Frequently Asked Questions
Caledonian Biodiversity Weekends
1. How many people attend the weekends?
The numbers vary, but there are usually between 8 and 12 people
on each weekend.
2. Will everyone else know each other?
No. While a lot of people who have been on one weekend come back for
future events with us, usually at least half of the group is made
up of people who have never met before. A big part of the weekends is the
social element and so we run them in such a way that it is easy
for people to get to know each other.
3. Do I have to have done environmental conservation
before?
No. The weekends are always led by an experienced instructor who will
explain how the work task is to be carried out. All we ask is that
you bring your enthusiasm with you!
4. Where do you pick participants up from?
New Caledonian Woodlands is currently based in Edinburgh and so
we collect people from outside Waverley Station. We hope that
in the future, we will run events which start in different places in Scotland. In
the mean-time, we are happy to pick you up on our way if arrangements
are made in advance and are also happy for you to meet us at
the work site, again by prior arrangement.
5. What is the accommodation like?
Our accommodation varies hugely from one project to another and
we think that this is a positive aspect of the project. On one
project we may be staying in a stately home, sleeping in four poster
beds, while on the next we may be in dormitory accommodation
or sleeping on the floor of a village hall.
6. What about food?
We provide breakfast and lunch on the Saturday and Sunday as well
as dinner on Saturday night. If the work site is a long drive
from Edinburgh, we may stop for fish and chips part-way through the journey
and this meal would then not be included in the cost of the weekend.
Otherwise, we would eat when we arrived at the site and in such cases, this
meal would be included in the cost. We are happy to cater for people
with special dietary requirements, but need to know about these
in advance.
Caledonian Woodlands Project
1. When will the trees be planted?
The best time to plant trees in Scotland is between October and
March when they are dormant and the sap is not rising. By planting
at this time of year, the trees are given the best start in life.
This means that your tree won’t always be planted immediately after
you ask us to plant it. They will however always be planted within
6 months of you asking us to plant them.
2. How will we know when our trees have been
planted?
When you ask us to plant a tree or trees for you, we will send
you a certificate which will tell you which woodland you tree
will be planted in. When your tree is actually planted, we will contact
you by e-mail to tell you that your tree or trees have been planted
and what type of tree or trees they are. As we label all of our trees
with a unique code, we will also be able to tell you the code
for your tree or trees and roughly where in the woodlands your
tree has been planted.
3. What if my tree dies?
We plant small saplings called ‘whips’ and the success rate
for these is high (over 80%). However, some trees always die for
a variety of reasons and we therefore put resources aside to allow
us to replace these. As such, if your tree does die within the
first 5 years of its development, we will replace it with a new tree of the
same species.
4. Where will my tree be planted?
Our long-term aim is to have a number of planting sites throughout
Scotland so that there will usually be a planting site relatively
near to all of our customers. As we are a new organisation however,
we are starting with a few sites initially and these are in Fife, the Lothians
and the Scottish Borders. We hope to add new sites in the north
and west in the coming years.
5. What is my money spent when I purchase
a tree from you?
The cost of the actual tree makes up a small portion of the total
cost of creating new woodlands. In their early years, trees are
at risk of being food for rabbits, deer and small rodents and
this nibbling can cause the tree to die, or to be unable to grow
into a large tree. For this reason, we cover all of our trees with guards
to protect them from these threats. In addition, other plants growing
nearby can prevent the tree getting enough water and nutrients
to grow effectively. For
this reason, we carry out woodland maintenance in partnership
with our planting partners so that the trees get the best start
in life.
Caledonian Team Challenge
1. How much involvement in project planning
do you need from us?
As much or as little as you want to give. We can offer projects which
are fully managed, which means that the involvement needed from
you and your team is just carrying out the task on the day. Alternatively,
if you would like to be involved in the planning of the project
(or would like a staff member to be) we can offer opportunities
which require this level of input.
2. We have a strong idea about the
kind of project which we would like to carry out, but can’t see the kind of thing we are after on
your web-site – can you help?
Yes. We are always working on the development of future project opportunities
and so some of our projects aren’t ready for our website yet. If
you contact us to discuss your ideas, we will do all we can to
source a project that suits them.
3. Could we carry out a project which combines
team building with tree plants?
Yes. We don’t think that tree planting is particularly suitable
for team building, but we can devise a day which includes some
tree planting with an additional task or tasks at the planting site. This
way you get to plant trees to increase biodiversity and offset carbon,
while also improving the wider planting site and carrying out a
project which will help your team development.
4. You seem to be a new organisation – what
is your experience in team building?
While New Caledonian Woodlands has only been delivering projects
since May 2007, the team building coordinator has been delivering these
events for over 4 years and in addition holds an Msc in Psychology.
5. If we like the project which we become
involved in, what are the opportunities for developing long-term
links so that we can have an ongoing relationship with the project?
This is something that New Caledonian Woodlands is keen to encourage.
We feel that strengthening links between the business community and
the local community is something which can provide benefits to both parties
and to society in the long-term. If we can help you in achieving
this goal we will be happy to do so.