G:UK
cache rating
In
keeping with tradition of our past events, this CITO is
coinciding with Groundspeaks International Cache In Trash Out
Day. Which this year falls on the 14th April.
The Clean Up:
Today’s Clean up is going to be located on a section of the
Water of Leith around the Juniper Green 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° 54.170
W003° 17.050 vehicle access is off the A70.
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 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!!
Public Transport:
A No.44 & 44A bus will get you to the location and
also runs past the pub. It is accessible from the following train
stations - Waverley (Walk up to St. Andrews Square), Haymarket
& Slateford. The Juniper Green Post Office is the stop that you
require for the event.
Socialising Afterwards:
I have arranged for us to meet up at The Tanners on the Lanark
Road after the event. Co-ords are listed below, which are for the
car park to the pub.
I have spoke to the landlord and he is going to set aside the
conservatory at the rear of the pub for us, there will also be a
food menu for those that want to eat.
Children are of course welcome.
Geocoin
Draw:
The Alberta Geocoin Working Group have kindly donated 2 x
2006 Alberta Geocoins to be drawn at this
event.
To enter the draw you must attend this CITO event, and make a
donation to my sponsored challenge (more details of challenge on
request). For those people that have already made a donation to my
online sponsorship page and also attend, they will automatically be
put in the draw.
As long as everybody who wants to make a donation has done so by
13:30 the draw shall take place in the pub at that time.
1 ticket per caching name/team.
I will be running a system so that only myself will know how much
you have donated. This will hopefully stop any ill feeling from
anyone who may have donated more.
The amount that you donate is entirely up to you, but a £1 minimum
will be set.
The tax man will give a further 28% on top of your donation, if
you are a UK tax payer at no extra cost to you. 28p in the pound
soon mounts up, but to get this gift aid I require a record of your
name and address.
I don't want anyone to feel as though they have to give these
details, but if you are comfortable giving them to me then the gift
aid can be claimed.
Under no circumstances are you required to make a donation to
attend the event. A donation is only required if you wish to have a
chance of winning a coin.
The lucky winners will be able to activate their coins here.
Event Caches For The Day:
The area that we are going to be cleaning up, despite being
barren of caches, hasn’t got much scope for new caches to be
placed, I will however take a look nearer the time and try my best
to get some caches placed nearby.
Edinburgh Walker has kindly said that he will place some caches
out for the event, watch out for them as they will be listed a few
days before, but probably not placed until the 13th/14th?
Edinburgh Walker has now got all the caches organised and shall be
listed on the 11th, they shall not be placed until the date that he
has mentioned on his cache pages.
The cache are (from east to west):-
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : Upper Spylaw
Mill
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : Curriemuir
Mill
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : Watt’s Snuff
Mill
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : Juniper Green
Station
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : Woodhall Mill
Juniper Green 1707-2007 : East Mill
Why
The Water Of Leith?
Well the conservation trust are in full knowledge of the 18 caches
along the river, and despite all of the cleanups that happen they
get left alone. They are supportive of our hobby, and I think it is
good to let them see that we are willing to give back to them for
that support. They are also a registered charity and require local
organisations and other groups to volunteer to clean up the river,
so that their costs can be kept to a minimum.
External Sponsorship:
CSV Action Earth™ 2007 (scroll down the page for our
event) have accepted my application for a grant to assist the
conservation trust with the costs of cleaning up. This does involve
a bit of organisation on my part, and some advertising of the clean
up. This may involve a photo shoot at the beginning and end of the
event?
What does this mean to you? Well all you need to do is pose for
some photo's. The benefits are that, geocaching, the conservation
trust and CSV all get good press, also the trust will receive a
grant up to the cost of £50. Not much but this will cover their
costs of gloves, bags and other items for the day. You will also be
presented with a CSV Action Earth™ certificate to say you have
helped the enviroment.
Yet again all of this is at no extra cost to you, just a little bit
of patience for the photo shoots is all we ask!
The Media:
As part of the direction of Action Earth I have had to send out
a press release. So far this has had the following effect -
Advertisement in the Edinburgh Evening News
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.
• The restroom and telephone are located in the pub afterwards.
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 Juniper Green
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!
Keep an eye on this listing, as changes may be made, I will
post a note on here each time I make any significant
changes.