We are hoping to improve our understanding of mountaintop habitats while involving people in the process. The fungal DNA munro survey was really successful last year, and there is ambition to repeat and expand that this year, so there should be plenty of opportunity for keen walkers to volunteer for that again. We are also tentatively looking to design a mountain habitat assessment app, which will allow anyone who is walking in the mountains to provide useful scientific data on these understudied environments. Still early in development, but we may need volunteers to help test later in summer.

Twinflower and one-flowered wintergreen translocations: The intent is to help recovery of these 2 endangered pinewoods species by takings cuttings/plug plants and introducing them to new/currently occupied but struggling sites to help improve health of small isolated patchy populations. We’re well into this work now, having collected and grown on many twinflower cuttings already and surveyed one-flowered wintergreen sites. This summer we’ll be working with volunteers to complete our surveys and planning for reintroductions of both species. Then in Autumn, the hope is that we will be planting out cuttings of twinflower and perhaps also one-flowered wintergreen plants at some of the identified sites with volunteers.

We’re working with farmers, the national park, pastures for life, and nature friendly farming network, to trial a new grazing technique in the Spey valley. Very briefly, by concentrating grazing stock and moving them every few days, the sward should ideally have a chance to recover well and mature, reaching flowering and seed setting before being grazed again, which will ideally improve meadow diversity and health. Our part is to facilitate volunteer surveying of these meadows for at least this and next years to monitor the changes that come because of the new technique. So, we’re training volunteer up in meadow species ID and grassland habitat assessment and then partnering them up with farms to perform habitat surveys over several sessions in the summer months. Our training day for this is booked for the 3rd of June, with surveys likely to commence into August.

Castlebank Horticultural Centre sits within the historic Castlebank Park, on the banks of the Clyde in Lanark. Lanark Community Development Trust are looking for an enthusiastic individual to facilitate their plant propagation activities to provide their garden with healthy, pesticide free, organically grown plants and seedlings. Castlebank propagation volunteers are supported by dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Together, staff and volunteers grow a wide range of heirloom vegetables, herbs, rare edible plants, herbaceous, perennials, alpines, succulents, trees and shrubs for education and the restoration of historic Castlebank Park. This volunteer position would be ideal for a person looking to gain valuable experience prior to entering a career in horticulture - or for an experienced gardener looking to use their skills to help out in the community. The volunteer would work with their Educational Gardener, Stuart and fellow volunteers to produce quality, organic seedlings, herbs and other plants for growing on in the Education Gardens and Castlebank Park, and to sell at Castlebank Horticultural Centre events to raise funds for ongoing projects. Volunteers also help maintain and improve the propagation area including infrastructure and gardens. Specific tasks and duties: - Propagating by seed, cutlings, division and transplanting - Watering, fertilising, weeding and plant detailing - Helping to maintain infrastructure and propagation surrounds

Castlebank Horticultural Centre sits within the historic Castlebank Park, on the banks of the Clyde in Lanark. Lanark Community Development Trust are looking for an enthusiastic individual to facilitate the maintenance and propagation from their rose collection. There is an opportunity for the development of the rose garden - including for the introduction of new plants and cultivars. Castlebank volunteers are supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Together, both staff and volunteers will propagate and grow a wide range of heirloom vegetables, herbs, rare edible plants, herbaceous, perennials, alpines, succulents, trees and shrubs for education and the restoration of historic Castlebank Park. The volunteer position would be ideal for an experienced gardener who is enthusiastic about roses and is looking to use their skills and knowledge to help out in the community. The volunteer will work with the Trusts' Educational Gardener, Stuart and fellow volunteers to maintain and develop the rose garden and herbaceous borders in the historic Castlebank Park terraced gardens. Specific tasks and duties: - Leading maintenance of the rose gardens including educating volunteers, dead heading, organic spraying, feeding, pruning etc. - Helping to maintain and develop herbaceous borders - Helping to maintain infrastructure

Castlebank Horticultural Centre are looking for volunteers with a keen interest in growing local produce, greening their fingers and looking to learn new skills within their luxurious community garden. The role gives volunteers the chance to meet new people, learn new skills and enjoy some fresh air whilst socialising with others in a friendly green environment. All tools and equipment are provided. However it is requested that volunteers wear comfy clothes and sensible shoes. All ages are welcome. However children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

This is a voluntary role and you would be responsible for the finances of the District, supporting the Group Treasurers and attending the District committee meetings among other tasks. This is a fully supported role, you would have the District Commissioner, District Chair and District Secretary helping you along the way. For further information and application form please contact Fiona, secretary@northangus.onmicrosoft.com

We have an exciting new role becoming available at the Zero Waste Hub as we relaunch our Zero Waste Cafe. The role involves working alongside the Cafe Coordinator to create, prepare and present a changing weekly menu of tasty and affordable food recovered from our Food Sharing Project. Using food that would otherwise end up as food waste helps us get closer to a true circular economy and a world without waste.

We are looking for personable and outgoing volunteers to join our Zero Waste Cafe team. Cafe volunteers are the first people that visitors see when coming in to our space. Cafe volunteers are essential for welcoming new people to our Zero Waste Hub as well as serving a variety of drinks and delicilous food made in-house by our cooking volunteers.

Supporting writing and editing grant applications, funding-related administrative tasks, researching and liaising with suitable funders, attending our fortnightly funding working group meeting.