Throughout the year there will be opportunities to volunteer at the University's Forest and Peatland sites. Local residents, community groups, students and staff are welcome. Opportunities can be found on this page, which will be regularly updated. Over spring and summer we have some great volunteering opportunities. Full details and online booking for each activity will be available 4-6 weeks before the event. An email will go out via the mailing list when online booking is open. You can sign up to the mailing list below to be kept updated. Bird survey at Drumbrae - Saturday 30 May 2026 Join us for our first annual bird survey at Drumbrae on Saturday 30 May, from 7-10am. We will be splitting into small groups to listen and look for bird species in some different areas across Drumbrae. The survey will involve walking to a survey location and remaining at that location for a set period of time and recording what species you see and hear. You can also record any species seen or heard while walking to and from the survey locations.This event is suitable for those with bird identification skills. You don't need to be an expert to take part, but this event is not suitable for a complete beginner.Please note if the weather forecast is poor, then it may be moved to the following day Sunday 31 May. If you would like to come along, please make sure you register using the form below. Important Info You must be 16 years old or over to volunteer. Volunteers should bring drinking water and snacks. You should wear clothes suitable for the forecasted weather, have sturdy footwear, bring something to sit on and binoculars. You are welcome to bring any bird ID books, apps or resources with you. Places are limited and spaces must be booked in advance. If the event is over-subscribed we will operate a wait list.Volunteers are required to fill in a registration form to help us keep everyone safe. Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £35. The Community Ranger will be in touch with volunteers to confirm the details the week before the volunteer event. Please note we may take photographs/ videos during volunteering activities. If you do not wish to be photographed / filmed your wishes will be respected. Accessibility Information The activity level will be easy / moderate.Most survey locations will involve walking along grassy paths and uneven terrain. It will involve walking uphill and downhill. We will be working in small groups and most people won't know each other. Volunteers need to be able to get to the meeting place, Cocksburn Woods for 7am. A google pin to the meeting point is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/H93GP6uFJhZPyaBs7Please note there is no public transport to Sheriffmuir Road. Parking is available at Cocksburn Woods.There are no toilets on site. The closest public toilets are in Bridge of Allan. If you are not able to submit the online registration form, an alternative format can be provided. Please contact the Community Ranger.Please get in touch with the Community Ranger if you have any questions or accessibility requirements: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Sign up for bird survey Tree monitoring and maintenance at Drumbrae - Friday 12 June and Saturday 13 June 2026 Join us to help monitor the crab apple and wych elm trees that were planted as part of a project with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. This will involve some weeding / clearing bracken from around the trees, adjusting tree tubes and stakes, checking the condition of the tree, recording if the trees are dead / alive and measuring their height etc. This task will involve using an online survey created by Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. If you have access to a smart phone to complete the tree monitoring online survey, please bring it along.The volunteer day will run from 10am-3pm and the day will involve some light manual handling and tool use and walking on rough, uneven ground. If you would like to come along, please read the information below and make sure you register using the form below. If the event is fully booked we will operate a waiting list. Important Info You don’t need any specific skills or previous experience and we will provide the tools, work gloves and survey equipment.You must be 16 years old or over to volunteer.Volunteers should bring drinking water and packed lunch. If you have access to a smart phone to complete the tree monitoring online survey, please bring it along with you. If not, paper copies can be provided. You should wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, have sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the weather. (e.g. waterproofs, sun hat, sun screen.) Please note we will limit people to attending one day to allow more people the opportunity to be involved. If there are spaces nearer the time, then these will be made available for people to attend both days. Volunteers are required to fill in a registration form to help us keep everyone safe. Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £35. The Community Ranger will be in touch with volunteers to confirm the details the week before the volunteer day. Accessibility Information The activity level will be easy / moderate. Everyone can work on tasks that they are comfortable with, and we will have regular breaks.We will be working in small groups and most people won't know each other. Please note there is no public transport to Sheriffmuir Road. We encourage car sharing and will try to facilitate lifts from Bridge of Allan. Parking is available at Cockburn Woods and Sheriffmuir Road. There are no toilets on site. The closest public toilets are in Bridge of Allan. If you are not able to submit the online registration form, an alternative format can be provided. Please contact the Community Ranger.Please get in touch with the Community Ranger (Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk) if you have any questions or accessibility requirements. Sign up for tree monitoring Meadow survey at Drumbrae - Saturday 27 June 2026 Join us for our second annual meadow survey at Drumbrae on Saturday 27 June from 10am-3pm.We will be identifying and recording the varied plant species we find across the different habitats overlooking the Sheriffmuir Battlefield. This event is suitable for those with some botany / plant identification skills. There will be an ecologist to help so you don't need to be an expert. You are welcome to bring any apps / books / resources that you usually use. We will also have some Field Studies Council ID guides for people to borrow on the day. If you would like to come along, please read the information below and make sure you register using the form below.Important Info You must be 16 years old or over to volunteer.You should wear clothes suitable for the forecasted weather and sturdy footwear.You should bring something to sit on, drinking water and a packed lunch. Places are limited and spaces must be booked in advance. If the event is over-subscribed we will operate a wait list.Volunteers are required to fill in a registration form to help us keep everyone safe. Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £35.The Community Ranger will be in touch with volunteers to confirm the details the week before the volunteer day. Please note we may take photographs / videos during the volunteering activities. If you do not wish to be photographed / filmed your wishes will be respected.Accessibility Information The activity level will be easy / moderate.It will involve walking along a short section of road, a track and on rough, hilly, grassy terrain.We will be working in small groups and most people won't know each other. Volunteers need to be able to get to the meeting place, Cocksburn Woods for 10am. A google pin to the meeting point is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/H93GP6uFJhZPyaBs7.Please note there is no public transport to Sheriffmuir Road, but we encourage car sharing. Parking is available at Cockburn Woods. There are no toilets on site. The closest public toilets are in Bridge of Allan. If you are not able to submit the online registration form, an alternative format can be provided. Please contact the Community Ranger.Please get in touch with the Community Ranger if you have any questions or accessibility requirements: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Sign up for meadow survey Dumyat path maintenance - Thursday 16 July, Friday 17 July, Saturday 18 July 2026 Join us to improve the well-loved path to Dumyat from Sheriffmuir Road. We will be working alongside an experienced upland path builder to help maintain the path. There will be a range of tasks, including repairing drainage features, clearing ditches and water bars to keep water off the path to prevent further erosion. The volunteer days will run from 10am-3pm and the activity will be strenuous. Volunteers are welcome to sign up to multiple days.If you would like to come along, please read the information below and make sure you register using the form below. If the event is fully booked we will operate a waiting list.Important Info The volunteer days will run from 10am-3pm.All tools and equipment provided.No previous experience needed.You must be 16 years old or over to volunteer.Volunteers to bring drinking water and a packed lunch.You should wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, have sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the weather (e.g. waterproofs, sun hat, sun screen).Places are limited and spaces must be booked in advance. If the event is over-subscribed we will operate a wait list.Volunteers are required to fill in a registration form to help us keep everyone safe. Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £35.The Community Ranger will be in touch with volunteers to confirm the details the week before the volunteer day. Accessibility Information The activity level will strenuous. Reasonable fitness is required as there will be tool use, manual handling and walking on upland paths.Everyone can work on tasks that they are comfortable with, and we will have regular breaks to enjoy the views.We will be working in small groups and most people won't know each other. Parking is available on Sheriffmuir Road, Pendreich car park and Cocksburn Wood.Volunteers need to be able to get to the meeting place for 10am. Link to meeting point (Google maps)Please note there is no public transport to Sheriffmuir Road. We encourage car sharing and will try to facilitate lifts from Bridge of Allan. There are no toilets on site. The closest public toilets are in Bridge of Allan. If you are not able to submit the online registration form, an alternative format can be provided. Please contact the Community Ranger.Please get in touch with the Community Ranger if you have any questions or accessibility requirements: Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Sign up for Dumyat path maintenance Other volunteering opportunitiesAt Drumbrae on Thursday 18 June - Saturday 20 June, there will be an archaeology dig at Logie Homestead.This event is led by local archaeologist Dr Murray Cook. Please contact Murray directly if you are interested in taking part.Email Murray for more information. Mailing list sign up Previous volunteering eventsYou can see photos of our past volunteer events in the Volunteering section of our Story Maps.Drumbrae StoryMapRullion Green StoryMapYou can also find out more information in our Forest and Peatland news page.Forest and Peatland newsFor more information about volunteering with the Forest and Peatland programme take a look at our Volunteer Handbook below. If you have any questions about volunteering please email Community.Ranger@ed.ac.uk Volunteering on Dumyat Hill 2024 Volunteer Handbook This article was published on 2024-10-01