Red squirrels are an increasingly rare sight in the UK but here in the Scottish Borders they are holding on and we’re involved in helping to monitor our local populations.
You’ll join a wildlife ranger on the lookout for red squirrels in a Scottish Borders forest, then after lunch become a conservation volunteer for the afternoon at a community nature reserve.
And as with all of our adventures, for every away day booked, we’ll donate a nature education session for a school or charity of your choice.
We’ll start out in local forest where we monitor red squirrel (and pine marten) populations. We can never guarantee sightings but we know where we see this lovely iconic Scottish species on a regular basis – all the pictures and video on this page were taken in locations around southern Scotland.
We’ll have lunch at the popular Waterwheel restaurant, where there will also be a chance to learn about the reintroduction of Golden Eagles to the Scottish Borders (and see salmon leaping in season).
Afterwards we’ll take a stroll along the river back to Mauldsheugh Wood, our community wildlife project, where you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon as a conservation volunteer in the woods.
You’ll start with a woodland nature walk led by our experienced wildlife ranger, giving you the chance to absorb and enjoy your surroundings.
Activities can be as simple as topping up the bird feeders and sitting back to watch the wonderful bird life of the woods.
Or you can get your hands dirty helping to develop the community project – we’re currently working on a forest school for use by the community and local school groups.
Please note that prices are based on the use of your own transport: we can arrange minibus, coach or luxury vehicles at an additional cost. Contact us for details.
We run our nature adventures to give more people a chance to enjoy the wildlife of southern Scotland and to help cover the cost of our community nature and wildlife projects. All profits go back into the community interest company to enable us to continue to operate Mauldsheugh Wood, along with nature clubs, school visits and collaborations with other community groups.