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The pond has got a little over run with nettles recently. So we decided to take them on!!!

Burgers made from produce out the garden. The best was making and tasting!

Great use for our glutt of tomatoes!!

My first day of McLaren HS Junior Rangers was on Ben A’an with Rosie Winch from the ‘Mountains and the People’ project, who aim to increase and maintain path quality on mountains around both of Scotland’s National Parks. On the way up, we discussed some of the ways in which they monitor which paths need more maintenance than others, one of these being a people counter (image 1), a wooden post fitted with lasers to detect walkers going up and down the path. By using this data, the Mountains and the People can then see which paths are most walked and will require more work. We also had time for some STEM in the outdoors (image 2), by using a klinometer to measure the gradient of the hill (which was around 14°). 2.5km and 545ft later, we reached the top at around 12pm and had lunch with a view (image 3). On the way back down, we learned more about what Rosie does with volunteers for the project and helped clear some cross drains and water bars. Drainage is incredibly important on mountainous paths because if water is not diverted as it runs down the hill, it seriously erodes the path and increases the maintenance needed. They quickly fill up and frequently need to be cleared, which is what we helped with (images 4 is a before and after

On my second day of MHS Junior Rangers, we travelled to the David Marshall Lodge in Aberfoyle to meet Emily from the Trossachs Water Vole Project and the Foresty Commission. Before we went out, she gave a really interesting presentation on the key signs to look for when doing a water vole survey. These included the star-shaped footprints and tic-tac sized poo, we also discussed some of the reasons why water voles became an endangered species - habitat loss, minx, etc. We then moved to Loch Ard Forest where we kitted up in waders (image 1) and walked into a burn to look for signs of water voles (image 2). Unfortunately, my group didn't find anything, and this could be partly due to the recent rain but other groups did have something to report, including poo and footprints.

On day three of MHS Junior Rangers, we were joined by Active Stirling to canoe on Loch Ard. After carrying the boats down to the edge (image 1) we paddled around the end of the loch for a bit to learn technique and then set out down the loch. Although I've lived in Kinlochard my whole life, I'd never canoed the narrows before so it was really interesting to see a new section of a familiar place and to see my village from a different perspective (image 2)

In July, I went to Inchmahome Priory with LLATT National Park Junior Rangers, which I've been a part of alongside the Youth Committee since they were started in September 2018. After arriving onto the island, we spent the morning learning about its history, in the priory and the grounds around it (images 1 & 2). Although I live in the area, I'd never visited before so it was really interesting to explore and learn so much about the islands past. After lunch in the sun, we got to work clearing the weeds around old graves near the church, including Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham and his wife (image 3)