As we entered the new financial year back in April 2021 I think its safe to say that we were filled with anticipation and uncertainty of what the year might bring. We had just emerged from yet another lockdown, opened our new look community café and began the vital task of managing the rivers invasive species and persistent litter issues. The year had many more highs than lows and I am delighted to summarise some of the successes below:
Total Volunteer Hours: 10,151 – a value of £96,500 at the national living wage
Number of Conservation Tasks: 317 an average of 6 per week (234 by Trust volunteers and 83 by community groups)
Number of Volunteer River Patrols: 296
Learning sessions delivered to schools and the public: 157 and average of 3 per week
Income from Community Cafe Sales increase by a third to £35.5K – proving tea and a pee helps to make the Trust more sustainable
Launched the new look website
Opened the new and improved cafe area
Updated our membership offer and welcomed the support of 37 new members
Produced an Improvement Plan for Coalie Park
Treated all Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam Plants from from Balerno to Leith
Awarded Community Path Group of the Year and spent 126 days looking after the walkway
Our full annual report with be produced in due course detailing more of the years successes but all of this would not have been possible without the support of our volunteers, donors, members and trustees. And of course our wonderfully dedicated staff team – Helen, Charlotte, Sandie, Ruth, Johnny, Kat and Carol
