortnightly basis (every second Saturday) and from 10am-12pm. Booking is essential so to book a place, or for more information, please feel free to contact the ranger service via ranger.service@south-ayrshire.gov.uk Our next session will take place on Saturday 21st October 2023 and then every two weeks thereafter. Sessions are suitable for one-off volunteering so attendance is not required at every session. Our meeting point is Rozelle Lodge, Rozelle Park, Monument Road, Ayr, KA7 4NQ

If anyone is interested in Conservation Volunteering, please do get in touch! My email is heather.beaton@lochalsh.uk and I can answer any queries you have about how volunteering works. We meet at 10 every Thursday and undertake a variety of tasks - you’ll hear me in the video, but we have tree planting, path work, bench making and other tasks lined up for this winter. If interested in volunteering but you’re not sure whether conservation vounteering is for you, we as a Trust have loads of options - reach out to us at info@lochalsh.uk for more information. We have something to suit all interests and abilities.

An exciting opportunity to join the Under the Trees team, working in the great and beautiful outdoors whilst gaining valuable experience working with young children and young adults. You will potentially be working in all weathers and in all seasons - we can provide waterproofs! Under the Trees runs fun and educational sessions for school children in the Falkirk and Stirling areas, as well as a programme of public events for all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Events run all year round. As a Volunteer Education Assistant, there will be opportunities for you to do a range of the following: - Assist with Educational Sessions for school groups, including term-time forest schools. - Assist with sessions for the general public, including a monthly nature club for ages 0-13. - Assist with holiday play sessions and family events. - Plan and lead in activities. - Maintain resources effectively. - Keep session areas safe and tidy. - Desk-based activities in planning, creating materials and administration.

REAP is currently looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help support upcoming gardening sessions at their Maryhill Therapeutic Garden in Elgin. Working alongside the REAP team, volunteers will help participants get involved in gardening activities, helping people to build their skills, confidence, and wellbeing. Therapeutic gardening is the use of garden space to improve and build resilience in mental health; to increase physical activity; develop social skills and encourage a healthier diet. REAP’s aim is to help participants improve their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing through gardening and socialising in a beautiful, peaceful environment. Sessions are returning soon on February 11th and will run on a weekly basis on Tuesday afternoons 2-5pm or Friday mornings 10-12:30pm. Volunteers can help people take part in various gardening activities such as sowing seeds, learning about composting and harvesting vegetables to take home. There’s also a chance to socialise during the tea breaks! Volunteers will also be supported in their development by being offered training relevant to the project. If you are a friendly, patient person, able to engage with a wide variety of people, and can volunteer outside in a practical way, have an interest in gardening ( food growing or ornamental 😊 ), or even have skills that could help build a new garden bench!) please do get in touch with REAP, who will be very happy to tell you more about how to get involved. Tel 01542 888070