Enthusiastic Volunteers Back For More
This week OATS ran two ‘refresher days’ for volunteers who became involved with the Adopt A Path scheme through The Mountains and The People. On Saturday 8 volunteers gathered at Bochastle in the Trossachs. We ran through the survey method, key features of paths prone to erosion and discussed the impacts of increased footfall on many popular footpaths. The group walked up to the incredible erratic Samson’s Stone and over to the Iron Age fort. We were lucky to have a range of enthusiasts in the group to tell us about the history of the fort, the flowers along the way and other volunteering opportunities in the area. With the sun out and little wind, going through risk assessments in the afternoon was relaxing.
Monday’s refresher was held in Glen Feshie, and we were again lucky with the weather. A smaller group meant that once we had recapped the survey and reporting methods in the afternoon we were able to carry out some minor path repairs. Clearing accumulated material in cross drains and on waterbars allowed volunteers to understand how features can become blocked and what to report back on.
Both days were great opportunities for the volunteers to meet one another and start to build a bit of a community of adopters. A facebook group has now been created to allow adoptees to keep in touch and team-up for surveys.
“Great opportunity to meet folk and get a refresher”
“Thoroughly enjoyed today’s session, it was good meeting the new OATS team member and putting a face to the name, and also meeting up with old faces”
