Latest news: February 2026
Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter. It’s been a busy winter, with Teenage Dirtbags, volunteering, and lots and lots of preparation for what’s coming up later in the year. Read on to find out how you can get involved.
What’s on
Volunteering
Our hardy volunteers have been battling the weather and helping with site maintenance, coppicing, and more! We’re into regular weekly sessions (Fridays), alternating between our site and Kirkton Coppice, so why not come along? We’re also just about to start a new volunteering programme, Nature Nurture, weekly on Thursdays from 5 March. Nature Nurture mixes woodland management with traditional crafts.
Find out more
Teenage Dirtbags
We’ve been having a lot of fun with our Teenage Dirtbags, building a new structure, blacksmithing, coppicing and tree climbing. The bunch of young people have been out in all weathers, learning new skills and meeting new people. While we’re at the end of our funded project, we’re going to carry on with monthly sessions, while looking for some more funding to support the project.
Find out more
2026 Workshops
Workshops for 2026 start in mid-April, and we’re excited to get going! We’ve got a great programme this year, with a selection of green woodworking, basket weaving, and blacksmithing (as well as some charcoal thrown in for good measure!). Bookings are coming in thick and fast, so book today to secure your place. Workshops are aimed at 12+ or 16+ for blacksmithing.
Find out more about workshops
The Great Scottish Basket Cases!
Join us for a weekend of basket-making fun, as we host the best weavers and trainers from across Scotland on our site. From bases to bodkins to creels, we’ll be examining baskets from all angles, exploring different materials, and discussing all things weaving. Tickets for the event are available to book now; full line-up and workshop bookings opening early March!
Coppice Craft Day
Join us for a day celebrating traditional coppice crafts, using hazel sticks we’ve cut this year from the coppice sites at Redlees and Kirkton. With support from the Forth Valley Climate Action Hub, we’ll be offering a day of demonstrations and drop-in sessions to try a range of traditional coppice crafts. It’s free to attend so why not come along and take part in the coppice fun! Takes place on our site on Saturday 28 March.
Find out more
Charcoal
A momentous occassion for us this week - our first really big delivery of logs! Thanks to the team managing the community woodlands in Cambusbarron, we’ve been able to source this lorry load of logs that will keep Betty and Matilda fed throughout the year. We’ve been burning over winter, so charcoal stocks are good if you want to get your order in early!
Find out more
Nature Nuture
Nature Nurture is our new volunteering project, designed to help anyone who might be facing social isolation or loneliness to get out in the woods and meet new people. Set in Kirkton Wood, nr Aberfoyle, we’ll meet on a regular basis to learn about trees, manage different areas of the woodland, create new habitats, and learn traditional crafts.
Supported by the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults Ideas, Improvement and Innovation Fund, the group will meet weekly and take part in a range of activities including coppicing, tree planting, and traditional woodland crafts. We’ll come together over lunch, cooked by the participants, to share recipes, stories about ourselves and the woodlands, creating a safe space to connect with each other. We hope that the project will help participants to increase their wellbeing, reduce their social isolation, and enable them to take positive steps towards combatting the climate emergency.
Nature Nurture is open to anyone who wants to attend and feels that they would benefit from regular time in nature. Sessions start Thursday 5 March in Kirkton Wood.
