International CITO Day 2006 - Edinburgh, Scotland Cache In Trash Out® Event

Today’s Clean up is going to be located on a small section of the Water of Leith around the Saughton Park/Balgreen area of Edinburgh.
The Water of Leith is well known in Edinburgh for it’s cache trail of 18 caches over 12 miles, click on the cache trail logo for more information.

The meeting and parking location is going to be at N55° 56.023 W003° 15.116 the ONLY vehicle access to this car park is by Stenhouse Crescent/Ford’s Road at N55° 55.878 W003° 15.389.
Arrival time will be 09:45 and at 10:00 there will be a Health & Safety brief done by the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. You will be expected to sign a disclaimer stating that you have received and understood the brief!
Straight after the brief we will split up into two separate groups and go to the following sets of co-ords N55° 55.843 W003° 15.293 & N55° 56.014 W003° 14.763 where we will get started on cleaning up the river and its banks, meeting back at the parking co-ords. This should take no more than 2 hours (dependant on numbers that turn up).
Bin bags, gloves, litter pickers (and for those courageous cachers out there, waders for going into the water), will all be supplied. If you have got your own gloves and wellies, then please feel free to bring them along.
The removal of the rubbish will be organised by the conservation trust.

The terrain level for the day will be set at what you want it to be, if you want 1 star then you can clear the rubbish along the path (great for the kids), if you want 4 star then get those waders on and watch you don’t slip!!

For anyone that wants to bring along the kids, I’m sure they will enjoy themselves, and there is a large decent play park nearby as a reward for them.
For those people that haven’t yet done Have A Ball then you will be able to do this whilst you are actually doing the clean up.

Socialising Afterwards:

The Tickled Trout is a family friendly public house that serves meals.
The pub has a car park located at N55° 55.382. W003° 14.857 which is about 5 minutes away by car from the event starting location, but if you haven’t yet completed Saughton Mains Allotment Gardens & Under the Boardwalk then it may be worthwhile leaving the car where it is and walk along the river to the pub, bagging both of these caches on the way.

Event Caches For The Day:

The area that we are going to be cleaning up, hasn’t got much scope for new caches to be placed, but the Tickled Trout sits on the edge of Colinton Dell, which just may be the most beautiful part of the Water of Leith. So Firth of Forth & I will be looking at hopefully placing one or two caches within the Dell for the day. They will be within walking distance of the pub, and can be done before or after the clean up.
The caches that we have got for the event will be - Trotters Independent 'Auto' Traders who will be opening up their doors a few days before the event & Firth of Forth has placed Dell View, Rooted to the Spot & Dryad.

GForce has gone to the trouble of purchasing a batch of CITO Geocoins for selling at cost during the event. They will be £4 each or £4.50 if you can’t make it and wish one to be posted to you. If you wish to purchase a coin, then please send me an email stating how many you would like.
As at the 4th April, orders for the CITO Geocoins have stopped, GForce may have a couple spare on the day, so if you still want one, ask him when you see him.

Points To Note:

• Dogs are allowed, but not in the pub afterwards.
• If a wheelchair user can negotiate a slightly bumpy path and grass (it is suitable for buggies), then this will be suitable for them to attend, otherwise they are welcome to meet in the pub afterwards.
• For public transport information email me and I will tell you which buses to get from the City centre.
• The picnic tables, restroom and telephone are all located in the pub afterwards.

If you have any suggestions or just simply wish to discuss the event, you can do it on the Groundspeak Thread or the GeoX Thread.

Health & Safety Risk Assessment:

The Conservation Trusts insurance covers all volunteers taking part in the clean up. However, they expect everyone in the group to be aware of the H&S risk assessment for the Gorgie Road – Gorgie Weir stretch of the river, which is the area that we are cleaning up.
Most of the content of the assessment is common sense, but it is there just in case you are not aware.

The assessment is laid out as follows:
Hazard – Person/s at risk – Risk level – Action required by individuals or trust.

1. Cuts to fingers from handling broken glass or sharp metal – Volunteers – Low – Wear gloves at all times. Ensure a first aid kit is on site at all times.
2. Slipping on banking or slopes, particularly in wet weather – Volunteers – Low – Ensure no volunteers work alone, do not climb up steep banks.
3. Lifting injuries, backs – Volunteers – Medium – Work as a team when faced with heavy objects.
4. Slipping into the river whilst wading – Volunteers – Low – Only designated waders should enter the river, with at least one riverbank assistant, rakes may be used for balance.
5. Tripping over tools or cleared rubbish - Volunteers & the public – Low – Ensure all volunteers know how to use and store tools safely. Designate a tool store area away from the walkway. Rubbish cleared from the river should be put in a safe place where it does not block the walkway or access for other volunteers.
6. Drowning in deep water pools – Volunteers – Medium – Do not approach or work in or near deep water pools. Never work alone near the river.
7. Falling while climbing over fence or lifting injury getting litter over fence. – Volunteers – Medium – Hand pick able individuals to tackle this side of the river. Warn them of heavy lifting risk and stress they work in a team at all times.
8. Injury from aggressive swan – Volunteers – Low – Instruct all volunteers to give any swans in the area a wide berth.
9. Infection from needle – Volunteers – Low – Instruct all volunteers not to touch a needle if they find one. Only trust staff to put into sharps box which is then incinerated by the council.
10. Avian Flu – Volunteers – Low – New gloves are to be worn for the day, and then thrown away. REPORT any dead birds to the trust staff who will inform DEFRA. Keep bacterial wipes handy, wash hands & boots. Stay clear of birds on the river.

General Advice:

Do not work alone and keep a first aid kit handy (already provided for the day).
Always wear gloves and use litter pickers.
Do not lift anything heavy without help.
Use the right tool for the job.
Keep the work area tidy and safe.
If you do not like the look of it, do not touch it!