📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Dean Castle Country Park has over 80 hectares of countryside and yet is set in the heart ofKilmarnock as a free resource for the whole community. The Country Park boasts beautiful woodland walks, an adventure play area, urban farm, visitor centre, tearoom, shop and a fantastic 14th century castle. With scenic paths and trails to explore, the park is a great place to get away from the stresses of everyday life and see some fantastic wildlife. Volunteers are vital to the Park and help us improve the Park for wildlife and make it a better place for the community.
💼 What the programme involves
You ll take part in nature conservation activities in the park, particularly path maintenance helping the local community access the park safely. We ll also get out in the beautiful Ayrshire countryside for a day of path work on one of our long-distance paths. We ll tackle non-native species to protect our riverbank and try out some bushcraft skills.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You ll be housed at the new residential centre in the country park just along the main drive from the castle. There will be four to a room in bunk beds and no need for sleeping bags There s a kitchen with plenty of cooking equipment for you to use to cook up a tasty meal at the end of the day to use at the centre as well as a recreational space to hang out in the evenings and weekends. You ll all work together to cook and clean as a team and have a chance to share inter-cultural meals and experiences.
📍 About the location
Dean Castle Country Park is in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire and you may recognise it from the famous Outlander series as Beaufort Castle There are local pubs and cafes nearby as well as a cinema in Kilmarnock. For weekend trips, there are plenty of tourist attractions within easy reach of Kilmarnock including Loch Lomond, Isle of Arran, Glasgow, Edinburgh or the beautiful beaches of Troon and Ayr.You could try a ceilidh (fun folk dancing for everyone) or last year we also brought a dance group in to do folk dancing with the volunteers,
ℹ️ Additional information
Sunshine is not guaranteed in Scotland Expect some good old Scottish weather Outdoor clothing that can get muddy, waterproofs, sturdy boots and/or wellies are essential.