Visiting the Loch Broom oyster restoration site gave us insight into new methods we could use for monitoring our own oyster release sites. This includes new ways to measure oyster mortality associated with natural predation, which we will use to inform site suitability for restoration. Loch Broom has only released a small cohort here, yet the site lends itself well to education sessions since it is more accessible compared to other release sites, and since children can be involved without great risk to the wider project. This is something we are now considering in our own loch to better engage the community in what we do. We also learnt about other outreach methods such as baiting a creel and investigating what it attracts, and using oyster hoisters at pontoons for easy public access to ‘exemplar’ oysters. With regards to training requirements to implement the methods we learnt about, it is unlikely that we need any additional training to go forward with these ideas.

Learning Outcomes

• Analysis of methodologies used for monitoring.
• How to effectively engage volunteers for personal growth and wider benefit to the community. Developing pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours to create a community of nature stewards.
• Training requirements to implement appropriate methodologies.

"The sense of solidarity that emerged from our exchange provided a much needed boost to morale. It can be difficult pursuing active restoration in remote, rural locations such as Lochaline. Seeing the similar work being done and discussing the shared struggles allows us to feel as though we are connected. Having conversations about governmental policy and strategy associated with active restoration was another important benefit."

We discussed habitat and skate behaviour and how sites are chosen for survey and the Navionics application used to identify potentially interesting sites. and were given first-hand experience of how the boat and equipment is managed, the methodology and process. MaCCOLL will adopt a lot of these learnings going forward. we spent a lot of time talking about data processes and there
are a few improvements we can put into place. For example, separating the recording of flapper skate data from other species. It was reassuring to note that the Skat Trust stores data on the national marine database using Sea Search as we are currently doing.

We discussed community engagement and how he uses the work at the Orkney Skate Trust (OST) to inform the community and the scientific community.OST has well designed and established website which has some great flapper skate video content including the film “Uncommon. They have a section where anybody who sees a flapper skate or egg case can record it and place a pin on a map. OST also use social media to update the community. OST have become one of the foremost experts on flapper skate through his citizen science work and often talk at events. They talk to creel fishermen and other charter boats to find out if they have seen or caught Flapper Skate primarily to find out the location so that he can drop their BRUV where flapper skate have been seen.
In summary, this was a really beneficial trip which will provide huge benefit to MaCCOLL’s flapper skate project.

Learning Outcomes

• Increase knowledge on flapper skate and methods of research.
• Increase knowledge on equipment used for citizen science marine research.
• Increase knowledge in how to engage the wider community in research about flapper skate.

"The exchange was hugely beneficial and will really help MaCCOLL improve our skate project. We went out on a boat with a plan to carry out 6 six BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) drops. The trip to demonstrate the equipment, methodology and process used by Orkney Skate Trust."

On our arrival at Culduthel Community Woods (CCW) we saw the newly installed forest signage and the construction of their interpretation board, they also shared their ideas and thoughts to the content of the interpretation board. This was really impressive and led to thinking how we can make improvements at Dunnet Community Forest (DCF). The discussion and seeing new signage helped to realise how import it is for us to revisit our own signage, keep it updated and relevant for our forest community. To this end we have scheduled time to inspect DCF current signage, document this and any improvements that may come to light. This information will be passed up to my Board of Directors with recommendations for changes/replacements.

Invasive species were a large part of the conversation between CCW and the group, all of us in the group from different woodlands across the country had different plants and species that take time and thought to remove. I had a number of conversations with different group members which helped understanding on how they are dealing with their invasives, the challenges they face with terrain or using chemicals, what has worked or not for them. Learning from these conversations that a more scientific approach with mapping and monitoring the areas that we have invasives could help us to see how much we are actually achieving, rather than feeling down hearted at how much further we have to go.  If we can find a method of visualising the amount of our particular invasives we are removing and sharing this information with our volunteers it will have positive benefits and hopefully encourage more of us to tackle the invasives more often.

Meadow management – it was very interesting to hear about their meadow journey, the research they have done and what they have taken from that research which has led them to the plan they have in place for mowing, raking and planting. CCW’s site is quite different from DCF as we sit on a SSSI we have different restriction even down to the time of year we can mow, but there were a lot of similar issues such as the importance of raking for the meadow fertility and the plants that they are choosing to incorporate in their meadow. It was interesting to see the petrol scythe they have purchased and how well it works, this is information to take back to our Directors as we will need to invest in new equipment in the not too distant future.

Learning Outcomes

• our very recent work on installing signs and interpretation boards.
• our work to remove invasive species, especially rhododendron and
snowberry
• our approach to meadow management, supported by the Nature
Restoration Fund
• our partnership work with local charities to promote education and
awareness of the woods and to help get people more active
• our plans for path and general access improvements

"The learning benefits from this exchange are wonderfully varied from direct information gathered on how to do a specific task for example to discussions on alternative methods of working, making connections and building friendships though a shared passion. The information that was covered on this visit was all encompassing they covered all the different issues and topics to do with running and maintaining a community woodland. It was a fantastic visit and I don’t think there is anything they could have added or done better."