Frequently Asked Questions

Biodiversity Weekend Project

How many people attend the weekends?

The numbers vary, but there are usually between 8 and 14 people on each weekend. We are limited by the number of people and equipment we can carry in a minibus.

Will everyone else know each other?

No. While many people who have been on one weekend come back for future events with us, usually about 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.

Do I have to have experience of environmental conservation?

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 you to bring with you is your enthusiasm!

Where do you pick participants up from?

We collect people from outside Waverley Station in Edinburgh. We do plan to start running some projects from Glasgow and will announce this on the main website when this is due to start. In the mean-time, we are happy for you to meet us at the work site if arrangements are made in advance.

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 a bunkhouse or sleeping on the floor of a village hall. If we are sleeping on a floor, we can provide airbeds on request.

What about food?

Much of our food comes from Damhead organics and we try to strike a balance between buying organic, buying local and eating less red meat and more vegetables.

We provide breakfast and lunch on the Saturday and Sunday as well as dinner on Friday and Saturday night. However, if the work site is a long drive from Edinburgh, we may stop for fish and chips part-way through the journey on the Friday night and this meal would then not be included in the cost of the weekend. We are happy to cater for people with special dietary requirements, but need to know about these in advance. Everyone is expected to chip in with the cooking and clearing up.

How much does it all cost?

We keep our prices as affordable as we possibly can. A normal weekend costs £25 all in (£20 if you don’t earn a wage at present). Long weekends, and those with ferry crossings, cost a bit more.

Caledonian Woodlands Project

When will the trees be planted?

The best time to plant trees in Scotland is between November 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. We can extend the season a little, by planting containerised trees.

This means that your trees won’t always be planted immediately when you ask us to plant them. They will however always be planted within 6 months of you asking us to plant them.

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 your tree will be planted in. We will then e-mail you once per year to tell you how the woodland that your tree has been planted in is developing.

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.

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.

What is my money spent on when I purchase a tree from you?

The cost of the actual tree is 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 protect 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 weed the trees to give them the best start in life.

Can I plant my own tree?

You can plant your own tree by joining us on one of our tree planting days – in fact you will get to plant a number of trees – some for you and some for others.

Caledonian Team Challenge

How much involvement in project planning do you need from us?

As much or as little as you would like 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.

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 your group.

Could we carry out a project which combines team building with tree plants?

Sometimes. 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.

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 and 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.