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The Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service is expanding its highly successful volunteer ranger programme. We are recruiting committed and enthusiastic individuals to assist the Ranger Service at a variety of sites around the city. The work involved is varied and, where possible, tailored to the volunteer's interests. This would be a perfect opportunity for people wanting to develop their CV, to get out and learn more about the landscape, wildlife of local area or even just wanting to get out and enjoy some practical work in an interesting setting. We do ask that where possible volunteers commit to joining as many work days as they can, these will normally run once or twice a week through the year and will allow us to help you develop your skills and explore your interests. However if you only want to work in your local area, or if you are only interested in certain volunteer tasks, we are happy to only contact you when a relevant opportunity arises. We are also happy for people to join one of our sessions on a “taster” basis before committing long term. If you are interested in using this opportunity towards a John Muir Award, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Saltire Award or any other qualification please just let us know and we can see what we can do to help. Young people aged under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We are a recipient of the Volunteer Friendly Award national quality standard - all volunteers are therefore guaranteed an extremely good welcome and experience volunteering with us. For an informal chat and further details please contact: Duncan McNeill (Countryside Ranger) at Email: countrysideranger@aberdeencity.gov.uk / Tel: 01224 326429.

We are looking for volunteers to be involved in gardening at our garden at Seaview Children’s Unit. Seaview is a residential and respite centre for children and young people with severe needs. Volunteers will work with the gardener to maintain and develop the garden doing weeding, watering, planting, propagation and creative projects. The garden offers a therapeutic space for the children and young people, staff, parents and visitors to Seaview. Gardening experience is not required.

We need people to report their squirrel sightings so that we can assess where the threat is prevalent. You can report sightings of both red and grey squirrels at scottishsquirrels.org.uk We also need people to get actively involved in red squirrel conservation. There is a role for everyone and full training is provided: • surveying and monitoring of local woods • raising public awareness and engaging the community (including running events and social media) • group administration duties • data management and IT • grey squirrel control

Craigmillar Growers is establishing a network of community gardens for local residents to grow vegetables and fruit together. Produce is shared among participants, used for cooking regular community meals, and donated to local community food projects, addressing food insecurity in deprived neighbourhoods. As a volunteer, you would assist with supervising work sessions, delivering gardening workshops and contributing to the development and growth of the project.

Who can resist the chance to help restore a 'lost' 15th century walled garden here in Edinburgh? Or to get fit without paying gym costs? We are keen to recruit volunteers for a wide variety of gardening tasks. You don't have to have specific gardening skills – enthusiasm counts. A wide variety of activities are involved in the restoration project – digging, clearing, weeding, planting, general repair and maintenance of sheds, greeting, helping with planning, harvesting seasonal produce being some of them.

Help look after the Water of Leith. Volunteers carry out practical conservation tasks along the river and walkway in conjunction with City of Edinburgh Council Natural Heritage Service. This could be a river clean-up, tree or wildflower planting, meadow cutting, invasive plant control (May-July), vegetation control, footpath maintenance. Children of all ages are welcome if supervised by an adult.

We are looking for volunteers who would like to learn about horticulture. Volunteers would assist with maintaining the growing space at the Blue Triangle as well as learning how to grow vegetables and other activities. This involves anything from potting up in the greenhouse, weeding flower beds, planting seeds in beds, digging over soil, moving soil by wheelbarrows, breaking down of pallets to make use of wood ,watering plants and various other things related to gardening or recycling. Sanding and varnishing of wood for signage, it is for anyone who wishes to learn about gardening or growing food as well as local eco activities such as litter picking.

This initiative is about planting varieties of apple trees in any suitable space available. The blossoms are excellent for honey bees which are under threat. Apple varieties that are under threat of being lost are also maintained. Any fruit is to be made available for communities to use as they wish. Fruit may be used for eating directly, for cooked products and for cider making. Any profit from apples cropped will be returned to the community as well. Volunteers are needed to assist the project by : • Digging a hole. • Partly backfill with compost. • Place the apple tree, tree support and protection as required into the hole. • Complete backfill and water as appropriate. • Label with apple variety, its primary use, name of volunteer, date planted. • Feel good for helping the bees, the planet and our communities. Initially we are looking at two sites: 1. Grove Nursery at Hazelhead. 2. Cove Woodland Trust, South Cove Road. More sites will be developed across Aberdeen and the North East and other volunteering and job opportunities may arise as the project develops. All aspects of grafting, pruning etc. can be arranged for volunteers showing the correct aptitudes. A fantastic opportunity to help an exciting initiative. All help greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Brian Allan, Volunteer & Funding Co-ordinator at E Mail: brianaltenscc2@gmail.com or Tel.: 07751275757.

Would you like to help us keep our birdwatching hides at Birsay Moors (on Burgar Hill) and Cottascarth clean and tidy? We’re looking for a volunteer for each of these hides to pop in once a fortnight to give them a quick sweep and tidy, and to check that everything is looking good, so living fairly local to them would be an advantage. A great chance to do some birdwatching whilst helping us keep our hides spick and span, and we’ll provide everything you’ll need.

To assist in organising and facilitating the opening of gardens for charity in Kirkcudbrightshire