The Fife Conservation Team had a busy season carrying out work on all the Fife reserves and beyond the Fife border. The team I have at the moment is made up of Training For Work (TFW) trainees who are with me for 12 months and New Deal 18 - 24 year olds who are with us for 6 months. During this time trainees are introduced to a wide variety of practical conservation skills. We do a very hands-on type of work, so potential trainees/team members must have certain qualities about them. An interest in wildlife and being able to understand why we are carrying out work on our reserves is very important at all levels for team members and volunteers. Team members come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some have been involved in conservation work before, others are brand new to it, all enjoy the experience with us and have benefited in some way from being on the team.
The Team has put up fencing at Cullaloe reserve prior to the introduction of some sheep on the orchid meadow. A willow coppicing programme is ongoing at this reserve and there is much work to be done by the team on the bird viewing platform which, if you have visited recently, you will know does not look its best. New decking will also make it safer. Carlingnose Point has had its fair share of work, mainly contractors, but the team were allowed on to take down a few invasive species. Bankhead Moss is one reserve we have worked on a lot and carried out a variety of tasks, including construction of a new access boardwalk using a timber called keruing, a hard wood which is very robust and ideal for boardwalks. Other reserves we worked on include Fleecefaulds Meadow, a good reserve even if it’s just for our fitness level! It's okay going down, but you have to get back up again, difficult enough, but with rolls of rylock stock-fencing material and associated kit, it can be daunting to some! The access track in to Fleecefaulds was upgraded last year and has kept to a standard, which is good to see. In total 32 tons of type 1 chippings was laid by hand, a testimony to the hard work the Team does in the name of the Trust.
The Team is growing in strength and will be up to 11 members by end of March. As the weather improves and days are longer the Team will be out and about. If you see us on your visits to our reserves come and say hello. You can even join us if you want - volunteers are welcome.