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Thistle camps are a marvellous opportunity for everyone to become involved in hands-on practical conservation work. When you join a Thistle Camp you are helping the National Trust for Scotland in the direct management of its countryside properties and are also helping put something back into the environment.
Thistle Camps cover a huge variety of tasks e.g. footpath maintenance in the more mountainous properties like Glencoe, Torridon, Mar Lodge or Kintail; grassland management or rhododendron clearances at lowland properties such as Crathes or Threave or tree-planting at Ben Lawers. There is also the opportunity to learn archaeological skills at Mar Lodge, or experience crofting life on Fair Isle.
Thistle Camps are not solely about work as they afford a wealth of other prospects. By becoming involved in a camp, you will learn new skills, make new friends and see beautiful new places, experiencing something completely different from your typical routine. Many of the camps are very popular and fill up quickly so if you are interested in becoming involved with Thistle Camps, please contact:
Julia Downes
Conservation Volunteer Manager
National Trust for Scotland
28 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh
EH3 9LB
or telephone 0131 243 9470
Fax 0131 243 9593
Email - conservationvolunteers@nts.org.uk
St Kilda Work Parties are similar to Thistle Camps but run for two weeks at a time. They are organised by the National Trust for Scotland regional office in Inverness. Work parties have been going to St Kilda for over 40 years to conserve and restore the buildings on Hirta, which is the largest island. In 2004 archaeology camps cost £555 and £645 for general conservation work.
For more information about St Kilda Work Parties, please contact the Inverness office on 01463 732622.