Spring arrives in Glenlude

On the eve of the launch of our Glenlude Appeal, Conservation Officer Ellie Oakley shares an update as the team transitions from winter to spring, with a flurry of conservation work, volunteer activity, and wildlife monitoring - featuring an enterprising tawny owl.

Early March at Glenlude was still very cold and snowy but the month did hold some stunning sunny days as the team prepared to welcome our regular volunteers and groups back on site. 

The regular volunteers are back on site now, working to carry out tree planting, step building, tree maintenance, path work, drain clearing, tree nursery work and much more.

Later in the month, we hosted The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC) and Scottish Borders Climate Action Network (SCBAN) for a training morning with some of our regular volunteers.

The group were taught about the importance of biological monitoring, why we need to record wildlife and how to use iRecord, before putting their new skills into action on the way to the campsite.

Groups on site this month include the Green Team, who have visited the Green Team Wild Wood twice, completing important tree maintenance and planting a few more trees to fill in the gaps. Jamie's Wood also returned this year, planting trees and carrying out essential tree maintenance.

The team has also been monitoring red squirrels and adders. We are excited to share some camera trap footage we captured of a tawny owl using our red squirrel feeder to stash food, before returning a day later to pick it up!

• Find out more about our work at Glenlude.