1. Orchard Centre Services
ROWAN Project
‘Respect Our Woodland And Nature’

2. ROWAN Project
• The ROWAN Project aims to encourage its members to enjoy the
benefits of being close to nature and the sense of well being it offers.
• A chance to participate in conserving and protecting local woodland
and walkways for the benefit of the wider community.
• The project will offer members a chance to participate in health walks,
learn about about woodland skills and environmental issues.
• The ROWAN Project will cooperate and take advice from local and
national bodies responsible for the respectful management of
Scotland’s woodland.
• The project will encourage local experts and nature enthusiasts to
share their knowledge with group members.

3. Background
Recent research and studies have suggested that
there is a strong link to positive mental health and
wellbeing to spending time in woodland
environments. Initiatives such as WIAT – ‘Woods in
and around towns’ are assessing the impact of the
Forestry Commission (Scotland) programme in the
Central belt over a 7 year period.
Many members from the Branching Out group that
ran between September - December 2011
reported a positive increase in their wellbeing
during this period. This group was part of a joint
initiative between New Caledonian Woodlands,
The Orchard Centre and the Forestry Commission
Scotland. Members engaged in health walks, bush
craft, conservation and environmental art.
11 Members received The John Muir Discovery
Award on completion of the ‘Branching Out’
programme.

4. Branching Out – ROWAN Inspiration.
Branching Out was a joint mental health and well being initiative between New Caledonian Woodlands and the Orchard Centre with support
from the Forestry Commission Scotland.
The project was run over a 12 week period between September – November 2011, offering woodland activities such as health
walks, bush craft, conservation and environmental art.
Each session took place between 12 noon -3pm each Thursday and was geared up to offer participants a chance to learn new
skills and experience different woodland settings each week.
10 Orchard Centre members signed up to the project and 1 staff member for the 12 week course.
On completion of the course, participants were eligible to receive The John Muir Discovery Award at a specially arranged award ceremony.
Participants decided to create an Exhibition to display a gallery of woodland photographs and craft items that they created. This is now
displayed within the Orchard Centre.
During the first half of the project, participants were involved in formative pruning at the Millennium woodland in Wester Hailes to
help improve access to local woodland.
Shelter building, woodland walks and wildlife photography were experienced at Roslin Glen. At Vogrie Park the group helped to clear invasive
species that threaten local woodland fauna and collect seeds for propagation.
Week 4, involved collecting brambles along local disused railway tracks and making homemade jam and visiting The Garvald Walled garden
project.
At Leadburn, group members learned about tree maintenance to protect young saplings and woodland management skills. Further
into the programme, group members learned how to enable newly planted trees to thrive and flourish. Sycamore trees were
thinned out to allow stronger ones to develop. The Sycamores that were cut were used to build play structures for young children
at a local nursery in Gorebridge.
A session involving creating willow structures and frames was enjoyed by the group as well as planting seeds that are now
propagating within the centres greenhouse.
All participants were very enthusiastic about the project and developed into a strong supportive unit as the weeks passed by.
Most group members have expressed an interest in utilising the woodland skills they have learned in helping to maintain and sustain local
woodland for the benefit of the wider public.
Group members also commented on how they positive they felt about their wellbeing and general mental health, especially when they
experienced spending time in the woodlands.
All participants were thrilled to receive their John Muir Discovery Awards in December 2011 at a ceremony held at The Orchard
Centre.
Phil Morris
Senior Project Worker – Orchard Centre Services.

5. ROWAN - 2012 Initiatives
 Members have been encouraged to volunteer and participate in the
following initiatives.
 Rural taster sessions – 4 week courses starting February and May 2012 at Newbattle Abbey College. This
is run in connection with The Volunteer Centre Midlothian. Group members will be encouraged to attend
future sessions planned later in the year.
 Partnership with Midlothian Ranger service agreed – JUNE 2012.
 ROWAN Volunteers 1st venture with local Ranger service held on 17.7.12.
 From July onwards members have concentrated on clearing stretches of the overgrown former railway
footpaths in the Bonnyrigg area. This will enable safer access for walkers and cyclists. The members
have already made lots of progress with this initiative.
 Aug 2012 – ROWAN group have assisted with the development of The Community Hospital garden in
Bonnyrigg . Members have helped to construct Raised beds for planting vegetables, Constructed
Compost bays and are working to improve the landscaping of the site.
 Autumn /Winter 2012 – Plans to do conservation work within Roslin Glen . A designated area will be made
available for volunteers to plant and conserve (Partnership with Midlothian Ranger Service).
 It is hoped that Branching Out will be offered to new members in the near future.

6. ROWAN - Group initiatives
 Orchard Centre – Raised Bed initiative. (Above)
Monday evening group established by Dougi who volunteered his
services, time and expertise to help members learn new skills.
 The photos show the final touches (May 2012) and with
Vegetables growing nicely and the rewards ready for meals
within the centre. (August 2012).

7. ROWAN – Partnership working
Bonnyrigg Footpath initiative
 ROWAN members have began work to
cut back overgrowth of sections of the
old railway pathways that are used by
walkers and cyclists in Bonnyrigg.
 This initiative is to help make the
pathways more accessible and safer to
use. It is being carried out in partnership
with the local Ranger service.
 Feedback from members of the local
community to the Ranger service has
been very positive about the impact and
improved access of the footpaths since
The ROWAN group members worked to
make improvements.

8. ROWAN - Events
 Spaces Conference
Was held in May 2012 at Redhall gardens
in Edinburgh. The event was aimed at
bringing together people from mental
health and environmental organisations
– to learn more about how working
outdoors in nature can support well
being and recovery.
 3 ROWAN group members and myself
presented a workshop to over 40 people
at the event. Members gave an overview
of their experiences of the Branching Out
Programme .They also spoke about how
working with nature and outdoor
experiences assisted in their well being
and contributed to their positive mental
health.
 Members ran a display stall which
offered advice on Health in Minds
services and a exhibition of photographs
and craft items from their Branching Out
experiences.

9. ROWAN – Dates for Diaries.
 Initial meeting of group – 7.3.12 at 2.30pm at the Orchard Centre.
 Feb 2012 – Taster sessions – Rural Skills training at Newbattle commence.
 Scottish Biodiversity Day –(IBD) -22.5.12 , Week 19/5 -27/5.
 March 2012 – Hermitage garden project commences.
 The Role of Green Care in the promoting mental wellbeing 20.3.12 at Heriot-Watt
University.
 Spaces Conference – 24.5.12 – At Redhall Gardens
 June 2012 - Members meet local Ranger to discuss future opportunities.
 July 2012 – Conservation event –Bonnyrigg footpaths.
 August 2012 – Midlothian Community Hospital Garden - open 3 days per week
offering opportunities for volunteers to get involved. Open every Monday ,Tuesday
and Thursdays from 10am – 3.30pm. Members will be able to go along and volunteer
their time individually or within the group.
 Autumn/ Winter – Conservation work – Locally and Roslin Glen.
 ROWAN Group meet every Thursday afternoon at The Orchard Centre at 1pm
and venture out at 1.30pm.

10. Meetings
 ROWAN members will be encouraged to meet
together throughout the year to receive updates
about ongoing initiatives and discuss news
about up and coming woodland/environmental
events.
 Guest speakers will be encouraged to meet with
members, ie local Rangers ,woodland and
horticultural experts.

11. ROWAN Members
 If you would like to find out more about the
ROWAN project or become a member:
 Contact :
 Phil Morris- Senior Project worker, The Orchard Centre
Services Tel 0131 663 1616
 Email : philmorris@orchardcentreservices.org.uk