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Rural Skills Training Course

Dun Coillich Rural Skills Training Course

We are now taking applications for our next Rural Skills Training Course which will start on the 14th of February 2024 (closing date for applications is the 7th of February). The course runs for 20 weeks every Wednesday and some Thursdays and is completely free of charge.

The aim of the course is to give young people (aged 16-25) from the Highland Perthshire area the opportunity to gain relevant skills and work experience as a stepping stone to a career in the rural land sector. 

The course offers a mix of certified training (chainsaw, brushcutter, ATV, pesticide use, first aid), non-certified training days (dyking, ropes access, fencing, habitat monitoring); alongside practical work experience and skills development. Throughout the course, our trainees are given the opportunity to improve their wider skills and are encouraged to explore their interests and strengths in a supportive environment. 

We also work with neighbouring land owners and partner organisations such as Forestry and Land Scotland, The John Muir Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, and local farms and estates and local outdoor adventure companies to give the trainees an insight into the wide variety of future career options available to them.

If you would like more information please contact our Project Officer by email: projectofficer@hpclt.org or on 07849268411 or download the application pack here https://hpclt.org/node/635.

We are able to offer this opportunity FREE due to support from The Gannochy Trust, the SSE Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund, the Robertson Trust and the Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Nineveh Trust and the Basil Death Trust.

Heart of Scotland Weekend Volunteer Days

We run regular volunteer days on the last Sunday of every month as part of the Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership.

On these days we will run volunteer work parties on Dun Coillich, but also on other properties within the Heart of Scotland Partnership area.

Our volunteer days are a great way to get outdoors and get some fresh air and exercise in some of the most beautiful scenery that Highland Perthshire has to offer.

Everyone is welcome to come along and join us for the whole day, or just a couple of hours!

Dates for 2024 are as follows:

  • 28th Jan
  • 25th Feb
  • 31st March
  • 28th April
  • 26th May
  • 23rd June
  • 28th July
  • 25th August
  • 29th September
  • 27th October
  • 24th November

We try to keep the tasks varied on the day and these can include planting and looking after our trees, helping to maintain our fenceline (to keep the deer out), helping to maintain and improve our network of walking trails and getting involved in habitat surveying and wildlife monitoring, basically getting involved in all aspects of the management of our site at Dun Coillich and other partner sites. 

Why not come and join us? Meet some new people, learn and share some new skills and do something positive for your local environment.

We will have a number of activities planned on each day to suit different abilities, so don’t worry if you are feeling a little unfit and it doesn't matter if you have never done anything like this before - all training and tools will be provided.

All you need to bring is yourself, some lunch and some suitable outdoor clothing.

It can be quite exposed up at Dun Coillich and is often several degrees cooler than down in the glen, so we would recommend you bring several layers, waterproofs and sturdy footwear. Also we can at times end up a little muddy, so I wouldn’t recommend wearing your best goretex climbing jacket!

For more information contact Heather on 07849268411 or email projectofficer@hpclt.org

These days are run as part of the Heart of Scotland Forest Partnership and supported by funding from The John Muir Trust.

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Dun Coillich Volunteer work parties, Every Tuesday, 10am-3pm

Our volunteer group will continue to meet over the winter months as long as the weather is kind, so if you are feeling the slump after all the indulgences of the festive period why not come and join us? It is a great chance to get outside, blow away a few cobwebs, get some exercise and meet some lovely people. We don’t work too hard and are very focused on cups of tea and biscuits, especially when it's cold outside! The group is very friendly and welcoming and we tailor the jobs we do depending on people’s abilities, so there will always be several tasks each week for you to choose from. 

Our volunteers get involved in all aspects of the management of the land at Dun Coillich, from improving our path network, maintaining our deer fences and looking after our trees and many other things besides. We can offer transport from Aberfeldy if needed.

If you would like more information about the volunteer days or any of our other projects please email projectofficer@hpclt.org or phone 07849268411.

Rural Skills Training

Dun Coillich Rural Skills Training Course

We are now taking applications for our next Rural Skills Training Course which will start on the 9th of August 2023 (closing date for applications is the 2nd of August). The course runs for 20 weeks every Wednesday and some Thursdays and is completely free of charge.

The aim of the course is to give young people (aged 16-25) from the Highland Perthshire area the opportunity to gain relevant skills and work experience as a stepping stone to a career in the rural land sector. 

The course offers a mix of certified training (chainsaw, brushcutter, ATV, pesticide use, first aid), non-certified training days (dyking, ropes access, fencing, habitat monitoring); alongside practical work experience and skills development. Throughout the course, our trainees are given the opportunity to improve their wider skills and are encouraged to explore their interests and strengths in a supportive environment. 

We also work with neighbouring land owners and partner organisations such as Forestry and Land Scotland, The John Muir Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, and local farms and estates and local outdoor adventure companies to give the trainees an insight into the wide variety of future career options available to them.

If you would like more information please contact our Project Officer by email: projectofficer@hpclt.org or on 07849268411 or download the application pack here https://hpclt.org/node/635.

We are able to offer this opportunity FREE due to support from The Gannochy Trust, the SSE Griffin and Calliachar Community Fund, the Robertson Trust and the Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Nineveh Trust and the Basil Death Trust.

Summer Public Events

 Thank you to everyone who came along to the series of public events we ran over the spring/early summer. They were all pretty much fully booked and we had some lovely feedback. It was great to meet some of our members face-to-face and introduce some new people to Dun Coillich. As these events were so popular we have decided to run some more later this summer. 

Details are below and attached. All the events are bookable on Eventbrite via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/highland-perthshire-communities-land-trust-43584016343.

7th of August: Family Foraging For Words with Linda Cracknell: This is a family-orientated creative writing workshop. We ran an event with Linda last year and it was a really lovely day, I'm sure this event will be the same.

11th August: In Search of Lichens with Petra Vergunst: Petra is a freelance ecologist and lichen enthusiast who has offered to spend a morning sharing some of her knowledge about the wonderful world of Lichens

19th August: Rocks, Soils and Ecosystems: This walk will be led by Geologist Keith Myers, Soil Scientist Audrey Litterick and 'font of all knowledge' Richard Paul, and will be an opportunity to learn more about the effect underlying geology has on the soils and therefore plant communities at Dun Coillich.

16th September: Tour and Draw with Dylan Gibson: Dylan is a local artist/illustrator who regularly runs drawing classes. This event will involve a short introductory walk at Dun Coillich followed by a chance to create some artwork, guided by Dylan, and inspired by some of the things we discover.

All of the above events are being offered free to HPCLT members and we are asking for a £5 donation from non-members.