Tree Nursery Weeks
Tree Nursery Weeks are held at Dundreggan in our new on-site nursery. Dundreggan is a 10,000 acre estate in Glen Moriston that is owned by Trees for Life and which we use as our field base. It contains a remnant of the ancient Caledonian Forest and is especially noted for its exceptional juniper-birch woodland. Our forest restoration work is well underway and ancient birch and pine woods, montane habitats, moors and burns invite exploration. It has been described as a haven for biodiversity, supporting many rare and endangered species. Further information about the site is available here
The Work
Tree Nursery Weeks are less physically demanding than our other Conservation Weeks, and include activities such as potting, weeding, mulching and seed sorting. The nursery is just next to Dundreggan Lodge. Horticultural work focuses on growing rare and endangered species of the Caledonian Forest such as juniper and aspen. If you would like to participate in a Conservation Week but would like a more gentle option we would recommend one of these weeks.
As on our other weeks, work starts just after 9am and finishes at about 5pm. The day is very relaxed, with regular opportunities for breaks as well as an hour for lunch.
Accommodation
Accommodation is in Dundreggan Lodge, located next to the nursery. The lodge is situated on the southern boundary of Dundreggan Estate, overlooking the River Moriston. The recently converted building has 3 bunkrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, a large lounge/dining area, two bath/shower rooms and a drying room.
Opportunities for your day off
One of the most popular activities is to visit our wild boar, which were brought to the estate to aid bracken control and ground disturbance for the purpose of regeneration. We also have a wildlife hide where you can observe pine martens and many people take the opportunity to swim in the pool above Dundreggan Lodge if it's warm enough!
You could also visit the Loch Ness visitor centre in nearby Drumnadrochit, including the Nessie exhibition, or the famous Urquhart Castle is only 16 miles away and boat trips on the loch run from nearby Fort Augustus. If you enjoy hiking, the Five Sisters walk at Kintail is popular and there are various Munroes (mountain peaks over 3,000 feet in elevation) in the area.
Please note that the day off is also a day off for the leaders of the week. The minibus may sometimes be available for use as a group but you may need to rely on local transport to reach some of these locations.
Wildlife
Dundreggan supports a remarkable array of species. Golden eagles are regularly seen on Conservation Weeks and recent weeks have also produced sightings of ospreys, ravens, merlins, tawny owls and peregrine falcons. Other bird species of note include the great spotted woodpecker, golden plover, Scottish crossbill, black grouse, snipe, goosander and woodcock.
For the mammal enthusiasts amongst you, Dundreggan is home to three species of deer (red, roe and sika), wild boar, mountain hares, otters and pine martens. There is also a huge wealth of invertebrate species, including many rare and endangered species.
Last updated: Thursday, 29-Nov-2012 17:17:57 CET