Aberdeenshire council are currently seeking volunteers for 2 or 3 hrs a week (times entirely flexible to help maintain new food growing areas in the grounds of Primary Schools and Care Homes - watering, weeding and general tidying. Later in the season harvesting the produce. Both gardening beginners and the more experienced folk are welcome.

Aberdeenshire council are currently seeking volunteers for 2 or 3 hrs a week (times entirely flexible to help maintain new food growing areas in the grounds of Primary Schools and Care Homes - watering, weeding and general tidying. Later in the season harvesting the produce. Both gardening beginners and the more experienced folk are welcome.

Aberdeenshire council are currently seeking volunteers for 2 or 3 hrs a week (times entirely flexible to help maintain new food growing areas in the grounds of Primary Schools and Care Homes - watering, weeding and general tidying. Later in the season harvesting the produce. Both gardening beginners and the more experienced folk are welcome.

We are looking for two enthusiastic, organised and thoughtful people to support our Volunteer Coordinator to run the weekly gardening group. This new project for the Alexandra Park Food Forest aims to support local residents to improve their mental health through spending time outdoors learning new skills in a friendly environment. The two Project Assistants would be asked to support the members of the group to feel confident in the gardening tasks. To help set up tools and equipment and workshop materials and lunch. To care for the workshop spaces and to be aware of access and health and safety needs. Also, to take photos and note stories for social media. We would love the two Project Assistants to join every week for several months, to gain confidence in the site and the activities and build great team work in the gardening group. The group will meet every Thursday from 10am - 3pm, from April through to November at the Alexandra Park Food Forest and Kitchen Garden in Alexandra Park, close to the Sports Hub within the park. If you are interested please click the ‘apply’ button below (available when logged in and registered). You will then be contacted by the coordinator by email. If you have not heard back after 5 working days, the first step is to contact the organisation with the contact details provided. You could also check your junk/spam folder on your emails just in case the response is there. If that doesn’t work out then please feel free to contact Volunteer Glasgow at 0141 226 3431.

Are you interested in wildlife and would you like to get involved in practical work on our Culbin Sands reserve? We are looking for new volunteers to get involved and help us manage our remote and fascinating Culbin Sands reserve. We rely on the hard work and dedication of volunteers to keep the habitats on this reserve in fine condition. To do this, we are running work groups, usually once or twice a week between August and April. This role is suitable for under 18’s. We will carry out habitat management tasks during these work groups, which will include the removal of scrub and small trees with hand tools and burning brash on bonfires. We are looking for volunteers to help out with these management tasks by joining our dedicated team of volunteers. Work groups take place between Monday and Saturday. It is not possible to run work groups on regular days of the week as access to Culbin Sands is dependent on the timing of tides, so planned work group dates are released every few weeks. The tasks are running as part of our LIFE 100% for Nature Project, which aims to improve the condition of sand dune and vegetated shingle habitats on the reserve, to benefit a range of rare and threatened species. In this role you'll learn about the management and ecology of this important reserve while developing new skills in habitat management or just enjoying this remote and wild reserve. While in the role, appropriate training and support will be provided for all tasks. Through this role you will be making an important contribution to the management of this reserve. We are looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic, flexible and can get on well with a range of people. If you have an interest in conservation it will be helpful, but not essential. No specialist skills are required however, you will need to be able to use hand tools (bowsaws, loppers) for cutting vegetation and you will need to be able to withstand 4-6 hours of working (at your own pace) on a remote site in sometimes poor weather conditions. You will need to be able to move over steep, boggy and sandy ground and be able to step over or use a narrow plank to cross a tidal creek to access the site. You will need to be comfortable to occasionally work around loud machinery and to follow safety instructions. Due to the remoteness of the reserve, there are no indoor toilet facilities at this reserve. You will need to make sure you have an up-to-date tetanus injection. As the reserve is remote, you will need your own transport to get to the reserve. The reserve is not served by public transport. Volunteers will need to provide their own food, drink and outdoor clothing, including wellies. The RSPB will provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment relevant to the tasks, such as work gloves and protective glasses. We recommend that new volunteers attend a trial volunteer session, to ensure that the role is suitable for them.

Craving for a reason to get outside? Enjoy nature and being outdoors? Want to learn more about growing your own veg, or maybe even do some tree planting? Friends of Forres Woods and Fields are looking for volunteers who'd like to to help these community spaces and welcome new people to get involved. In the summer months, the volunteer focus is with their beautiful Community & Children's garden - a 1-acre space to grow and harvest your own vegetables. Coming autumn and winter, volunteers look to the woodlands to manage invasive species, plant trees and make insect habitats. Tasks are suited to most abilities, and the team are always happy to find a task that is right for you and can fit your interests, but if you are unsure, don't hesitate to contact for more information. Volunteering take place mornings Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00 - 13:00. Want to have a go? Please get in touch via forresfriends@gmail.com!

Burghead Amenities Association has a wonderful community garden in Burghead which is enjoyed by people of all generations and abilities. They have various flower beds, a sensory garden, play area for toddlers, and hopefully soon they will have an outdoor gym for all ages and abilities. There is ample scope for people to help with all aspects of the garden, from simple weeding, to assisting them on maintenance, designing and caring vegetables. No Skills are required as there will be people around to learn from, to do whatever is needed. The garden is run totally by volunteers, most of whom have no horticultural training, but they all learn from each other and help each other. This is mostly physical work, so people that have difficulty or pain bending and kneeling may want to restrict their time allocation for helping. The local primary children come over with their teachers from the school. All ages are welcome, but children will need to be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers help one hour on a Monday evening and two hours on Saturday mornings. Get in touch if you would like to find out more! https://www.facebook.com/pg/burgheadstationyard/about

At Brodie Castle, depending on the season, tasks outside in the garden vary -- and you can be matched to a role that will suit what you would like to do in the garden. It is a team effort, so gardening can also be a bit of a social too, if that's what you like. There is also the ability to learn and enhance your own gardening and conservation skills.

One of Scotland's Great Trails, The Dava Way, is maintained entirely by volunteers...Could you join the team for the occasional Saturday? The Dava Way links the 24 miles between Forres and Grantown mostly following the route of the dismantled Highland Railway Line and is used by thousands of walkers, cyclists and horse riders each year. It is maintained by members of the Forres-based Dava Way Association and funded by donations and occasional grants from local and national charities. The Association organises monthly maintenance days to clear drainage and cut back undergrowth and fallen trees so that the path remains usable. As well as maintenance tasks, the volunteers are progressively improving the track as and when funding permits. Key to the ongoing success of the Dava Way is the team of volunteers who give their time to maintain the trail. Please consider joining the team on a regular or even occasional basis.

Wild Things, a local environmental charity based in Moray, has been tackling non-native invasive species on the lower Findhorn River to great effect. Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are all plants which out-compete native flora, radically altering the biodiversity of fragile and unique Scottish habitats. We are committed to eradicating the presence of non-native invasive species and working closely with our partners, Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Fisheries Trust as well as dedicated volunteers from across Moray, we are beating back invasive species. We are looking for adult volunteers for this volunteering role. We provide full PEE and training. The effort can be physically a bit tough and chemicals are used to treat species (glyphosate) and the chemical produced by the plant itself are dangerous (hence the PPE and training). The work can also be quite fun and enjoyable as there is a huge feel-good factor for the positive environmental impacts and a team-spirit working with other volunteers. Individuals can sign up through the website www.wild-things.org.uk What does a day out on our Habitat Restoration Project involve? Conservation volunteering could be: Digging up giant hogweed Pulling up Himalayan balsam Spraying giant hogweed with herbicides Spraying Japanese knotweed with herbicides Clearing paths Surveying for invasive non native plants Fresh air and exercise Good company An opportunity to explore local habitats and the plants and animals that live there These invasive non-native species (INNS) overwhelm the native flora and fauna, limiting biodiversity and threatening the unique but vulnerable habitats around the river which are host to a wide variety of enigmatic species such as Atlantic salmon, otter and osprey. In addition, giant hogweed is a highly toxic plant and is a human health concern, limiting the public’s access to and enjoyment of the river. Your work and energy will help Wild Things! support the return of native species along the banks of the River Findhorn.