TCV

Connecting people and green spaces

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Bee Bank & Meadow Restoration at Heritage of Braid

An activity with Biodiversity Action Team

Activity date: Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Start time: 10:15
Finish time: 12:15

Activity description

Volunteer with TCV: Bee Bank & Meadow Restoration at Heritage of Braid 🐝 Who We Are We’re The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)—a UK-wide charity that connects people with green spaces to create healthier, happier communities. In Edinburgh, we run the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Team (EBAT), a local volunteer group taking practical action to protect and enhance nature across the city. From planting wildflowers to restoring habitats, we’re working together to make Edinburgh greener, wilder, and more resilient. 🌼 What We’re Doing – and Why It Matters At the Heritage of Braid Wildflower Meadow, we’re creating a new bee bank—a specially designed habitat that provides nesting space for solitary bees, which are vital pollinators but often overlooked. Alongside this, we’ll be managing surrounding grassland and scrub to improve floral diversity and sowing a mix of native wildflowers that support both bees and butterflies. Pollinators are in serious decline across the UK: 🐝 Over 250 species of bee live in the UK, but many are under threat due to habitat loss. 🦋 Two-thirds of Scotland’s butterfly species have declined in recent decades. 🌼 97% of wildflower-rich grasslands have been lost since the 1930s. This project directly supports the Edinburgh Nature Network (ENN) by enhancing a key habitat corridor in the south of the city, improving ecological connectivity between the Braid Hills, Blackford Hill, and the Hermitage of Braid. It also aligns with the Urban Biodiversity Strategy by creating climate-resilient green infrastructure, increasing pollinator habitat, and engaging local communities in nature recovery. 🛠️ How Volunteers Help Volunteers will take part in a range of practical conservation tasks, including: ✅ Building and shaping a bee bank using soil and sand ✅ Managing grassland and scrub to reduce dominance and improve diversity ✅ Sowing native wildflower species that support pollinators ✅ Monitoring the site for bee and butterfly activity ✅ Helping maintain access and keeping the site clean and welcoming No experience is needed—just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved. All tools, training, and guidance are provided. 🌍 What You’ll Get in Return 🌿 Learn practical conservation and habitat creation skills 🐝 Help protect pollinators and restore biodiversity 🌤️ Enjoy time outdoors in a beautiful natural setting 🤝 Meet like-minded people and be part of a friendly team 📊 Contribute to real ecological monitoring and citizen science 🙌 Make a meaningful difference for nature in your city

Meeting place

Edinburgh Office: 09 West Gorgie Parks, EH14 1UT Onsite: What3word reference: ///closed.drama.gums

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Activity location

Hermitage Of Braid, Hermitage House Hermitage of Braid 69 Braid Road, EH10 6JF

Site description

The Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill lie within the Braid Hills between Morningside and Liberton. This 130 acres of mixed habitat is a haven for wildlife. It includes woodland, grassland, scrub, freshwater and marsh. br> br>The woodland is mainly broadleaved and includes elm, ash, sycamore, oak, birch, rowan, beech and horse chestnut. You may also find conifers such as larch, scots pine and western hemlock. br> br>The variety of species, age and size of trees provides habitats for a wide range of birds and animals e.g. woodmice, voles, shrews, rats, rabbits, foxes, and bats. Birds include green woodpecker, tawny owl, tits and finches plus warblers and the spotted flycatcher in summer.

Contact

Josef William Williams

Telephone: 07483050773
Email: josef.williams@tcv.org.uk
Website: https://www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/

Please bring

  • packed lunch
  • suitable outdoor clothes
  • suitable outdoor footwear

Further info

To register as a volunteer please email josef.williams@tcv.org.uk If you have any questions of queries about the days activities and suitability please don't hesitate to reach out, where practicable we aim to make all of our activities accessible to all.

Site Facilities

  • Cafe
  • Parking
  • Picnic Area
  • Toilets
  • Nearest Toilets - Stables

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