Penicuik Estate initiative success

Penicuik Estate Ranger Service held several events throughout the year, including the Bioblitz in summer 2015.

The new service, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, was formed to engage with the local community by managing access on the estate including the network of footpaths it has to offer, and to provide opportunities for positive engagement following the seven year heritage project centred around Old Penicuik House.

The Ranger Service has welcomed numerous school and community groups to the Estate to take part in various guided walks, events and outdoor activities.

Several projects have been set up including Connect@Penicuik Estate – a partnership project devised in conjunction with Volunteer Midlothian in order to provide opportunities for local people to join a ‘dementia friendly’ walking group which meets weekly for walks on the estate led by the Ranger Service and local volunteers.

Several John Muir Award projects have been run over the past year and the Ranger Service also hosted pilot project ‘Rural experience Midlothian’ – a partnership between Police Scotland, Midlothian Council and Forestry Commission Scotland.

There are several opportunities for volunteering with the Ranger Service including with the bat project where members of the public can learn how to survey for bats, with the conservation volunteers group who meet fortnightly to carry out practical vegetation management or with our Volunteer Ranger programme.

For Further details contact Head Ranger Cathy Hooper on 01968 670738 or see www.penicuikhouse.co.uk or Facebook at ‘Penicuik House Preservation Trust’.