Who we are:
We are a committed, passionate committee who are responsible for keeping the woods safe, accessible and thriving. We are responsible for: practical woodland management (e.g. keeping paths clear, planting new trees to ensure good species diversity); admin, fundraising, contact with the council, etc; liaison with the community, our members and user-groups (e.g. schools, outdoor nursery, Lochend Park Run, local community groups); and organising volunteering activities in the woods.
Who are we looking for:
Specifically for people with the following skills to help us deliver a new 10-year management plan approved by Forestry Scotland.
- Fundraising and grant management
- Project management/administration
- Webpage maintenance/social media
- Business and income-development
More information about the skills being sought is given below. There are also ample opportunities to escape the laptop and be involved in the physical and active management of Lochend Woods.
Organisation aims and objectives:
To manage Lochend Woods (and such other woodland as may become available in the Dunbar area in the future) as a ‘Community Woodland’, so as to conserve, preserve and protect this woodland for the benefit of the public, and the inhabitants of Dunbar in particular.
To conserve, preserve and protect the wildlife, flora and fauna of this woodland.
To provide facilities, or assist in the provision of facilities within the woodland, in the interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupation with a view to improving the aforesaid persons condition of life.
The management committee meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month for 2-3 hours. Given the nature of the new opportunities being advertised here, volunteers would need to give up additional time to fulfil the roles described. However, we are all volunteers and do not have set expectations of how much time individual members contribute in addition to meeting times. All our current committee members work full-time and/or have significant other personal commitments so we make flexible, realistic plans to accommodate that. We have a committee WhatsApp group to discuss matters arising between meetings.
Travel details:
The venues where we hold our committee meetings are within walking distance from most areas of Dunbar, including the train station and bus stops with connection to Edinburgh and other East Lothian towns.
Lochend Woods themselves are also walkable from most areas of Dunbar, some meetings online. We expect that the administrative elements of the advertised roles undertaken between meetings could be done from the volunteer’s home or another locations that suits.
Minimum age:
18 years of age
Expenses details:
As a small community group, with no core funding and small reserves, we cannot cover costs of travel to meetings, but will reimburse members with reasonable costs incurred in the course of committee duties.
Training details:
We are a friendly and supportive volunteer committee who will support new members with informal induction to DCWG. We are also keen to access training opportunities for members where funding is available.
