Were you a 1980's Vane Farm volunteer?

RSPB Scotland Loch Leven's writer in residence Anita John is helping to gather stories as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Anita writes:

Many things have changed at RSPB Scotland Loch Leven since the 1980's - including the name (originally Vane Farm)! But one thing remains constant - the many volunteers who are keen to dedicate their skills and time to the reserve. We've had many folk contributing their stories and memories this year, here are a few highlights.

Jim Stevenson, the RSPB Warden at Vane Farm in the early 1980's, remembers how he inherited a stalwart band of local volunteers who turned up in all weathers to do manual work. The volunteers taught Jim how to turn over a divot, bang in a fence post, plant trees and build steps. He says, "They turned me from a soft-handed southerner into a hardened hill-man."

Jim and Hanna Stevenson arriving at Vane Farm in the early 1980's

Jim continued, "My main tutor was a young man called 'Big John Graham' who looked a lot like the American lumberjack Paul Bunyan or perhaps Desperate Dan from the Beano comic. He was a big man with a grand Scottish voice and the strength of an ox."

Big John at work!

"After long weeks on the offshore rigs out in the North sea, Big John would be helicoptered ashore at Aberdeen from where he would motor down to his home in Fife. Most of his onshore days were spent walking or getting a work-out on the steep hill-side above our house. He used to bring young Callum Mcgregor with him."

"I've forgotten how many steps there are on the trail up the hill, but it's a lot!" (There are 419 steps on the Birchwood Loop alone - I've counted!). "Every post or step that went in was hard won and every tree planted was a victory for nature conservation."

Volunteers creating woodland steps in 1984

Fay Pascoe, who worked at Vane Farm from 1980 to 1987, also recalls her work with volunteers. "We used to do 'goose breakfasts'," she said and remembered "some people stayed overnight, presumably in tents - but I am not totally sure of this ( it's a long time ago...) What I do remember is that at least one volunteer couple had a campervan and they provided porridge and bacon rolls to refresh us after the early start seeing the geese take off."

Could those staying overnight have been Jim Stevenson's "Bunkroom Boys?" Jim remembers, "The lads started to stay overnight at weekends, so together we converted a part of the steadings into a bunk-room, and the legendary "bunkroom boys" were formed. The bunkroom had a stable door and no windows. We built the bunks from fence posts and salvaged timber and found an old wood-burning stove to go in the corner."

Volunteers from this period included Stuart Hamilton from Levenmouth, "who inspired the volunteers' soup club. On volunteer work-days, a pile of root vegetables, and sometimes a bit of meat, would appear on Jim's kitchen step. The idea was that Hanna (Jim's wife) would make a soup or stew for lunchtime, which she did willingly until she got a full time job as a ranger, over the hill in Lochore." There was also Grant Thompson and Gordon Wardrope from Dunfermline, the latter "who knew where there was a peregrine's nest and would I like him to show me where? Of course I would." As well as Jon Wilson, Anthony Paterson, Norman McLeod, Dougie, Steve and Andy Carroll. For more of Jim's memories visit his blog here.

Volunteers digging the new pond outside the Gillman Hide, 1983

Fay Pasco also remembers how everyone took turns in the shop in the 1980's. She remembers how "it was disconcerting to be serving and have people come in and ask a female member whether there was anyone about who knew anything about birds, or even "Is there anyone here?" ("no, I am just a figment of your imagination!") It was very small shop and no cafe of course."

No cafe at that point in time but Jim Stevenson remembers that there were two sisters who made amazing cakes that sold on Sundays. Those sisters got it touch!

"We are sisters who volunteered in the café at Vane Farm on Sundays in the 1980s. At that time, the café was fairly basic, offering hot drinks, juice and packaged biscuits and crisps. We made extra money for the RSPB by serving home-made sandwiches and a selection of our home baking. There was a friendly team of volunteers, and we really enjoyed our Sundays."

Christine Ramage (far left) and Alison Wardlaw (far right) with helpers Aileen (centre left) and Alison (centre right)

And finally, here is a view of Vane Farm and the road in 1984 ...

and one taken from a similar viewpoint in 2017 - the RSPB buildings are hidden by vegetation!

Thank you to Jim Stevenson, Fay Pascoe, Christine Ramage and Alison Wardlaw for sharing their memories. If you recognise anyone in the photos please get in touch at LochLeven50th@rspb.org.uk

For more of Jim's memories visit his blog here.

Photos: all photos have been sent in or discovered in our archives as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations.