All 20 SWT reserves in the Lothians are open to be visited by the public at any time but this coming weekend the 17th and 18th May two cyclists are starting a sponsored cycle ride in celebration of the Trust’s 50th anniversary on our local reserves and reserve volunteers are going to be there to welcome and encourage them on their way! This means that if you wish to be shown around a reserve, perhaps one that you have always meant to visit near you that you have never managed before, take this opportunity to encourage the cyclists and get a personal tour of the reserve by an SWT Local.
The times that volunteers will be on the reserves to welcome the cyclists (who are: Tim Duffy your SWT Lothians Members Centre convenor, and Paul Ritchie SWT Director of Finance) are as follows (cyclists plan to arrive near the start of these time slots but they may lag as the day goes on….!):

Saturday 17th May:

Erraid Wood: 8.00 AM to 10.00 AM – Helen Mackay – the start of the cycling!

Milkhall Pond: 9.15 AM to 9.45 AM David Ross

Roslin Glen: 10 AM to 12 noon David Ross

Hadfast Valley: 11 AM to 1 PM Sheena Irving

Linn Dean: 12.30 PM to 2.30 PM Rory Sandison

Brock Wood: 2 PM to 4 PM Glen Gibb

Woodhall Dean: 2.30 PM to 3.30 PM Lesley Fairweather

East Lammermuir Deans: 3.30 PM to 5.30 PM Lesley Fairweather

Thornton Glen: 4 PM to 6 PM Colin Beckett

Home to a muscle relaxing bath!

Sunday 18th May:

Bawsinch (8 AM start) and Johnston Terrace reserves will be visited en-route but will not be manned as key access and regular open days are routinely offered

Pepper Wood: 10 AM to 12 noon Ken Knowles

Addiewell Bing: 2 PM to 4 PM Gavin and Averil Stewart (estimated arrival of cyclists 2.30 PM)

Hermand Birchwood: 3 PM to 5 PM Jim and Fiona Hewlett

Red Moss of Balerno: this is a full open day from 12 noon to 5 PM with pond dipping, quizzes, guided walks – the cyclists arrival at the end of their weekend visiting 20 reserves around the Lothians is estimated at 5pm (so please wait for us reserve committee members who are manning this open day! We will ring you with progress reports!)

If you want to encourage the cyclists by sponsoring them, their justgiving page for SWT is: http://www.justgiving.com/SWT-50th-Anniversary-Cycle-between-the-120-Scottish-Wildlife-Trust-Nature-Reserves