Beach Cleaning and Goodbye

Today, we were helping COAST, Community Of Arran Seabed Trust, in Lamlash to clean and record the rubbish we found on the beach. After eating breakfast, we donned our waterproofs and caught the bus from Brodick to Lamlash however we were missing Rob who had to go and rescue Wally after his van refused to start. 

We met Jenny from COAST at the tennis courts in Lamlash, the new offices of the charity where we were able to climb up a ladder to the attic to see amazing views of the Holy Isle across the bay. Jenny explained to us about the "No Take Zone" and the further goals and missions of the charity which has expanded in recent years and is trying to do more to preseve the unique marine life of the island. The No Take Zone was established to protect the fragile seabed by not allowing any marine life to be taken from the area which has allowed wildlife to thrive with larger lobsters having been recorded each year since the zone was created which was the first of its kind in Scotland. As well as this, they have created a Marine Protection Zone which encompassed the waters surrounding the southern half of the island where only sustainable fishing methods can be used.

When Rob and Wally finally arrived, we set off down the beach, armed with bin bags, gloves and litter pickers. After stopping for lunch and catching sight of a pair of otters swimming in the bay we began to clean. Undeterred by the rain showers we spent the next two hours picking up and recording litter of all shapes and sizes. Some of the best finds included a pair of comedy glasses, a makeshift anchor made of a brick in a bottle, and a single abandoned boot. 

Once we had finished our beach clean and had lugged the bags back to the office, we ventured into Lamlash to get some well earned refreshments. Half the group made a pit stop at the Co-op while the rest headed to a local ice cream shop for double scoop cones which were gone in minutes.

A short bus journey and a walk later we were back at the lodge for a highly anticipated meal of fajitas and nachos which was a great success even if the number of wraps was limited. 

Although we are sad to that our time in Arran is coming to an end, it has been an amazing and unforgettable experience despite the midges and the constant threat of being bitten by a tick. We have all loved getting to know each other and many thanks are due to Rob and Wally for all their organisation, encouragement and knowledge that we have benefited immensely from. 

So it is goodbye to Arran tomorrow but we'll definitely be back soon!

Monday 14th August 2017

Today, we were helping The National Trust of Scotland with conservation of their estate within the Brodick Castle grounds. We were clearing away large areas of gorse bush in order to allow the highland cattle more space to graze and move. The weather conditions were challenging with spells of heavy rain and wind. However we persevered through this and cleared two weeks of normal ranger work within 5 hours. This was a valuable lesson in terms of the rewards of determination and hard work. We are very proud of what we have achieved today and we have all gained new skills from the experience. We all enjoyed working as a team and helping to conserve the environment and are looking forward to supporting Arran's natural beauty further, later in the week.

This evening we are all very tired however are feeling well fed after a delicious chilli con carne that was made by one of our teams of three and we are now ready for a well deserved good nights sleep.

When 14 were let loose on Arran!

Today we were split into three groups and were let loose around three sections of Arran; Lochranza in the North, Lamlash in the South-East and Blackwaterfoot in the West.

The group sent to Lochranza, first paid a visit to the castle by the sea. it was a 12th century building that had been modified in the 16th century, making it more defensible and with more features on the inside. we then explored the church, which had been modified several times over its history between 1560 and 1918. One such building had the remains of its dead buried within the walls of the church itself which was interesting to learn. We then climbed the hill on the west side and walked past the oldest craft shop in Lockranza called The Stoneman, then continued on to look for Huttons Unconformity, a geological structure that at the time of its discovery, significantly changed our understanding about the true age of the earth. We saw a variety of wildlife including wildflowers, birds and insects such as butterfly's before we had to run back to catch our bus.


In Lamlash, we first saw the Clearances memorial, which was put there to remember the clearances which occurred between 1829 and 1840 where many people were forcibly removed from their homes to make room for livestock. As a result of this, many people emigrated to Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. We then visited Hamilton Terrace, Lamlash Church of Scotland and then went to the beach to look at flowers. We then explored the pier and Lamlash Bay, looking over to the Holy Isle. Lamlash Bay is Scotland's first "No Take Zone" meaning that it is a marine area protected from human disturbance. After that, we went to the cemetery and visited the Chapel Ruins, before coming back to catch our bus back to Shore Lodge.

After taking the bus from Brodick Ferry Terminal Station, we walked along the beach at Blackwaterfoot and saw either a female or a juvenile otter! After this, we walked through the golf course and into a field of noisy sheep. We then joined the beach once more and found some natural arches and a bit further on was the King's Cave which has carvings inside which date back to the 5th or 6th century. Outside the cave were Buddhist meditation pebble towers as there is a large Buddhist population here on Arran. We traced back our steps and went through a jungle of ferns to try to find an iron age natural fort. We didn't realise, but we in fact walked all over it! After this, we walked back along the beach and as we walked quicker than expected, we stopped off in the Harbour Shop with Maureen and Ethel and got an ice-cream before heading back on the bus to Shore Lodge.




Later in the evening, we went for a walk around the grounds of Brodick Castle and discussed the different types of foliage the geology around the castle. We even saw the barn owl that nests in a tree on the grounds.

Goatfell

Today we all woke up early to start our day by having breakfast and making our lunch for the day. Soon after we tided out dishes and left to go and search for animals by the beach. We so many seals including the grey seal and common seal while we were watching through our binoculars. After about half-hour we headed back to the lodge where we got ready to leave and climb up Goatfell. We left to reach the bus stop to get the 11:00 bus to Corrie. The walk to the summit was 2 1/2 miles. We also started with high spirits as we went up the hill. As we were walking up we saw many different types of plants including the sundrew. At 13:45 we stopped for lunch on a large rock slab to stop the ticks however this did not stop the midges attacking us while having our lunch. We continued on after lunch and started the steep ascent towards the summit. Once we reached the summit we saw some beautiful sights around the Arran and we even saw Northern Ireland. After taking in the sights we started the steep accent of the hill where we jumped down the path to get back to the lodge. While jumping down we spotted some butterwart. We soon later reached the lodge where we all had a nice shower and had a great meal made by group 2 of thai green curry and ginger cake with custard. Also Rob got a tick today.

Arrival on the Isle of Arran

After travelling from around the globe to sunny Scotland, today marks the day that we all set off to start our Arran adventure.

Meeting at Glasgow Central station, it looked like a 14 year old's school disco, boys on one side, girls on the other. Following the grease mega mix + I got a feeling, Black Eyed Peas, we all hopped onto the ferry.

After surviving the choppy seas with luckily just windswept hair, we hit the shores of Arran. Following much deliberation with the bus driver Batman & Robin (Our Leaders Wally & Rob) managed to cram all 14 of us + our luggage onto the small island bus, much to the annoyance of all the other passengers.

Dumping all our wordly belongings in the hall way we were given the grand tour of our new home away from home.

All unpacked, beds made, tent pitched, introductions had, uno started w,e began our deliciously made evening meal. Some of us then bravely ventured out into the wild to discover two common seals tanning it up on a rock.

We are now waiting anxiously for our leader to tell us about the John Muir award and what crazy adventure we have actually signed ourselves up for!

Wish us luck!

Summary of the day: Train, Ferry, Bus, Bonding, Birds & Seals!

The Penultimate Day

On the penultimate day the group ventured across the Arran to the island's capital of Lamlash. Here they observed the non-native species which were taking over the land and choking the life out of Arran's humble plants. They spent the day measuring the invasive species, contributing to the aim of controlling their spread. 

The tired conservationists rewarded themselves with a sunny trip to the pier with the local delicacy- ice cream. 

After returning to Brodick the residential leaders decided these young explorers needed a new challenge- to make it across the bay to Shore Lodge, all alone. They forged new routes across the beach and terrifying golf course- careful not to annoy the locals. 

Finally, having successful navigated back to Shore Lodge, the general consensus was that a dip into the sea was a suitable reward. Despite the icy cold scottish waters they waded bravely into crystal clear waves. Slowly they got used to the chilly water (or perhaps their legs just went numb) and they showed off their prowess in swimming and a slightly dangerous game of catch the rock. 

Returning back to the lodge the soggy adventures enjoyed steaming showers and finally prepared the feast for the last night- homemade pizza followed by jelly and ice cream, a perfect conclusion. 

So now, as they gather and discuss all the information they have gleaned over the past 5 days, they reflect on their shared experiences. Another section of the Gold DofE complete- one step closer to the final goal. 

Monday 7th

This morning the group decided to not rise with the sun and search for elusive wildlife, but instead decided to catch up on much needed sleep and refuel for the busy day ahead - gorse bashing!

Gorse is a native (but invasive) species and was taking over the local growing field. We soon solved this as we set to work quickly with our bow saws and loppers, clearing the area from the prickly gorse. We were so engrossed with our tasks that the day soon disappeared and we left to go and fill our empty stomaches with lovely thai curry after well needed showers!

After dinner, the group then presented their very own findings about their chosen plants. 

Sunday

We saw an otter after rising early for the rare experience, previously missed the day before. Post breakfast a quick and decisive meeting was held in the living room to reassure ourselves the weather had forbidden the climb up Goatfell, instead the walk along Glen Rosa was announced.

The weather started out decent, but unfortunately turned within the first ten minutes. As we left the woods and headed through the valley, rain began to pour down like there was no tomorrow. Despite the horrendous conditions we saw a variety of plants, including the elusive butterwort that kills insects for food. We also saw some deadly enchanter's nightshade.

Following the exhausting walk, a lovely meal was shared between us all as well as some interesting stories and experiences of our instructors.

Saturday 5th, August 2017

 In the early hours of the morning the group awoke to go hunting for otters. Although no otters were seen some members of the group saw a seal and some gannets. They returned for a hearty breakfast before returning to the beach.

At the beach they were able to see lots of interesting wildlife including common gulls (which aren't that common), a grey wagtail as well as many different types of seaweed which they learnt how to identify through their appearance. They were also able to identify many species of crab that were seen.

After lunch, they went to the Brodick Highland Games where they witnessed Caber Tossing for the first time. There were also many stalls where you could buy anything from burgers to wool. They finished off the day with a wonder round the gardens of Brodick Castle.

The New Arrivals

A new group of budding conservationists have arrived on the Isle of Arran. They have gathered from across the British Isles, excited for the days to come. Having made their introductions, they embarked on the arduous task of getting to know each other. Faced with many awkward silences, it appeared that Uno was the solution. So far they survived the voyage from the mainland over mildly choppy seas and battled with the swathes of Brodick public on the bus. Now settled into their cosy cabin, tummies full of delicious homemade spag bol and garlic bread, they are now ready to face the oncoming challenges of the John Muir Award. Will they survive the week? Find out tomorrow in the next instalment...

Day 5: The Penultimate Trial

The day began with a wholehearted breakfast, but what for? you may ask... The penultimate trial: Goat Fell. Standing at 874m, the team stood defiant at the bottom of the corbett, struggling to comprehend the weathering heights of the mountain. A willing walk quickly became a torrid trundle - as the ascend continued and the rain lashed down upon us. The only light in this bleak setting was the abundance of new plants, fungi and life itself.

 Achieving the feat of climbing the tallest mountain in Arran, the team celebrated like winning the world cup - with a group photo (as shown above)! However, the task of descending lay ahead. With the weather worsening by the minute, the terrain became almost impossible to traverse across unscathed. Nonetheless, the team spirit prevailed above the conditions thrown before them.

During the excursion, the team was able to discover a different side of the local ecosystem. With heights previously unfound, we discovered a variety of species such as: reindeer lichen, viviparous fescue, butterwort and juniper trees. In addition, the team enhanced their understanding of Goat Fell's geology and geography. Observation of igneous rocks, such as granite and basalt intrusions, showed us its volcanic past; corries and terminal moraine proved its renowned glacial history.

After a hard day's work, the squad assembled one final time for dinner. This time we added a bit of spice with ¡fajitas! Proving a popular risk, the team was still forced to cool down with some ice cream. Team moral is sky high at the time of writing this blog, with a type-1 fun day.

Day 4

 Today we set out into glen rosa to meet up with Corinna a local national trust for scotland ranger to do some habitat management . The type of habitat management that we took part in was bracken bashing this is where you flatten or damage the bracken around a newly growing tree. This helps the tree get much needed light in order to grow.

We were also given the task of each picking a species of plant and identifying it. We then had to find out more information about the plant and prepare a short presentation to tell the others in our group about it.

Throughout the day we had a typical Scottish array of weather, ranging from glorious sunshine to a sudden and torrential downpour of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Luckily this changing weather did not impeed out progress in clearing bracken as this sudden change in weather occurred in the return journey to the lodge - this did however mean returning in the rain.

Day 3

On the morning of day 3, we set out to do a beach clean on the local Brodick beach in front of our lodge. Before we set out, we completed a group risk assessment covering the main hazards within the categories of environmental, human, wildlife and rubbish. Once we geared up in our waterproofs - ready for the temperamental Scottish weather. We paired up, grabbed a litter picker and plastic bag and then set off. On reaching our start point further down the beach, we started searching for litter between the high tide mark and the gorse bushes at the back of the beach.

We found an array of litter including: crates, plastic bottles, tent poles and wipes. Overall, it was a very enlightening experience as it helped us to understand the importance of appropriate waster disposal and the impacts on the environment. After we disposed of the waste we also looked at a marine litter picking survey form and considered the range of waste that can be found on beaches - of which we found half of.

Later on in the afternoon, we went on a discovery walk around the grounds of Brodick castle. We found a variety of plants including: hydrangeas, redwood trees, rhododendrons, yellow rattle flowers, beech trees, pine trees and star moss. Although we couldn't enter the castle, as it was undergoing refurbishment, we found out the oldest parts of the castle date back to the 13th century. Whereas, the visible exterior was built in the Victorian era when the Hamiltons lived there.

Day 2

On day 2 of adventures in Arran, we were divided into three groups and sent off on buses to explore different areas of the island. One group traveled for twenty minutes to the north of the island to visit and discover Lochranza; another to the south of the island to Blackwaterfoot and the final group travelled to the village of Lamlash. Here, we were left to explore the wildlife, history and sights of the areas, to later present to the other groups.

After getting a bus from Brodick Pier to Lamlash, the group who were researching the area ventured into the more commercialised area of Lamlash. It is said by locals that Lamlash is the second biggest village on Arran, and this can be seen with the large numbers of coffee shops and gift shops, as well as a hotel, hospital and police station. During the stroll through this section of the village, the group found several historical landmarks, such as the Clearance Memorial, which acted as a reminder of the 86 people who were forced to move from Lamlash to Canada between 1829 and 1840.

Next, the group walked for several kilometres to the jutting headland at the north of Lamlash. On this walk, the group encountered lots of wildlife, especially in the 'No Take Zone' of the beach. This zone prohibited all removal of sea creatures from this section of water in Lamlash, and thus the group were able to see crabs, jellyfish, oyster catchers and herons.

The next group took a bus from Brodick Pier to Blackwaterfoot, in which they set out to discover some caves.  On discovering the caves, they found where a legend had once sought refuge.  He observed a spider attempting to to spin a web on the walls of the cave and from this found the strength to continue to fight for Scottish Independence.

The last group went to Lochranzar, which is at the top of the island. There we went on a adventure as we got off at the distillery, and set off towards the castle where on the way we saw some red deer and some osystercatchers then we walked down towards the pier were we had lunch, then after we had lunch we walked back towards the castle and walked towards Newton Point. On the way to the viewpoint we encountered a golf course that had been invaded by red deer. Other animals we saw during our trip are, Shags, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Gannet, Buzzard, Rabbits, Sheep, common Gull, Swans, Ducks, Jackdraw, Common Tern.

Day One

The journey to the Isle of Arran began with the whole of the group meeting at Glasgow Central Station. With most of the group arriving by train and some by flights we all managed to find our way to the meeting point eventually. After an hour long train ride we eventually arrived at the harbour, for a rather calm trip across to Arran on the ferry. The weather of course was rain - what else can you expect from Scotland... but still morale was high within the group. Once our jobs for the night had been decided we all got setteled in and the chefs were swept off to the kitchen to begin dinner.  The dinner was nice and the night was spent playing cards with banter and jokes flying around the room to create a good atmosphere.

And so this is where our jouney begins...