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A walk in Ledmore and Migdale Wood

Today, following an arrangement made at the Focaliser conference that I’d almost totally forgotten, myself, Craig and his nipper, Calum, and Dan make a trip up to Ledmore and Migdale wood to meet Chris Williams.  Chris has had some involvement with TFL, both on work weeks and helping out with other tasks when needed, as well as posing for the photo on the front of the work week brochure.  Now he has a job as a ‘woodsman’ in the wood he grew up in.

The wood is a marvellous place, lots of young growth in the midst of a good mix of trees.  We walk part way up a small hill to eat lunch and then head down to Loch Migdale, which still has a good covering of ice on it.  There are some great cliffs nearby, dotted with a few Scots Pine, a habitat untouched by human hand (probably).  It’s easy to imagine that there might be some Peregrine nesting up there somewhere.

Many thanks to Chris, who speaks passionately about his wood.  It’s well worth a visit, for a walk, or to catch up with Chris during one of the events he’s organising for this year.

Posted by  |  7 February, 2010 | Categories: Travels | Leave a comment

More TFL web site work

On Wednesday Allan and Russell helped me pack all the Pine cones into my van and I drove over to the TFL office.  It was a cold morning, but the roads were relatively clear and the journey was good.  In the office I dropped the cones off and agreed to do some work on the new TFL web site over the forthcoming days.

I spend the rest of the week in the office by day, and staying in Jock’s spare room by night (Jock is the landlord of Jane, the TFL marketing manager – he’s rarely home and has very kindly agreed to me staying for a couple of weeks).  Today, Saturday, I take the opportunity to walk the beach here, at Findhorn, and make use of my new(ish) camera.

Posted by  |  6 February, 2010 | Categories: TFL, Work | Leave a comment

There are 25000 seeds to collect…

…so, myself and Russell brave the sun and the snow at Inverwick, to top up the Scots Pine cone stock.  Apparently a local tree nursery reckon that they can give us trees to plant, from these seeds, by the Autumn.

It’s a hard day, with the sun beating down on us and the air totally still, I have to strip down to just a t-shirt and jacket on top.  And the only reason for the jacket is because it has pockets to collect the cones in while I’m up in the trees.

At one point I see a Coal Tit in a nearby tree, and a couple of Great Tits flying about.  At the next opportunity I discuss this with Russell, thinking that a Coal Tit is a good spot, at which point he proceeds to tell me that a Crested Tit was sat in the tree he was in, barely 4 feet away from him.  I’ve never seen a Crested Tit before, but as much as I try to follow the noise of the small flock of tits, as they fly around in the trees near us, I don’t get to see one today either.

Back at Dundreggan all the other Fs have left.  Russell cooks, I start the fire, and Steve eats with us whilst polishing off some left over wine.

Posted by  |  2 February, 2010 | Categories: TFL, Travels | Leave a comment

More Focaliser conference, and some post conference chores…

Last night we ate and talked and played the odd game until late into the night.  I can’t remember laughing so much for a long time, especially each time Andrew De La Haye claimed “My name is Flump Jockey” during the “My name is…” game.

Anyway, Alan’s attempts to get us all in a photo were worth it in the end…

Focalisers. And Steve.

Today a lucky handful of us are able to stay on to collect some seed source for future planting.  Howard and Joan collect Pine cones on Dundreggan, while the rest of us take the AWD TFL minibus to Inverwick to collect cones there.  There’s snow on the ground, and sporadic snow showers, and a great view of the Glen.  In fact it’s just beautiful and I wonder why we don’t have work weeks at this time of year.  But then I remember Rosie saying that the early work weeks are always slow to fill.  Maybe if people could just see this snow…

Where's Russell?

How many times in this blog have I mentioned that I've not had this much fun since I was a kid..?

5 Focalisers, a 4 wheel drive minibus, and lot's of snow - is there a better way to spend a Monday?

Posted by  |  1 February, 2010 | Categories: TFL, Travels | Leave a comment

The Focaliser Conference 2010.

…I have to stop in a layby on the A84, at just gone 1am, somewhere near Kingshouse.  The moon is pretty much full, and is shining off the snow so brightly that I don’t need headlights.  Of course I do use them up to the point where I pull over.  I prepare my bed and get 5 hours sleep.

I’m up at 6.21am, Saturday morning.  The moon is still up, just about, and it’s a beautiful crispy clear morning.  It’s also cold.  I struggle to get out of the sleeping bag.  But I do, and get some clothes on and start driving.  By the time I get to Loch Lochy I have to stop for 20 minutes kip.  I’m then on my way again, and I make it to Dundreggan by 10am.

So, I walk into the conference in the middle of Alan’s introduction.  Alan says hello and, amazingly, there is an empty seat, which I take, as Alan talks us through some of the fantastically positive stories from TFL history.  TFL stands for Trees for Life, and Focaliser is the term TFL use to describe the two people who lead each volunteer work week.

The conference is an amazing experience.  The people, the location, the well chaired debates, the snow falling behind people’s heads as they talk, and the way we manage to keep ourselves entertained in the evenings – it’s a brilliant weekend.  With some great snow ball fights.

Posted by  |  1 February, 2010 | Categories: TFL | Leave a comment

Travelling North – pit stop at Manley Common

Last night I drove up to John’s to stay, as a good stop off point on my way to the Focaliser conference at Dundreggan, due to start tomorrow.  Today John called me, as I was about to leave, to say that he and his boss were going cycling to recce out some routes to take the kids from their outdoor centre on.  There were flurries of snow, but none of it stuck.  Hopefully it will be sticking in the North.

As a result I’m quite late leaving John’s for Scotland (6pm).  A night in the van for me then…

Posted by  |  29 January, 2010 | Categories: Travels | Leave a comment

New year plans…

Exmouth's moon, tonight.

So, following recent discussions with the very accommodating Jane, from the RSPB office, and the people at TFL, I’ve a sort of schedule for the spring.  It’s like this:

January – The Focaliser conference comes up at the end of this month, at Dundreggan.  It’s my first one of these, but this year there are more people going, it’s on TFL grounds, and there’ll be a lot of first timers about.  Including Colin, the new work week co-ordinator, and Steve from Dundreggan.

February – Hopefully, I’ll then get to spend a bit of time doing some TFL web site work, before I head off to the RSPB reserve at Abernethy for the 21st Feb.  A week later and I’ll be getting ready for the first TFL work week of the season.

March – I have two work weeks booked for March, although there now appears to be some doubt that they will all happen when they were originally meant to, but anyway, after that I’m volunteering for the RSPB again, this time at Loch of Kinnordy.  I’m there for 4 weeks during April, and then I have one more TFL work week, in early May.

Middle of May onwards – After that I’m looking for work (preferably paid), so if anyone has any ideas (IT, conservation, getting my hands dirty, etc,  it’s all good) please let me know.

But hey, look at that for a schedule.  It looks great doesn’t it?  I’m chuffed.

Posted by  |  23 January, 2010 | Categories: Work | Leave a comment

Brighton.

This weekend I went up to Brighton to see the Big Fella.  I was amazed at the amount of snow that was lying around – 6 to 8 foot piled up in car parks, even though all the snow on the roads had melted.  Funny how different it’s been from East to West.

Anyway, myself and Mike spent most of Saturday out and about, having a few drinks, playing (or throwing, in my case) a few darts, eating an “all you can eat…” veg curry, etc.  Before meeting up with Julie, and Fran and “It’s a hat!” Andy later.

Brighton is a nice place, there’s pretty much something for everyone.  I think you’d like it.

Posted by  |  17 January, 2010 | Categories: Travels | Leave a comment