NB CLICK ONCE ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
For details of our main projects and events, see our Past Projects and Events section.
A summary of past events, projects and Council lobbying, up to June 2022 are listed below.
April 2022 to end of June 2022
During these three months we:
i) hosted a ‘City Nature Challenge’ event at Dawsholm Park on Monday 2 May 2022. This also incorporated another ‘Bird Ringing Demonstration’ by the Clyde Ringing Group.
ii) held our AGM (via Zoom) on 16 May 2022.
iii) undertook nest box monitoring at Dawsholm Park LNR, Hogganfield Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR and Bingham’s Pond approved LNR.
iv) checked out the planters and our Biohavens at Hogganfield Park LNR.
v) undertook informal litter picks at Hogganfield Park LNR, Dawsholm Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond aLNR.
Mid September 2021 to end of March 2022
Despite still being hampered by Covid restrictions we carried out the following works in pursuit of our Anniversary targets:
i) the ‘Shelters Project’ at Hogganfield Park LNR was completed thanks to our partners, albeit the areas around each shelter still need to be resurfaced and the drainage improved, as previously promised by the Council.
ii) erected two additional bird boxes at Gartloch Woods SINC.
iii) undertook additional nest box work – this involved cleaning, relocating and erecting boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond.
iv) undertook litter picks – litter picks were undertaken by the Group and individual members at Dawsholm Park LNR, Hogganfield Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond SINC and proposed LNR.
v) hosted wildfowl feeding and Bird ID advice events – 3 events were held at Hogganfield Park LNR and one at Bingham’s Pond (proposed LNR).
vi) worked with the Clyde Ringing Group and organised ‘bird ringing’ events – two were held at Hogganfield Park LNR.
Previous Updates
14 September 2021
With 2021 being the 10th Anniversary of our formation, we had hoped to undertake a number of projects and host a series of events. Despite the restrictions caused by Covid we managed to:
i) host our AGM – this was held via a Zoom meeting on Thursday 24 June 2021.
ii) monitor all of our bird boxes for occupancy – boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR, Bingham’s Pond SINC, Hogganfield Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR and Bishop Loch LNR have all been checked during April – June 2021. Only 2 boxes had not been used;
iii) Progress to completion the ‘Shelters Project’ at Hogganfield Park LNR – just minor works remain as at September 2021.
iv) erect the 6 remaining boxes, purchased through our nest box sponsorship scheme, at Dams to Darnley LNR – these were erected on 1 June 2021;
v) undertake litter picks – A litter pick was held on 11 July 2021 at Dawsholm Park LNR and on 4 September 2021 at Hogganfield Park LNR. In addition, individual members have undertaken small scale litter picks whilst walking around Dawsholm Park LNR, Hogganfield Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond SINC;
vi) host wildfowl feeding and Bird ID advice events – the first was held at Hogganfield Park LNR on 4 September 2021.
vii) work with the Clyde Ringing Group and organise ‘bird ringing’ events – the first will take place at Hogganfield Park LNR on 19 September 2021; and
vii) organise guided walks – likely to be held from autumn 2021.
26 April 2021
Bingham’s Pond – The planning application for a residential development in the car park of the adjacent hotel and directly overlooking Bingham’s Pond has been withdrawn. Thanks to everyone that objected to the proposal.
Report on 2020-21
We have produced a video to summarise our work during 2020-21 which was severely hampered by the Covid pandemic. Hopefully 2021-22, which is the 10th Anniversary of our formation, will prove to be more positive. See this link
October 2020 – February 2021
All of our projects and proposed events were badly affected by the Covid pandemic. Nevertheless:
1.We have obtained a number of grants that will help us to meet our objectives over the coming months, courtesy of Glasgow City Council’s ‘Wee Green Grants’ scheme, the Alpkit Foundation and NatureScot (see section 3 that follows)
2. The woodlands to the north east of Bishop Loch SSSI have been identified as an important wildlife site by the City Council and potentially worthy of LNR designation as part of an expansion of the existing Bishop Loch LNR.
Thanks to a generous donation, plus additional funding from ourselves, we purchased 4 woodcrete bird boxes for these woods. This follows on from the erection of nest boxes in Bishop Loch LNR. We are pleased to say that the boxes have been safely erected. Thanks to Group member, Donald Wilson.
3. The project – Nature Shelters for Lochside Learning – which aims to upcycle 3 redundant shelters located around Hogganfield Loch in Glasgow has progressed. Working closely with the Seven Lochs Project, Platform (a local arts organisation), local schoolchildren and ourselves, two community artists have produced innovative designs to transform each shelter.
Photos from workshops held with Croftcroighn Primary School and Sunnyside Primary School.
The final designs have been prepared and costed and work should commence in March 2021.
Thanks again to our major funders.
April 2020 – September 2020
Whilst all of our projects and events have been put on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, a few of our members have been able to visit four locations as part of their daily exercise. In doing so they have monitored the usage of our nest boxes and undertaken a few informal litter picks.
In summary:
- 19 out of 20 boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR were used;
- all 3 boxes at Bingham’s Pond were used;
- at least 5 of 10 boxes at Hogganfield Park LNR were used; and
- at least 2 of 5 boxes at Cardowan Moss LNR were used.
More details are included in the ‘Past Projects and Events’ section of the web site.
March 2020 – Dawsholm Park LNR
Following on from our January litter pick, we approached Council officers about the state of Dalsholm Road, the main access route to the LNR.
After a helpful discussion, we were pleased that a squad from the Community Payback scheme tackled the problem and had made a difference before being taken off the work due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to them for their efforts and shame on those that continue to fly-tip!
We also noted that dog walkers had created a ‘dog dump corner’ in the Park rather than use the bins at all of the entrances. Thankfully, this had been cleared away. Hopefully, walkers will take note of the sign and use the bins in future.
June 2019 – March 2020
This has been a busy period for the Group as we continued to undertake projects and host, or participate in, events at Hogganfield Park LNR, Dawsholm Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR, Bishop Loch LNR, Linn Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond.
These included wildfowl feeding and ID events, Litter picks, erecting and cleaning out nest boxes, monitoring usage of our nest boxes and biohavens, guided walks and assisting at a bird ringing event. More details are included in the ‘Past Projects and Events’ section of the web site, but this photo montage illustrates the range of work undertaken. We also obtained grants from ‘Scotmid’ and ‘Action Earth Volunteering Matters’ for which we are extremely grateful.
We also produced a ‘Birds of Hogganfield Park LNR’ leaflet in October 2019 and regularly updated our Facebook and Web Site pages and publicised other events and projects that took place in LNRs in the City.
Monday 13 May 2019
Thanks to everyone that attended and helped out at our AGM. A special thank you to our speaker Kevin Sinclair (and his son Michael) for a very informative and inspiring talk.
October 2018-March 2019
During this period we have:
a) continued to host wildfowl feeding and bird id events at Hogganfield Park LNR supplemented by litter picks and cleaning of the viewing platform.
b) attended various meetings of, and contributed to, the Glasgow Parks Forum; and
c) kept our Face Book page up-to-date and publicised and reported on other Groups efforts to improve LNRs
April 2018 – September 2018
It has been a busy 6 months as we:
a) continued to host, or participate in, events at Hogganfield Park LNR, Garscadden Wood LNR; Cardowan Moss LNR and Frankfield Loch proposed LNR
b) monitored usage of our nest boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR, Hogganfield Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond SINC;
c) monitored the birds using and/or nesting on our five ‘biohavens’ on Hogganfield Loch
d) were firstly nominated, then shortlisted and then WON the Environmental Award in the Inspiring City Awards, in association with PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW.
Jim Coyle & Karen Hill – photo by Colin Mearns
e) regularly updated our Facebook (400+ likes) and Web Site pages and publicised other events and projects that took place in LNRs in the City.
October 2017- March 2018
Over this period we have:
a) hosted a number of events at Hogganfield Park LNR;
b) prepared two leaflets about Hogganfield Park LNR and the birds to be found there;
c) attended various meetings of, and contributed to, the Glasgow Parks Forum; and
d) kept our Face Book page up-to-date and publicised and reported on other Groups efforts to improve LNRs
September 2017
a) Cathkin Braes LNR Day
On 9 September 2017 we attended an event organised by Glasgow City Council Countryside Rangers at Cathkin Braes LNR. We shared our gazebo with Butterfly Conservation, bagged some litter and saw Red Admirals, Small Whites, a couple of Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a flock of Linnets and a nice range of woodland birds.
b) Hogganfield Park LNR – Another Breeding Attempt
A second pair of Great Crested Grebes nested on one of ‘our’ Biohavens at Hogganfield Loch although, sadly, it looks as if they were unsuccessful.
Second pair of grebes nest on Biohaven
c) Thank You – Hogganfield Park LNR – Saturday 12 August 2017
Thanks to everyone that popped along to the City Council’s ‘Family Day’ event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Saturday 12 August 2017 and helped us feed the wildfowl. We also did a wee bit of litter picking in and around the car park area ……
Families feed the wildfowl
July 2017
a) Green Flag Status
Both Hogganfield Park LNR and Linn Park LNR have retained their ‘Green Flag’ status – see story in the June 2017 section below.
b) Hogganfield Park LNR – Breeding Success
Confirmation that a pair of Great Crested Grebes nested once again, following last year’s success, on one of ‘our’ Biohavens at Hogganfield Loch and hatched two young ………….
Young grebe on back of parent
Grebe on nest on Biohaven
c) Web Site Updated
Check out our Local Nature Reserves section https://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com/local-nature-reserves/
The Linn Park LNR and Hamiltonhill Claypits LNR pages have been updated with new information and photos.
June 2017
a) Hamiltonhill Claypits Local Nature Reserve
Community Consultation Event
Scottish Canals and partners have secured funding to progress access, environmental and infrastructure improvements in the Reserve. They are also seeking funding for improvements in the wider area including in and around Firhill Basin.
They hosted a community consultation event in the public bar at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium on 28 June 2017 between 2 and 7pm.
At the event, people were able to see the emerging design ideas and discuss the project with Scottish Canals and their design team.
b) Evening Times Streets Ahead Awards 2017
We are really pleased to announce that, on Thursday evening (15 June), we WON the ‘Glasgow City Council Environmental Initiative Award’ as part of the Evening Times Streets Ahead Awards. The ceremony was held in the Winter Gardens, The People’s Palace, Glasgow.
It was an excellent event with lots of community groups represented. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the various categories. Also thanks to the Evening Times and their partners for hosting such an enjoyable night.
Group Chair, Jim Coyle, and Friends receive award from Councillor Susan Aitken. Photo by Kirsty Anderson
c) Hogganfield Park LNR
Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, was invited to accompany GCC officials and Green Flag ‘judges’ around Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday and he was only too pleased to assist. Hopefully, the judges were impressed and the LNR retains its Green flag status ..
Green Flag judges and Council staff
Wetland, grassland and woodland – Hogganfield Park LNR
May 2017
Kelvin in the Kibble Exhibition – Glasgow Botanic Gardens
We mounted a small display at the ‘Kelvin in the Kibble Exhibition’ which ran from 13-30 May 2017 . The exhibition, which was erected in the south wing of the Kibble Palace, was organised by the Kelvin Biodiversity Network.
Display – south wing Kibble Palace
April 2017
Thank You
Thanks to everyone, members and non-members, that came along to our AGM (24 April 2017) and to hear about the Seven Lochs Project. Apologies once again for the non-attendance of our speaker, Scott Ferguson. Scott has offered his sincere apologies for the mix-up.
Thanks to those that attended our AGM
February 2017
Dawsholm Park LNR – Good News!
Over the last few years, we have raised a number of concerns about Dawsholm Park LNR with the Council. So it is good to report some positive news. The Council has resurfaced a number of paths creating a circular network. This means you no longer require wellies to walk around the park, although they would still be required along some paths …
Dawsholm Park LNR – upgraded path
2016 End of Year Updates
Hogganfield Park LNR – Wildfowl Feeding
Thanks to everyone that attended our wildfowl feeding event on Sunday 18 December 2016 (photo below).
Volunteers feed wildfowl
ii) Dams to Darnley LNR – tree and hedgerow planting
Thanks to the volunteers from TCV and the Friends Group for their efforts on 15 November 2016. The ground conditions were not great but despite this most of the trees, donated by the Woodland Trust, were planted. Photo courtesy of GCC.
Volunteers get ready!
Posted 7 November 2016 – Hogganfield Park LNR – 6 November 2016
Thanks to everyone that braved the cold wind to come out yesterday (6th) and help feed the wildfowl at Hogganfield Loch. As ever lots of interesting questions and looks of amazement when we tell folk that the Whooper Swans (10 today) have flown to Glasgow from Iceland! We also received a record amount of donations – thank you so much!
Volunteers pose for camera!
Posted 17 October 2016 – Bingham’s Pond
A big thank you to everyone that helped at our event at Bingham’s Pond on Saturday 8 October 2016. We received lots of compliments from locals enjoying a walk in the sunshine and just over £35 in donations – thank you so much. We removed litter and trimmed back vegetation overhanging the footpath, filling 40 bags! We also handed out free swan and duck food and provided advice about feeding the swans – so the birds were happy too!
Some of the Volunteers pose for the camera!
The bags!
To see more photos (slideshow) click on our Past Projects & Events page.
Posted 25 September 2016 – Monthly Update
i) Petition – Britain’s parks are at risk. There’s no legal responsibility to look after them and squeezed budgets mean our local green spaces – including local nature reserves – don’t have the money they need. So please have a read and consider signing this petition – http://bit.ly/2coGutk
ii) Event – Thanks to everyone that came along to Hogganfield Park LNR on the 10th. We had a steady stream of visitors and much interest in our leaflets, particularly those relating to ‘pink-feather’ syndrome in Mute Swans. Our free nutritious duck and swan food (all 8kg) was soon used up and appreciated by the birds! A big thank you also to everyone that insisted in giving a donation – it really is much appreciated.
Volunteers – 10 Sep 2016
Posted 19 August 2016 – Monthly Update
Brilliant news! At least one young grebe has hatched on one of our BioHavens! We have previously reported at least two eggs and that the adult bird was sitting tight and tolerating various bird visitors to ‘her island’. Well, on 15th August, our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, managed to photograph the first known Great Crested Grebe chick to be born on a BioHaven in Scotland!
Great Crested Grebe and chick
Great Crested Grebe with 2 eggs
Great Crested Grebe on nest ‘tolerates’ tufted ducklings
For more photos see Jim’s Blog at http://glasgowswildsbetter.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/hogganfield-park-lnr-grebes-and-more.html
Posted – 22 June 2016 – Monthly Update
i) Illustrated talk by Jim Coyle (Group Chair) at Hillhead Library attracts c35 people and £46 in donations.
Audience Hillhead Library 21 June 2016
ii) Group erects display in the Kibble (Botanic Gardens) as part of the Kelvin in the Kibble exhibition.
Group Display
iii) Nest box monitoring concludes that 15 out of 17 boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR; 5 out of 6 boxes at Hogganfield Park LNR and 2 out of 2 boxes at Bingham’s Pond were used this year by Blue Tits or Great Tits.
Dawsholm Park LNR
Posted 24 May 2016 – Brief Monthly Update
i) AGM held on 18 April 2016 – thanks to all that attended.
ii) Nest Box Monitoring well underway at Dawsholm Park LNR, Hogganfield Park LNR and Bingham’s Pond.
iii) Our BioHavens at Hogganfield Loch are being used by birds to rest and preen.
iv) Glasgow City Council announces extension to Robroyston Park LNR and the declaration of a new LNR at Hamiltonhill Claypits.
Posted 7 April 2016 – BioHavens Successfully Launched
Despite the weather, all five BioHavens were successfully launched yesterday! A big thank you to everyone that attended and helped us with this major project. There are too many to mention but we shall try – all the volunteers from the Friends (Agnes, Jim, Judith, Karen, Lynda, Mike and Toby); Claire and her volunteers from the Seven Lochs Project; Cath from the Council, for her amazing help; Simon and Andy from Frog Environmental Ltd and Forbes a local resident who presented Simon and Andy with a much appreciated gift. Also a mention for Clare at Public Relations, who managed to get reps from the TV and press along; Ian from MyPark Scotland; and Dave and Alex at the Council for their input. A few photos from the day
Volunteer Briefing
Planting the first BioHaven
The fifth BioHaven is put in place
Posted 5 March 2016 – BioHavens – Launch Date 6 April 2016
We can confirm that the 5 BioHavens will be installed at Hogganfield Loch on Wednesday 6 April 2016. We are grateful to all those that contributed funds and, in particular, EB Scotland Ltd and the Glasgow Natural History Society. Whilst the ‘islands’ will be anchored and launched by staff from FrogEnvironmental (the suppliers/contractors), we are looking for volunteers to help plant the islands. For those not familiar with the islands we have a few photos courtesy of FrogEnvironmental
Planting BioHaven
Preparing BioHaven for launching
Launching Biohaven
Posted 4 March 2016 – Hogganfield Wildfowl Feeding
Thanks to everyone that came along to our wildfowl feeding session at Hogganfield Loch on Sunday 28 February 2016 – your help was much appreciated by us and the wildfowl!
Wildfowl Feeding Volunteers
Wildfowl Feeding Frenzy
Posted 16 February 2016 – Date For Your Diary – 18 April 2016
The Group’s AGM will take place on Monday 18 April in the Hopkirk Building, Glasgow Botanic Gardens from 7.15pm
Posted 31 January 2016 – Hogganfield Wildfowl Feeding
Thanks to everyone that came along today (31st). The wildfowl, particularly the swans, were extremely hungry so we used a lot of duck and swan food.
Some of the Mute Swans were exhibiting signs of ‘pink wing’ syndrome so we are going to contact the Council to make sure they are aware of it. See this link which suggests stale bread contributes to this problem http://www.communicatescience.eu/…/irish-scientists-unravel…
Some of the litter bins had blown over and were still on their side so there was a lot of litter in the vicinity of the car park. A volunteer soon tackled this and filled a large bag.
Posted 5 December 2015 – Hogganfield Update
i) UK Best Park Competition – Sadly, Hogganfield Park did not win the competition. 122 parks were nominated for the title and over eight thousand public votes were cast throughout the voting process. Thanks to all those that voted for Hogganfield Park.
ii) BioHavens Update – We have recently submitted grant applications to a number of organisations in the hope of reaching our £15,000 target. Meanwhile, general donations have now reached just over £450 – thanks to everyone that has contributed, so far. Remember you can contribute directly to the Group (cash or cheque) or via this link www.bit.ly/hogganfield
iii) Winter Events – Thanks to everyone that came along to our last event on Sunday 22nd November 2015. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of future events.
Posted 6 November 2015 – Vote for Hogganfield Park!
Hogganfield Park LNR is the only park in Greater Glasgow that has been nominated in the UK Best Park awards. See this link – http://fieldsintrust.org/bestpark/nominations – click on Scotland and scroll down until you find Hogganfield Park, click on the icon and follow the instructions.
Please VOTE it will only take a few minutes.
Hogganfield Park LNR
Posted 5 November 2015 – BioHavens Update
We have now raised over £440 for our BioHavens project at Hogganfield Loch. Whilst the total amount appears daunting we hope to raise most of the funding from grants but we shall need to raise c£1,000 through our own efforts. Please help if you can – for more details of the project and how you can help see this link http://www.bit.ly/hogganfield
Example of a BioHaven
Posted 5 November 2015 – Hogganfield Park Events
Thanks to everyone that came along to our event at Hogganfield Park on Sunday 1 November 2015. This was the first of a series of events we hope to hold at the LNR over the winter. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details and dates of other events – http://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves
Thanks to everyone that that dropped by
Posted 7 October 2015 – Dawsholm Park Success!
Thanks to everyone that attended our event on Saturday 3 October 2015. Also a big thank you to Volunteering Matters and Action Earth (supported by SNH) for the grant and the Neighbourhood and Enforcement Service for the tools and litter bags. See our facebook page for more photos
A spotless path after our volunteers bagged loads of litter!
Posted 1 October 2015 – BioHavens for Hogganfield Loch
After many months, we can now reveal details of a new, exciting project for Hogganfield Park LNR.
Our aim is to install five BioHavens (floating islands) on Hogganfield Loch. BioHavens offer many benefits including absorbing nutrients from the water and providing nesting opportunities for birds.
Great Crested Grebe on nest (copyright Jim Coyle)
More details can be found here http://www.mypark.scot/projects/biohaven-islands-for-hogganfield-loch/
We are confident of obtaining grants from a variety of sources but only if we raise some money ourselves. So any support you can give would be gratefully received.
Posted 24 September 2015 – Dawsholm Park Event – 3 October 2015
It’s not long now until our event at Dawsholm Park LNR on Saturday 3 October 2015. The event will run, all being well, from 11am to 3pm.
Everyone is welcome and any help you can give would be gratefully received. We are carrying out a number of tasks and the proposed timetable is as follows:
11.15am onwards – hedge planting
11.30am onwards – litter picking and vegetation trimming
11.45am – nest box erection and relocation.
We also aim to feed the ducks and try some rhododendron bashing. Meet at our small marquee which will be erected on the former playing fields, off Dalsholm Road.
See link on our facebook page for location plan.
Posted 12 August 2015 – Hogganfield Park LNR Event
The Friends Group shall be attending Glasgow City Council’s Fun Day event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 16 August 2015 which runs from 10am to 3pm – see http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3618
We shall be handing out bird food to feed the wildfowl and its FREE. You can find us at the bird viewing/feeding platform next to the car park.
Posted 20 July 2015 – Woodlands Management Plans – Consultation
Forestry Commission Scotland is currently developing plans for managing the woodlands at Auchenshuggle, Drumchapel & Easterhouse which make up the Glasgow Woods. These plans include three of Glasgow’s LNRs – Garscadden Wood, Cardowan Moss and Bishop Loch – and comments are invited.
Details of the plans can be viewed at:
www.scotland.forestry.gov.uk/…/plans-…/land-management-plans
then follow the link for Glasgow Woods land management plan consultation.
Cardowan Moss LNR
Posted 7 July 2015 – News Update
Lots of good news!
1. We successfully submitted a grant application (£500) to Action Earth Awards for an event at Dawsholm Park LNR on Saturday 3 October 2015. We shall be planting and improving a hedge, undertaking some ‘rhody’ bashing, erecting nest boxes and doing a spot of litter picking. Get the date in your diary – more info will follow.
2. On visiting Bingham’s Pond to undertake a mini clean up we were concerned that the base of the surrounding wall was becoming overgrown ..
Bingham’s Pond – base of wall – before
We contacted the Council and we are pleased to report they have tackled this issue and you no longer get ‘tickled’ whilst sitting on the wall!
Bingham’s Pond – base of wall – after
We also spotted a loose plank on the viewing platform at Hogganfield Park LNR
Hogganfield Park LNR – loose plank on viewing platform
and this was rectified soon after we contacted them.
3. Finally, we contacted Jacobi Jayne (www.livingwithbirds.com) regarding our damaged nest box at Hogganfield Park LNR
Nest Box – Hogganfield Park LNR
and they have replaced it – excellent service!
Posted 24 June 2015 – Successful Illustrated Talk
Thanks to everyone that attended the ‘West End Wildlife Talk’ at Hillhead Library last night (23rd June). Hopefully you all enjoyed it. Jim was really pleased with the attendance, at least 52, and also the numerous donations received which all goes to help us continue to make ‘Glasgow’s Wilds Better’!
Posted 26 May 2015 – Nest Box Monitoring
Dawsholm Park LNR Nest Box Monitoring 21 May 2015
Good News! A systematic check of our 11 ‘tit’ boxes, 5 ‘starling’ boxes and 2 ‘bat’ boxes revealed that: 4 pairs of Blue Tits and 4 pairs of Great Tits were using the ‘tit’ boxes whilst another one had fallen to the ground – so will need to be re-erected. No birds were using the ‘starling’ boxes and a pair of Blue Tits were using a ‘bat’ box!
Hogganfield Park LNR 19 May 2015
On checking the Hogganfield nest boxes we discovered that one has been destroyed. Another was being checked out by a pair of Blue Tits.
Nest Box – Hogganfield Park LNR
Bingham’s Pond LSINC 12 May 2015
One box was being used by Blue Tits whilst Blue Tits had been seen entering the other box on a previous visit.
Posted 6 May 2015 – Thank You
Thanks to everyone that came along to our AGM on Monday (27th April) despite the awful weather. Also a big thank you to Scott Donaldson for an excellent talk.
AGM 2015
Also a special mention for David Palmar who stood down from the Committee – thanks for all your help and support over the past 4 years.
David Palmar
Posted 28 March 2015 – News Round-up
i) The Council cleaned up one of the entry paths to Dawsholm Park LNR after being contacted by our Group Chair …..
Dawsholm Park – before
Dawsholm Park – after
ii) A new entrance feature, designed by a local school, has been created at Hogganfield Park LNR by the Seven Lochs Project ……
Hogganfield Park
Hogganfield Park
Also new interpretation signs have been installed …….
Hogganfield Park – interpretation sign
Finally, our efforts to help improve Hogganfield Park LNR have been acknowledged by the Council on one of their signs …….
Posted 11 March 2015 – News Round-up
i) we had a dry day for the joint event at Hogganfield Park LNR on 14 February 2015. We distributed lots of barley and wild bird food and participated in a guided walk and informal litter pick. Thanks to all that attended.
ii) two of our bird feeders have disappeared from Bingham’s Pond leaving only one and this has received some minor damage, with Grey Squirrels being the likely culprits.
iii) volunteers organised by the Seven Lochs project have undertaken works at Hogganfield Park LNR and at Commonhead Moss LNR.
iv) sadly a Mute Swan was found dead at Hogganfield Park LNR but on a positive note 43 Whooper Swans were present today, the 11th, a record count for this winter.
For more information and photos see our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves
Posted 15 January 2015 – Hogganfield Park LNR Update
Our chair visited Hogganfield Park LNR today (15 January 2015) for a meeting and was pleased to see that the viewing/feeding platform and railings had been cleaned. We had contacted the Council a few weeks ago requesting that this be done on a regular basis and hopefully this is not just a one-off!
Posted 8 January 2015 – CANCELLED -Hogganfield Park LNR – Fourth CSV Event
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER.
Our next CSV Action Earth grant supported free event takes place at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 11 January 2015 from 11.30am until c14.00hrs.
On the day you can help scatter wildbird food for farmland birds, feed the wildfowl with barley and attend a guided walk and litter pick. Litter pickers, protective gloves and rubbish bags will be provided.
Meet at the gazebo next to the car park at Hogganfield Park.
Posted 7 December 2014 – Hogganfield Park LNR – Third CSV Event
Sadly our 3rd of four CSV Action Earth granted aided events (on the 6th) at Hogganfield Park LNR was hampered by the weather. Nevertheless we still had a good number of volunteers. We fed the wildfowl, including 10 Whooper Swans; scattered lots of wild bird food, found almost immediately by Robin, Dunnock, Carrion Crow and Magpie; and collected some litter. 
We are pleased to say that following our clean ups there doesn’t seem to be much ‘new’ litter accumulating.
A big thank you to everyone that turned out on such a wet day. Remember the next event is on Sunday 11 January 2015.
Posted 24 November 2014 – Hogganfield Park LNR – Second CSV Event
The second of our four CSV grant supported events took place at Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday AND it was a great success.
We erected our new gazebo and were pleased that at least 20 volunteers attended whilst others, including local children, helped with feeding of the wildfowl
We also scattered wildbird food for small birds and collected 10 bags of litter, during a guided walk ….
Thanks to everyone that attended and we look forward to our next event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Saturday 6 December 2014.
Posted 4 November 2014 – Free Illustrated Talk on 19 November 2014
We are pleased to announce that we shall be hosting a free illustrated talk on Wednesday 19 November 2014, with the kind support of Glasgow University.
The venue is the Gilchrist Postgraduate Club seminar room in the Main Building of the University.
The main speaker is Eilidh Malcolm (Forestry Commission Scotland) with a talk entitled “Easterhouse Woods – past, present and future.”
Doors open at 18.30hrs for free tea and coffee.
The evening will start at 19.00hrs with a brief overview of recent and forthcoming ‘Friends’ events with Eilidh commencing at 19.15hrs. Her talk will be of interest to anyone with a love of wildlife and will be particularly relevant to those that value Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves (the talk will focus on Cardowan Moss and Bishop Loch LNRs) and the area covered by the Seven Lochs Wetland Park.
Cardowan Moss LNR – woodland
There will also be an opportunity for us to see the proposals for the Forest Design Plans for all of the Easterhouse woods managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Posted 27 October 2014 – Hogganfield Park LNR – CSV event
A big thank you to the hardy volunteers that turned out at our event at Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (26th).
We fed the swans and other wildfowl with barley ….
…distributed wild bird for for smaller birds …..
… and undertook a litter pick …
….. before we succumbed to the rain!
Thanks again to all the volunteers and to CSV Action Earth for the grant.
Our next event at Hogganfield Park LNR will be on Sunday 23 November 2014 and hopefully the weather will be a bit kinder!
Posted 19 October 2014 – CSV Event at Hogganfield Park LNR
Our next CSV Action Earth grant supported free event takes place at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 26 October 2014 from 11.30am until c14.00hrs.
On the day you can help:
- scatter wildbird food for farmland birds in the grasslands – buckets of wildbird food and gloves will be provided;
- feed the wildfowl with cups of barley – from the feeding /viewing platform next to the car park; and
- attend a guided walk which will incorporate an informal litter pick. Litter pickers, protective gloves and rubbish bags will be provided.
All welcome and feel free to drop in anytime between 11.30 and 14.00 hrs.
Click here for location map https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8780214,-4.1771652,459m/data=!3m1!1e3
Posted 14 October 2014 – Easterhouse Woods Community Consultation
We have learned from Forestry Commission Scotland that they are holding a community consultation re-their plans for five woodlands in the Greater Easterhouse area – these include Cardowan Moss LNR and Bishop Loch LNR. The event will take place on Tuesday 21 October 2014 in the Library at the Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse. You can drop in anytime from 3pm until 7pm.
Posted 30 September 2014 – Bingham’s Pond Update and News from Commonhead Moss LNR
Our Group Leader visited Bingham’s Pond today to refill the bird feeders at the feeding station we created at our event on the 15th. Whilst the niger feeder hadn’t been touched, most of the sunflower seed had been eaten …..
Sunflower Seed Feeder
Once filled, birds seemed to react quite quickly with Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Chaffinch all tucking in ..
Blue Tit
Female Chaffinch
It is good to know that the birds appreciate our efforts!
Now news of a major clean up at Commonhead Moss LNR, where we can report courtesy of the Facebook site of the Seven Lochs Project
see https://www.facebook.com/sevenlochs?hc_location=timeline
Posted 28 September 2014 – Nature Reserve Celebrations
Yesterday’s (27 September 2014) Council event at Hogganfield Park LNR went really well with 19 Friends coming along to help feed the wildfowl with barley; join a guided walk and undertake an informal litter pick.
A few photos follow
The Friends meet prior to the wildfowl feeding
Guided Walk and Informal Litter Pick
5 Bags of Litter Collected
Some Friends Enjoy the Ride
Thanks to all the Friends that came along to help and also to the park visitors that stopped to talk and help feed the wildfowl. Finally a big thank you to the Council staff for organising the event.
Posted 24 September 2014 – Nature Reserve Celebrations Event
Join us at Glasgow City Council’s Nature Reserve Celebration Event at Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 27 September 2014. See link for location plan –
https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8780513,-4.1771732,460m/data=!3m1!1e3
Help us feed the wildfowl barley or come on a guided walk. The whole event starts at 11am. We shall be at the viewing/feeding platform next to the car park.
The Council’s marquee will be located close to the sandy beach/children’s play area in the south east corner of the park. Activities include wildlife counts, guided walks, stalls, displays and lots more. Phone the Council’s Countryside Rangers at 0141 276 0931 for details.
Posted 15 September 2014 – Bingham’s Pond Big Success
Yesterday’s event at Bingham’s Pond proved to be a big success!
Photo courtesy of Jim Coyle
Twenty one people volunteered and helped make the Pond a better place for people and wildlife.
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
We erected bat and bird boxes and bird feeders ………………
Photo courtesy of Jim Coyle
Photo courtesy of Toby Wilson
……..undertook a general litter pick of the whole area …..
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
We trimmed back all the trees and shrubs that were overhanging or protruding across the path at the hotel side of the Pond. We also trimmed back the vegetation encroaching onto this footpath.
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
We also managed to cut back the overhanging trees at the Whittinghame Drive side of the Pond
Photo courtesy of Jim Coyle
and managed to remove all the vegetation from along the edge of the pond which is used for pond dipping
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
All in all a great day’s work ..
Photo courtesy of David Palmar
A huge thank you to all the volunteers. Thanks also to the CSV Action Earth grant, in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage, for making the event possible AND a special thank you to the staff at the Pond Hotel for giving us access to their car park, hotel facilities and the tea and coffee, it was much appreciated.
And finally, thanks to Clean Glasgow for supplying litter pickers, gloves and plastic bags and the Council’s Land & Environmental Services for their advice and support and the uplift of all the bags.
Posted 12 September 2014 – Bingham’s Pond – West End Wildlife Oasis
Our CSV grant supported free event takes place at Bingham’s Pond on Sunday 14 September 2014 from 10.30am.
On the day you can attend a guided walk, erect bird/bat boxes, litter pick and help clear some overhanging branches and vegetation – something for everyone! Litter pickers, gloves and rubbish bags will be provided. Other tools will be available but if you have your own why not bring them along. The event lasts until c3.30pm and all will be made welcome.
See here for location plan https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8848843,-4.3128081,17z
Bingham’s Pond – before – overhanging branches etc
Posted 4 September 2014 – Successful Walk
Yesterday the Group, in conjunction with the RSPB Glasgow Local Group, hosted a guided walk from Hogganfield Park LNR to Frankfield Loch via Cardowan Moss LNR. Led by our Group chair, Jim Coyle, the walk attracted 21 participants ..
In total, the Group saw at least 44 species of bird, 2 species of dragonfly, 2 mammals and a froglet.
A big thank you to all that attended.
A more detailed report and photos appears at http://glasgowswildsbetter.blogspot.co.uk
Our next event is at Bingham’s Pond on Sunday 14 September 2014 from 10.30 am; details below.
Posted 25 August 2014 – Forthcoming Events
1. Wednesday 3 September 2014
Join us on a guided walk from Hogganfield Park LNR to the proposed LNR at Frankfield Loch. Meet at the Hogganfield car park at 10am – the walk will commence at 10.30am. All welcome.
See post below dated 28 July 2014 for detailed information on itinerary etc.
2. Sunday 14 September 2014
We are pleased to announce that we have received another CSV Action Earth Grant for an event at Bingham’s Pond in the west end of Glasgow. We aim to host a guided walk, erect some bird/bat boxes, undertake a litter pick, clear away some vegetation from the edge of the Pond and trim back some of the branches overhanging the footpath – so there will be something for everyone! The event starts at 10.30am and will run until c3.30pm.
Bingham’s Pond is located next to the Pond Hotel and Gartnavel Hospital, just off Great Western Road.
3. Saturday 27 September 2014
Join us at Glasgow City Council’s Nature Reserve Celebration Event at Hogganfield Park. There will be various events hosted by the Council’s Countryside Rangers and you can also help us feed the wildfowl barley or come on a guided walk – from 11am.
Posted 28 July 2014 – Guided walk
We can now confirm that we shall be holding a guided walk from Hogganfield Park LNR to Frankfield Loch proposed LNR on Wednesday 3 September 2014. Meet at the car park from 10am. The walk will commence at 10.30am. Bring binoculars and a packed lunch and drinks.
At Hogganfield Loch we shall see a host of wildfowl and also have some time to see for ourselves some of the improvements undertaken by the City Council in recent years
Upgraded footpath – Hogganfield Park LNR
We shall leave Hogganfield Park via the new gate way
Hogganfield Park LNR – new entrance feature
and cross Avenue End Road via the ‘group’s’ reinstated pedestrian traffic island …..
Our reinstated/repaired pedestrian traffic island, May 2014
to Cardowan Moss LNR. Here we shall see encounter ‘tit’ flocks and again see some of the footpath improvements undertaken by the Forestry Commission …
After – new surfaced path leading to entrance gate to Frankfield Loch
.. and from this path we shall get stunning views of Frankfield Loch ..
Looking north towards Frankfield Loch
We shall then walk down to the lochside and hopefully find a whole range of waders and wildfowl.
Frankfield Loch
Keep an eye on the web site for more information.
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Posted 20 July 2014 – Another Grant Obtained
We are pleased to report that we have received another grant from CSV Action Earth. Their 2014 campaign which is aimed at getting people involved through volunteering and helping biodiversity is being supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. So a big thank you to both organisations for their support.
We aim to host four events from October 2014 to January 2015 aimed at benefitting ‘farmland birds’ – species which have declined nationally in recent years. We will do this by providing information to the public and scattering wild bird food in areas of grassland and meadow at Hogganfield Park.
Birds that should benefit include the Reed Bunting:
Female Reed Bunting (copyright Jim Coyle)
Keep an eye on the web site for more details about these events, including the dates, and how you can help.
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Posted 28 June 2014 – Reserves Update
1) Cardowan Moss LNR – The Forestry Commission, following our lobbying, has created a surfaced footpath linking Cardowan Moss with the proposed LNR at Frankfield Loch.
Before – Muddy path leading to gate/path to Frankfield Loch
After – new surfaced path leading to entrance gate to Frankfield Loch
2) Hogganfield Park LNR – a new entrance feature has been created at the Avenue End Road entrance opposite Cardowan Moss and the Friends ‘traffic island’.
Hogganfield Park LNR – new entrance feature
New cairns have also been built and we have been told that these are for new interpretation panels.
Finally, for a report on the wildlife seen at both sites on 27 June 2014 see http://glasgowswildsbetter.blogspot.co.uk
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Posted 15 June 2014 – Birds and Other Wildlife of Glasgow’s West End – FREE Illustrated Talk on Thursday 19 June 2014
Just a reminder of the free illustrated talk by Jim Coyle (our Group Chair) in Hillhead Library on Thursday 19 June 2014 commencing at 6.30pm.
The talk will describe the birds and other wildlife to be found at key wildlife sites in the west end of Glasgow.
It is one of a series of events organised under the auspices of the West End Festival – http://www.westendfestival.co.uk
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Posted 7 June 2014 – Reserves Update
1. Hogganfield Park LNR – we can confirm that at least 2 of our 6 tit nest boxes were used this year. We are also pleased to note that new signage has been erected ………..
New signage at Hogganfield Park
2. Cardowan Moss LNR – we have been advised by the Forestry Commission that the proposed upgrade to the footpath that links Cardowan Moss LNR with the proposed LNR at Frankfield Loch should be completed over the next few weeks.
On Thursday 12 June 2014, volunteers from the Seven Lochs Project will be planting out a range of plants which they themselves had previously potted up at a previous event. Meet at 10.30am at the Avenue End Road entrance to Cardowan Moss Local Nature Reserve.
3. Commonhead Moss LNR – the Group hope to attend the Council organised BioBlitz at the LNR on Sunday 22 June 2014. The event takes place from 11am to 2pm.
For more information on this event contact the Council Countryside Rangers at 0141 276 0931
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Posted 24 May 2014 – Dawsholm Nest Box Success!
Earlier this week (19th), Jim Coyle (our Group Chair) checked the bird boxes we had erected at Dawsholm Park LNR.
Eight of the eleven ‘tit’ boxes are occupied, 4 by Blue Tits and 4 by Great Tits. One of the five ‘starling’ boxes was also occupied, however not by Starlings but by a pair of Great Tits!
So amazingly, our boxes are potentially playing host to c90 young tits!
Blue Tit at Dawsholm nest box
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Posted 19 May 2014 – Kelvingrove BioBlitz – Friday 23 May 2014
The Group will be attending this event at Kelvingrove Park.
It will bring together expert naturalists and members of the public to survey Kelvingrove Park as part of a day long event. There will be bird walks, mammal surveys, pond dipping, face painting, etc. Here is the link to the RSPB page for more info – http://www.rspb.org.uk/events/details.aspx?id=tcm%3A9-365539
We have booked a table in one of the gazebos, so pop in and say hello!
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Posted 10 May 2014 – News from around the Reserves
1. Dawsholm Park LNR
We wrote to the Council in respect of the control of rhododendron ponticum at Dawsholm Park expressing our concern that large patches of the plant appeared to be regenerating on the banks of the River Kelvin – see photo – potentially wiping out all the good work undertaken to eradicate it.
Rhododendron Ponticum on the banks of River Kelvin, Dawsholm Park LNR
The Council has confirmed that “Land and Environmental Services has a programme in place to continue the control of the Rhodendron instigated through the grant aided WIAT works.”
We shall keep our eye on this.
2. Bishop Loch LNR
Volunteers with the Seven Lochs Project have extended the willow and hazel fence and it now stretches to the woodland entrance at the nature reserve.
Fence at Bishop Loch (courtesy Seven Lochs Project)
This is an excellent job, so well done to the volunteers.
3. Hogganfield Park LNR
Our Group Chair Jim Coyle visited the LNR on 9 May 2014 and reports that the pedestrian traffic island located between Hogganfield Park LNR and Cardowan Moss LNR has been repaired at long last!
Before
Our damaged pedestrian Traffic Island
After
Our repaired traffic island, May 2014
Jim also reports that he saw (and heard) 42 species of bird plus loads of Orange Tip butterflies.
Male Orange Tip butterfly, 9 May 2014
Hogganfield Park LNR is an absolute gem in Glasgow’s crown and we hope to announce plans for more events at the reserve (and other locations) in the next few days.
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Posted 4 May 2014 – Free Illustrated Talk – Thursday 19 June 2014
Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, is presenting an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Birds and other Wildlife of Glasgow’s West End’ on Thursday 19 June 2014. The event will take place in Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8AP from 6.30pm and is FREE.
The event is part of the Friends of Glasgow West/Glasgow Life series of talks that take place during the Glasgow West end Festival.
The Committee hope to shortly announce other dates involving us hosting, or attending, other events at locations such as Kelvingrove Park, Hogganfield Park LNR and Dams to Darnley LNR.
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Posted 4 May 2014 – Group’s Work Acknowledged!
On Tuesday 29 April 2014, the Group were honoured to attend an evening reception in the Scottish Parliament hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The reception highlighted the benefits that arise from environmental volunteering and showcased projects that have resulted in an improved local environment or green space. We are pleased to say that we were one of only ten groups invited!
The keynote speakers were Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change; Ian Ross, Chairman of SNH; Callum Sinclair of The Conservation Volunteers (TCV); and Oonagh Aitken of Community Service Volunteers (CSV).
L to R – Oonagh Aitken; Paul Wheelhouse; Ian Ross; Callum Sinclair
We were able to chat to other groups and SNH officials …….
Community reps mingle!
… and were pleased to receive a pop-up display banner as a ‘thank you’ for all our work.
L to R Karen, Val and Jim and their new banner!
A big thank you to CSV for nominating us and SNH for hosting the event.
All photos courtesy of SNH.
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Posted 16 April 2014 – Excellent Talk and AGM
Thanks to everyone that came along to our free illustrated talk and AGM on Monday night.
Our speaker, Joe Connelly (Countryside Ranger with Dams to Darnley CP), proved to be an inspired choice of guest. He provided an excellent overview of the Dams to Darnley Country Park, including the Dams to Darnley LNR, whilst also outlining some of the key issues that he and his colleagues have to deal with.
Joe Connelly (right) enjoys a well earned cuppa!
(Photo courtesy of David Palmar)
Following Joe, we moved onto our AGM. Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, presented his illustrated Annual Report drawing attention to the various projects undertaken by the Group, details of which can be found on these very pages – wildfowl feeding, guided walks, illustrated talks and litter picks; not to mention the lobbying of the City Council and other bodies! One new piece of news emerged – the re-erection of Box no.9 which had been salvaged from a blown down tree at Dawsholm Park LNR …….
Box no.9 – 11 April 2014
Following on from Jim’s presentation our Treasurer, Agnes Gunn, provided a run-down of our finances.
Thereafter, the membership fees for 2014-15 were agreed and Jim welcomed our new student members from Glasgow University. Finally, the Committee was re-elected and with no other business we adjourned for tea/coffee, cake and a Group photograph!
Friends AGM 2014
(Photo courtesy of David Palmar)
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Posted 9 April 2014 – Free Illustrated Talk and AGM
The Group is hosting a free illustrated talk on Monday 14 April 2014 in the Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens , Glasgow. Doors open at 7pm.
Our speaker is Joe Connelly, a Countryside Ranger with the Dams to Darnley Country Park in south west Glasgow. His presentation, entitled ‘Dams to Darnley Country Park featuring Glasgow’s newest LNR’ will commence at c7.15pm.
Balgray Reservoir – Dams to Darnley CP
After a short break, his presentation will be followed by the Group’s AGM and an opportunity to ask questions. The evening will close at 9pm at the latest.
Note that this event is free and open to all, although a small donation would be welcome especially to cover the costs of teas and cakes!
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Posted 6 April 2014 – Drizzle Doesn’t Dampen Spirits
We arrived at Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (5 April 2014) at around 12 noon and set up our ‘feeding station’. Whilst overcast it was dry. The Mute Swans clearly sensed our presence and they started to jostle for position as we started to distribute the barley.
At this stage we advised the volunteers not to use the viewing/feeding platform as it was extremely slippery – we shall report this to the Council.
However, it soon began to drizzle and indeed there were some periods of heavy rain. This appeared to restrict the number of visitors to the park, nevertheless for once it was relatively mild. This encouraged a few people to undertake an impromptu litter pick with one bag of litter being collected from around the platform and car park and another from between the car park and sandy beach.
Volunteer collecting litter in car park
Once we had distributed all the barley, five volunteers decided to check out the Friends nest boxes and do a bit of bird watching. Despite the drizzle, we saw at least 36 species whilst noting a number of birds already on nests or nest building and others singing their hearts out – a great end to our day.
This was the last wildfowl feeding session for 2013-14. We hope to recommence in October 2014 – keep an eye on the web site.
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Posted 28 March 2014 – Wildfowl Feeding – Hogganfield Park LNR 5 April 2014
We have enjoyed the monthly wildfowl feeding sessions so much that we have decided to organise another one! We contacted the Council and were given permission, very quickly, to host another event on Saturday 5 April 2014 from c12 noon to 2pm.
As ever, we are looking for volunteers to help us feed the ducks, swans and geese and the good news is that we shall be distributing free barley. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform next to the car park. Most people agree that barley is better for birds than bread and indeed the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust does not allow bread to be fed to wildfowl on their reserves.
On the day, it will be interesting to see whether any Whooper Swans can be found – two stayed into mid April in 2013 – or whether they will have all returned to Iceland. No matter, lots of other birds are bound to be present, so please come along and say hello!
Let us all hope for a nice day similar to the one illustrated above, but perhaps a little warmer!
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Posted 24 March 2014 – Dawsholm Park LNR update
Two of our Group visited the LNR on Sunday 23 March 2014; here is their report.
We entered the LNR near the bridge at the River Kelvin. Having negotiated the muddy trail we were soon overlooking the River Kelvin and almost immediately noticed a Chiffchaff actively feeding below us. The views from the upper walkway are much improved following the removal of rhododendron ponticum but this non-native invasive species appears to be making a comeback in some areas. We shall be sending the following photos to the Council seeking confirmation that these areas are still subject to a ‘spraying regime’ to prevent the plant from re-establishing …..
Elsewhere the ‘rhododendron’ does seem to have been beaten which is a credit to the workforce that undertook this difficult work ………………..
Sadly we have to report that one of our nest boxes has succumbed to the winter storms which also brought down a few more trees. However, we hope to replace it in the near future. Also, our small nameplates have been ‘removed’ from two of the new dog waste/litter bins that were installed a few weeks ago but still survive on one of them – the nameplates will also be replaced.
Sadly, some people still prefer to hang their bags of dog dirt on railings, fences and trees rather than take them to the bins. We wonder how long the Council will tolerate this before clamping down on a few offenders?
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Posted 20 March 2014 – Illustrated Talk on 26 March 2014
We have been advised that he SWT are hosting an illustrated talk – Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves – on Wednesday 26th March 2014. The speaker is Dave Garner, Ecologist/Biodiversity Officer with Glasgow City Council.
The venue is Airlie Theatre of Hyndland Secondary, Clarence Drive, Glasgow, commencing at 7.30pm. All welcome.
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Posted 19 March 2014 – Another update from Hogganfield Park LNR
Our Group Leader, Jim Coyle, visited Hogganfield Park LNR on Monday afternoon and reports:
Despite arriving just before 3pm, I managed to observe 33 species of bird in just under 2 hours. These included Chiffchaff (a summer visitor) and Whooper Swan (a winter visitor).
Juvenile Whooper Swan
There was evidence of breeding with Grey Herons on nests whilst Blue Tits were showing an interest in three of the nest boxes we put up in February 2014 whilst a Great Tit actually entered one.
Amphibians also got in the act ………………
Common Frogs – Hogganfield Park
As well as good wildlife sightings I was also pleased to see some improvements that have been made for people. The lane that runs parallel to Avenue End Road (on the eastern edge of the LNR) had been overgrown and badly littered. The following photo, looking south, illustrates the ‘before’ situation ……….
However, thanks to the Council’s LES Operations the vegetation on both sides of the lane has been cut back, exposing an original footpath and it has also been swept and de-littered making it a more attractive proposition to walkers, as the following photo, looking north, shows
Work has also commenced on the creation of a small footpath extension which when completed will have a new bench installed to allow people to sit and overlook the marsh.
I have also been advised that other path improvements will be undertaken over the next few weeks allied to enhanced interpretation boards. These works are being funded via the Council and the Seven Lochs Project.
I shall keep you posted.
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Posted 14 March 2014 – More Good News from Hogganfield Park LNR
In spite of the drizzle on 6 March 2014, the Seven Lochs Volunteers and the TCV midweek group had a good day at Hogganfield cutting back a hawthorn hedgerow. Each section of hedgerow is cut only once every 3 years to encourage it to fill out and provide cover for wildlife. This is the best time of year to carry out tasks like this – after the winter berries have gone and before birds start to nest.
More information about the Seven Lochs Volunteers and photos can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sevenlochs?fref=ts
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Posted 9 March 2014 – Thank You & Date for AGM
Thanks to everyone that attended our latest wildfowl feeding session at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 2 March 2014 – your support is much appreciated.
Also we would confirm that our AGM will take place on Monday 14 April 2014 in the Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, with doors open at 7pm for a 7.15pm start.
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Posted 17 February 2014 – Wildfowl Feeding – Hogganfield Park LNR – Sunday 2 March 2014
Our last wildfowl feeding session of the winter takes place at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 2 March 2014 from c.12 noon to 1pm. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform next to the car park.
As ever we shall be giving away free barley to feed the wildfowl and helping identify the range of birds to be seen. Remember to bring your cameras for awesome images of normally hard to photograph birds such as Goldeneye, Goosander and Whooper Swan.
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Posted 16 February 2013 – Habitat Works at Hogganfield Park LNR
More good news from Hogganfield Park LNR. We have been advised by Cath Scott (GCC) that the volunteer group TCV were working in the LNR on 12 February 2014. Their tasks included transplanting some wetland vegetation from the marsh pond to the small new pond near Avenue End/Cumbernauld Road junction, and removing some more Bulrush. They have also transplanted a section of the hedgerow near the Golf Course practice area to allow access for machinery to maintain the fence.
LES Operations were also carrying out hedgerow work at the Avenue end side. The hedgerow here was ‘laid’ about 10 years ago and hasn’t been managed since so one side is being cut back. It may look a bit drastic but it will help keep it a thick hedge, and make this entrance more open. Dogwood is also being removed.
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Posted 9 February 2014 – Excellent Illustrated Talk
Cath Scott’s illustrated talk on 5 February 2014 featuring the 10 Local Nature Reserves in Glasgow was well received by all those present. It was a bit of a squeeze fitting everyone into the RSPB’s meeting room but it made for a cosy evening!
Cath is clearly passionate about Glasgow’s LNRs and other wildlife sites and she illustrated this with her excellent photographs. It proved to be an extremely informative evening so a big thank you to Cath and all those that came along.
One of Cath’s photos showing wetland management at Hogganfield Park LNR follows:
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Posted 5 February 2014 – Successful Event!
Our event at Hogganfield Park on Sunday 2 February 2014 proved to be a great success.
Despite the early morning rain, 17 volunteers turned up and between 10.30 and 2.30pm we:
- erected 7 ‘woodcrete’ nest boxes; and
- collected 25+ bags of rubbish and other ‘assorted items’.
A few even stayed on until 3.30pm and helped distribute barley to feed the wildfowl!
11 volunteers get prepared for work; despite the rain!
Box 4 safely in place
Box 6 about to be erected
We targeted the woodland and scrub on the eastern edge of the Park between the golf course and the path that leads from the pond dipping pond to Ashcraig School. The volunteers collected 25+ bags of rubbish, a chair, a golf bag, a golf club, a carry cot/pushchair, bits of metal piping and numerous golf balls!
2 volunteers, 2 bags of rubbish and a carry cot/pushchair!
Two volunteers that arrived after the ‘team photo’ get stuck in!
2 volunteers enjoy a lunchtime cuppa with some of the rubbish bags lifted by the Council c1.30pm visible
Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact count of the bags as cleansing staff arrived c1.30pm (after lunch) and uplifted a large number – see the photo – when most folk were back in the woods!
Between 1.30pm-2.15pm we had collected another 8 bags or so.
Rubbish collected after lunch
Thanks again to CSV Action Earth for the grant and to Glasgow Community Safety for supplying the equipment AND a big thank you to all the volunteers.
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Posted 27 January 2014 – Illustrated Talk – Wednesday 5 February 2014
As previously posted, our second illustrated talk of the season takes place on Wednesday 5 February 2014. It features the City Council’s Cath Scott who will talk about the City’s 10 Local Nature Reserves and some of the projects that are being considered to help maintain and improve them for people and wildlife. The talk will take place in the RSPB offices, 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow, G3 6BS from 7.15pm; doors open at 7pm. The meeting should finish c8.30pm.
Cath is a ‘Natural Environment’ officer with Glasgow City Council and is responsible for many of the recent improvements at LNRs such as Hogganfield Park.
See the post below dated 12 December 2013 for some of her photos illustrating some of the typical works carried out in the city.
All welcome.
Finally, another reminder of our event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 2 February 2014 – details below.
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Posted 23 January 2014 – Litter Pick & Nest Boxes – 2 February 2014
We are hosting another free event at Hogganfield Park on Sunday 2 February 2014.
This time we shall be cleaning up the woodlands and footpaths along the Avenue End Road side of the park as well as erecting nest boxes.
The event will run from c10.30am to 2.30pm.
The meeting point is the red brick shelter in the south east corner of the park – opposite the picnic area and beach. The shelter is in the centre of the following map link: https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=h&vpsrc=6&ll=55.876403,-4.170776&spn=0.00096,0.00327&z=19
Our Group Chair Jim Coyle says “ Hogganfield Park is well known for its loch and the wide range of birds that can be seen, such as Whooper Swans from Iceland. However, the woods are less well known and I’m afraid over the years litter has accumulated. So we want to clean-up these woods and also provide nice new homes for our smaller woodland birds to thrive.”
You don’t need to be a member of the Group to help, everyone will be made most welcome. Also you can come along at any time.
Please wear boots or wellies and also bring a snack or packed lunch & drink, although there is a hot food van at the Park’s entrance/car park.
We would like to thank CSV Action Earth for their grant support and Community Safety Glasgow who are also supporting the event with the supply of litter pickers, plastic bags and protective gloves.
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Posted 14 January 2014 – Wildfowl Feeding – Hogganfield Loch
Thanks to everyone that attended our wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday the 12th.
Photo courtesy of Ian McCallum
Once again we distributed lots of free barley and met a lot of really nice people!
Our next event is on Sunday 2 February 2014 when we shall be erecting nest boxes and undertaking a clean-up of the woods at Hogganfield Park, all thanks to another CSV Action Earth grant. We shall also host another wildfowl feeding session – it is going to be a busy day, so get the date in your diaries NOW! Any help you can give would be really appreciated. Keep an eye on the web site for more information.
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Posted 7 January 2014 – Wildfowl Feeding at Hogganfield Park LNR
We are pleased to announce that we shall be hosting another wildfowl feeding session at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 12 January 2014 from 12 noon to 1pm. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform next to the car park.
This will be another chance to get incredibly close up views of a whole range of wildfowl. And remember the barley is FREE!
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Posted 1 January 2014 – Happy New Year
Thank you to everyone that’s helped and/or supported the Group in 2013.
An even bigger thank you to everyone that’s helped safeguard, manage and improve Glasgow’s 10 Local Nature Reserves and other wildlife sites.
Wishing you all a happy and peaceful 2014.
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Posted 22 December 2013 – Dawsholm Park
Our Group has been concerned about dog dirt and dog walking companies in Council’s green spaces and, in particular, Dawsholm Park LNR since our first AGM in 2011.
There has been much correspondence, photos, emails and press releases since then! 
However, we are pleased to report that the Council has installed three new Litter & Dog Waste bins in the Park. Each of the bins has our logo as well as that of the Council and they are located at:
i) the end of Dalsholm Road, where many of the professional dog walking companies park their vehicles, just beyond the barrier;
ii) half way along the access road into the disused playing fields, which are used by many dog walkers both professional and local; and
iii) the entrance/exit at Ilay Road, used by locals walking their dogs.
Hopefully, these bins will be used and the sight of dog dirt or bags full of dog dirt hanging from bushes and fences will become a thing of the past!
We can also report that our bird and bat boxes appear to have withstood the wind and rain of the last few weeks and we shall obviously be monitoring their usage in Spring 2014.
The boxes are made from ‘woodcrete’ and have a life expectancy of at least 20 years unlike wooden boxes which can be damaged within a year.
Finally, just a warning if you intend to make a visit, it is extremely wet and muddy underfoot so wellies or waterproof boots are strongly recommended!
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Posted 13 December 2013 – Successful Guided Walk
Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, led a successful guided walk around Hogganfield Park LNR on Wednesday 11 December 2013.
Photo courtesy of Lynda Pritchard
Twenty people joined the walk and from the outset were able to see a good range of wetland birds including Whooper Swans.
They were also able to see for themselves the various improvements that have been made to the LNR in recent years resulting in it being awarded ‘Green Flag’ status.
Quite a few people brought telescopes and these proved to be invaluable on a number of occasions.
Moving on to Cardowan Moss LNR, we were saddened to see that the ‘Group’s Crossing’ had still not been repaired.
We have reported the damage, as noted in a previous post, and we are still awaiting an official Council response although we believe, informally, that remedial works will be carried out.
Hopefully, there will be no need to make any further complaints to the Council on this matter.
Whilst in Cardowan Moss LNR, we noted that some tree works had been undertaken and that the core footpath network had obviously benefitted from some upgrades. However, some of the ‘minor’ paths were in poor condition. More specifically, the path that helps connect the LNR with the new paths installed around Frankfield Loch was in very poor condition – see the adjoining photo where parts of the path resemble a small pond!
Photo courtesy of Lynda Pritchard
Forestry Commission Scotland, the managers of the LNR, are aware of this and we are hopeful, following staff changes, that this path (or at least an alternative route) will be upgraded so as to create a good link with the Frankfield Loch paths.
The photo shows the group on the main path overlooking, and leading to, Frankfield Loch.
Around 45 bird species were seen in total, emphasising once again the importance of these three linked sites.
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Posted 12 December 2013 – Habitat Works at Various LNRs
As promised earlier, we have received photographs of a range of habitat improvement works carried out on behalf of the City Council at three of the LNRs in the city.
The excellent photographs are all courtesy of Cath Scott (GCC).
Photos 1-3 features ‘typha’ management and pool creation at Hogganfield Park LNR:
Photos 4-5 feature grassland/meadow management, also at Hogganfield Park LNR:
Photos 6-7 feature grassland/meadow management at Linn Park LNR:
Photo 8 features grassland/meadow management at Robroyston Park LNR:
All in all, an excellent series of photos and works which should benefit a whole range of species. Well done the City Council and their Natural Environment officers!
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Posted 9 December 2013 – Wildfowl Feeding in the Rain!
Thanks to everyone that attended our final CSV Action Earth Grant funded ‘wildfowl feeding event’ at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday.
Unlike our previous event – held in the sunshine – this event was marred by heavy rain.
Nevertheless a core team of volunteers arrived 
and using the ‘tail gate’ of a camper van for shelter managed to distribute a huge amount of barley to the waiting wildfowl.
Our spirits were also lifted by a family of 6 Whooper Swans that flew in – obviously they could smell the barley – and proceeded to boss the whole feeding session! Who would have thought that Mute Swans could be intimidated by young Whoopers?
There weren’t as many people in the park as 
normal but those that were joined our core volunteers in feeding the wildfowl.
As well as feeding, one volunteer spent a little time picking up litter but to be fair there wasn’t that much lying around.
Thereafter, five hardy souls went on the guided walk and, despite the weather, managed to see 31 different species of bird.
Not bad for a rainy, overcast, gloomy Sunday afternoon; no doubt next Sunday will be sunny!
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Posted 2 December 2013 – Wildfowl Feeding Session – Sunday 8 December 2013.
Our final CSV Action Earth Grant funded ‘wildfowl feeding event’ takes place next Sunday from 11.30-14.30hrs. Help feed the ducks and swans with free barley; enjoy a guided wildlife walk (13.00hrs) and perhaps help with a litter pick. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform at Hogganfield Loch next to the car park.
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Posted 2 December 2013 – Meetings with Glasgow City Council
On Saturday, our Group Chair attended a Glasgow City Council meeting along with representatives of other Glasgow Parks ‘Friends’ groups.
At the meeting, Council staff outlined the budgetary pressures affecting Park Services throughout the UK; the role that Friends Groups play/could play in helping improve the City’s parks/LNRs; and the need to at least consider alternative ways of funding some parks services. The meeting also heard from Fraser Bridgeford (Bristol Parks Forum) who explained how Friends Groups played a key role in helping manage, maintain and improve Bristol’s green spaces.
The meeting was quite well attended and it will be interesting to see what happens next.
On Monday morning, we also met Council staff in respect of Dawsholm Park LNR/Dog Walking Companies and Dog Dirt. We are pleased to report that 3 new bins are going to be installed to try and cope with the amount of dog dirt being generated here. Hopefully they will be used and the sight of dog dirt bags hanging from trees will become a thing of the past.
It was also informative to note the number of dog walking companies that thought it was OK to park on the pavement. They did re-locate when politely asked by Council staff.
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Posted 24 November 2013 – Good News and Bad News
Our Group Chair visited Hogganfield Park LNR earlier this week to have a look at the typha management carried out at the marsh by the Council earlier this month. 
New areas of open water, as well as a few islands, have been created by a digger removing areas of typha, as illustrated in the adjoining photo. Thankfully, the digger did not sink into the mud!
These works should prove to be beneficial to a whole range of invertebrates, amphibians and birds; and a Grey Heron was already using one of the ponds.
However, sadly he was also able to confirm that the pedestrian crossing which the Friends Group had been responsible for funding, had been damaged.
The traffic island is located on Avenue End Road and offered a safe crossing between Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs.
The fact that it has been damaged emphasises the potential dangers to those trying to cross this road. The Council are aware of the damage and we are currently awaiting their response.
Finally some more good news! The Group has been awarded a CSV Grant to erect bird nest boxes in the woods at Hogganfield and to also undertake a general clean up. The date will be Sunday 2 February 2014 – so get the date in your diaries now!
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Posted 14 November 2013 – Positive News from Glasgow’s LNRs
i) Bishop Loch LNR
The Volunteers from the Seven Lochs Project have been hard at work once again.
They were up at Bishop Loch LNR on 13th November 2013 with two Forestry Commission Scotland rangers and created a rustic willow and hazel fence along
the path at the entrance to the reserve (off Lochend Road).
Forestry Commission Scotland are the current managers of the LNR having agreed a 10 year lease with the land owners, Glasgow City Council, a few years ago. They themselves have undertaken some improvement works since they took over the day to day management but it is really good to see volunteers helping so much.
The aim of the fence is to both create an attractive entrance feature and act as a barrier to stop rubbish blowing into the woods from the main road.
We would like to thank Claire Quinn (Community Engagement Officer with the Seven Lochs Project) for the story and both photos and have to say how impressed we are with how much was achieved and how good it looks. For more information on the Project see www.sevenlochs.org
ii) Hogganfield Park LNR
Typha management was carried out at the marsh at Hogganfield Park LNR on Friday 8 November 2013. This follows on from wildflower/grassland management here and at other LNRs/wildlife sites in the City. We hope to have more details and photos from the City Council in the near future.
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Posted 5 November 2013 – Feeding Wildfowl in the Sun!
Our third wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR 
on Sunday 3 November 2013 was a great success.
We arrived at 11.30hrs in glorious sunshine! Yes, for once, the weather was kind and we were able to erect our table and banners without fear of them being blown away or being drenched in rain!
At each event, we have had lots of volunteers helping with the feeding – some who attend for an hour or so and others for just a few minutes. 
We also make sure that we have at least 5 ‘core volunteers’ that commit to stay for the whole event and help with the distribution of the barley and bird ID – it is amazing to see people’s faces when you tell them that the Whooper Swans have flown to Glasgow all the way from Iceland – the country, not the supermarket! This week’s ‘Famous Five’ are shown proudly wearing their CSV Action Earth tabards.
After the feeding session, our Group Leader Jim Coyle led an informal guided walk around the loch where we spotted a good range of wildfowl as well as a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. He also showed us some of the habitat improvements that have been implemented in recent years.
During the walk we also took a couple of litter pickers and, thanks to Daphne and 
Lynda, filled two bags with rubbish by de-littering the edges of the loch as well as some of the ponds and hedgerows.
So a big thank to everyone that turned out on a glorious day – despite the brief shower that threatened to spoil the walk – and helped and enjoyed the wildlife of Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve.
The next feeding session is on Sunday 8 December 2013.
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Posted 28 October 2013 – Wildfowl Feeding Event
We approached Sunday’s wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR with some trepidation – the weather forecast suggesting that there would be heavy rain all day.
Despite the forecast, it was bright with some sunny spells when we started at c11.30hrs.
We decided, however, with the forecast and dark clouds on the horizon, today was not a day for tables/leaflets and banners it would be simply about handing out free barley and feeding the wildfowl! And we were not to be disappointed with lots of birds ‘hoovering’ up our barley.
It was also good to see that families of Whooper Swans had arrived and were letting the resident Mute Swans know who was boss!
It really is incredible that these Whoopers come all the way from Iceland to spend the winter in Glasgow.
By mid day the forecast rain came driving in.
Yet, despite the weather, people came out to feed the birds and we distributed a full bag of our free barley.
Thanks again to CSV for the grant!
Unfortunately, by 13.00hrs the rain was so bad we had to abandon the proposed guided walk and litter pick.
We are back again next Sunday ( 3 November 2013) and hopefully we shall have a better day.
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Posted 25 October 2013 – Wildfowl Feeding & Thank You
i) Wildfowl Feeding Session on Sunday 27 October 2013.
Time: 11.30-14.30hrs. Help feed the ducks and swans with free barley; enjoy a guided wildlife walk (13.00hrs) and perhaps help with a litter pick. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform at Hogganfield Loch next to the car park. This event has only been made possible thanks to a grant from CSV Action Earth.
ii) Thank You
Thanks to all those that came along last night for an excellent talk by the RSPB’s Toby Wilson. 
His talk whilst concentrating on RSPB’s Reserves emphasised how reserves can be important for individual species; for habitat protection & enhancement and for people. He also looked at the importance of working at the ‘landscape scale’ and with other partners. All in all it was a terrific evening and thoroughly enjoyed by all those present.
We hope to announce the date for our next talk in the near future; keep an eye on the web site for information.
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Posted 14 October 2013 – the Importance of Nature Reserves – Illustrated Talk – Toby Wilson (RSPB)
Earlier this year the UK’s wildlife organisations published a report on the health of the UK’s wildlife – the State of Nature. They discovered that of the 3,148 species assessed, 60% were in decline! This in part was due to habitat loss e.g. ponds, wildflower meadows, woodlands, etc.
In order to help stem this habitat loss, many Councils and wildlife groups are managing nature reserves and indeed within Glasgow we have 10 such reserves.
On Thursday 24 October 2013, we are hosting an illustrated talk by the RSPB’s Toby Wilson on ‘The Importance of Nature Reserves’ commencing at 19.15hrs.
Toby, (photograph courtesy of David Palmar), is the Conservation Officer for RSPB Scotland’s South & West Region and is a popular and well respected speaker.
The talk is being held in the Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens, Great Western Road, Glasgow.
Cost: free to members; £3 to non-members. Meet at the main entrance gate at 19.00hrs to gain entrance to the Gardens and directions to the Hopkirk Building.
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Posted 8 October 2013 – Forthcoming Events
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The Importance of Nature Reserves – Illustrated talk by Toby Wilson Toby is a well respected Conservation Officer with RSPB Scotland and his talk is not to be missed. We hope that this will be the first in a series of talks and would stress that everyone is welcome to attend. Date: Thursday 24 October 2013. Time: 19.15-21.00hrs. Venue: The Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens, Glasgow. Cost: free to members; £3 to non-members. Meet at the main entrance gate at 19.00hrs to gain entrance to the Gardens and directions to the Hopkirk Building.
- Wildfowl Feeding Session Date: Sunday 27 October 2013. Time: 11.30-14.30hrs. Help feed the ducks and swans with free barley; enjoy a guided wildlife walk (13.00hrs) and perhaps help with a litter pick. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform at Hogganfield Loch next to the car park. This event has only been made possible thanks to a grant from CSV Action Earth.
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Posted 25 September 2013
Update from 7 Lochs Project Team
Good news from the Seven Lochs Project Team:
Claire Quinn (Community Engagement Officer) advises that they have now finished the new pond at Commonhead Moss LNR and have planted four native species in and around it – flag iris, cuckoo flower, ragged robin and water mint.
They have also created a number of small hibernacula to give amphibians places to hide around the ponds. The scrapes which were dug in August are now filled with water and have life in them which is good to see so the hope is that all this work encourages a greater number of newts to breed in the LNR and of course will also provide an excellent habitat for a range of invertebrates. (Photo courtesy of Claire Quinn)
They also have a number of volunteer days coming up at Bishop Loch LNR and one at Hogganfield Park LNR. At Bishop Loch, they will spend two days thinning some of the woodland with FCS and a further two days will be spent constructing a willow and hazel fence along the path from Lochend Road to the entrance at the information panel. At Hogganfield they will be clearing the route of the butterfly transect as it has become overgrown.
We look forward to receiving an update on these excellent projects.
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Posted 23 September 2013
Hogganfield Park LNR Event held on 22 September 2013
Our first event at Hogganfield Park LNR proved to be popular with 
young children and their parents as they helped feed the wildfowl on the loch with FREE barley, all courtesy of a grant from CSV Action Earth…
….the barley also proved to be popular with the many Mute Swans and other wildfowl to be found at this wonderful loch!
As well as feeding the wildfowl we removed 2 bags of rubbish from the edge of the loch and along the main footpath and beach area.
We have to wonder why people, having fed the birds, choose to discard their bread wrappers and plastic bags into the water!
A big thank you to all those that helped on the day.
Hopefully, our next event at Hogganfield Park on Sunday 27 October 2013 will prove to be even more popular.
Remember, you do not need to be a member of the Friends Group; anyone can come along and help even if it is just for a few minutes. So just another reminder, the remaining dates are 27 October 2013; 3 November 2013; and 8 December 2013 – get them in your diaries now!
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Posted 10 September 2013 – Event on 22 September 2013 – Hogganfield Park LNR
The first of our monthly wildfowl feeding sessions is less than 2 weeks away, on Sunday 22 September 2013 from 11.30am-2.30pm. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform overlooking the loch next to the car park.
We shall be handing out free barley to those that want to help feed the 100s of ducks, geese and swans at the loch and answering questions on bird identification, etc. Later, at 1.30pm, we shall be leading a guided wildlife walk around the loch whilst also taking a couple of litter pickers with us to uplift any stray can or crisp packet we might encounter on the walk.
If you would like to help, or attend the walk, please come along on the day – we would stress that these events are FREE and open to all. You don’t have to be a member of the Friends Group to participate.
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Posted 2 August 2013 – CSV Action Earth Award – Hogganfield Park LNR
We are pleased to report that our grant application to CSV to host 4 events at Hogganfield Park LNR was successful!
At the events we shall be:
– distributing free barley to feed the 100s of swans, geese and ducks that winter on the loch;
– leading guided walks to show people the many species of bird to be found on the loch; and
– undertaking small-scale litter picking to help keep the LNR in a pristine condition.
All events will take place from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform overlooking the loch next to the car park.
The dates for your diary are:
22 September 2013
27 October 2013
3 November 2013
8 December 2013
More information will be posted prior to each event, so keep an eye on the web site for updates.
AND remember everyone is welcome, you don’t need to be a member of the Friends of Glasgow’s LNRs to help.
Finally, we must thank CSV for supporting our events and also acknowledge the important role played by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) who support the CSV Action Earth Awards.
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Posted 18 July 2013 – Seven Lochs Project – Commonhead Moss LNR
Volunteers are required by the Seven Lochs Project for a number of planned activities at Commonhead Moss.
Saturday 10 August – Digging scrapes and planting around ponds; with FrogLife
Fridays 6 & 20 September – Pond digging and amphibian surveys; with GCC Countryside Rangers
From 10am-3pm each day. Meet at Allnach Place, Easterhouse G34 0DW
Further details can be had from www.sevenlochs.org or by contacting Claire Quinn via sevenlochs@gmail.com
Existing Pond at Commonhead Moss – copyright Jim Coyle
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Posted 16 July 2013 – Events and Potential Partners
A lot has happened since our last update:
1. We have prepared a draft brochure/leaflet providing information about the Group and the 10 LNRs in the City. We have submitted a grant application to cover the printing costs.
2. Following on from the Dawsholm Park LNR dog dirt/dog walking companies problems which we raised with the Council, we have been advised by Council staff of the cost of purchasing and installing 3 litter/dog dirt bins in the LNR. We are currently seeking councillor support for a bid for funds from the Council’s Area Partnership budget.
3. We have booked the Hopkirk Building in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Thursday 24 October 2013 from 7pm-9pm for an illustrated talk on nature reserves, their management and their wildlife. More details to follow, but get the date in your diary now!
4. We hope to have some exciting news next week about a proposed project at Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve. This would involve the Group hosting wildfowl feeding sessions, guided walks and litter picks at this wonderful reserve. Initially these would take place once a month from September to December 2013. The Council’s biodiversity officers are supportive and we are now awaiting a decision from a potential funding body.
5. Having successfully lobbied the Council to undertake some clean up works at Dawsholm Park LNR and in the vicinity of Bingham’s Pond, we intend to hold informal litter picks at the LNR and the Pond, which is a Locally Important Wildlife Site. Anyone who would like to help, please contact Jim Coyle at j.coyle13@ntlworld.com
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Posted 24 May 2013 – Successful Guided Walk
We are pleased to report that 18 people turned up at Drumpellier Country Park Visitor centre for our guided walk to Commonhead Moss LNR (held in conjunction with the RSPB Glasgow Local Group) on Wednesday 22 May 2013. We were met at the car park by Dave Garner, from Glasgow City Council, and he explained the history of the Moss; why it was purchased by the City Council and declared as a LNR; and the management works that had been undertaken, so far. Unfortunately, he was not able to participate in the walk, having to undertake other Council business.
However, our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, led the walk from Drumpellier to the Moss entering via a well signed path at Commonhead Road. We saw evidence of some of the management works – birch scrub removal and the installation of dams to help re-wet the bog – but also encountered some areas of dumping and anti-social behaviour which we have reported to the Council.
Dams – Commonhead Moss – 22 May 2013 – Copyright Jim Coyle.
Nevertheless, it was good to explore this little known LNR on the edge of the City and we saw 11 species of bird, a Roe deer and 4 species of butterfly. We saw a further 24 species of bird whilst walking through Drumpellier Country Park making it at least 28 bird species seen or heard, in total.
We hope to undertake more guided walks and events in the city’s LNRs over the next 12 months, so keep an eye on the web site.
Guided walk – Commonhead Moss – 22 May 2013 – Copyright Jim Coyle.
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Posted 16 May 2013 – Commonhead Moss LNR Guided Walk
We are pleased to confirm a guided walk around one of Glasgow’s ten Local Nature Reserves – Commonhead Moss – on Wednesday 22 May 2013.
There are no designated car parking or visitor facilities at the LNR. We shall therefore meet at the nearby Drumpellier Country Park Visitor Centre car park at 10.15am to view the adjacent Lochend Loch and then at the Centre’s cafe at 10.30am for coffee (the Centre doesn’t open until 10.30am). We shall then walk to Commonhead Moss LNR leaving the Centre at 11.00am.
We are pleased to say that the Council’s Dave Garner will be present from 10.15am to give us some background about the LNR.
The Visitor Centre is located off Townhead Road, Coatbridge. One potential route involves leaving the M8 at junction 29 and heading into Easterhouse via Westerhouse Road then Lochend Road to the A752 Gartcosh Road, turn right then left into Townhead Road.
See Commonhead Moss LNR, under the Local Nature Reserves section of the web site, for more information about the LNR and a plan of the area.
We are also pleased to confirm that this is a joint outing with the RSPB Glasgow Local Group.
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Posted 22 April 2013 – Two New LNRs in the City
As mentioned at the Group’s AGM, we can now confirm that two new LNRs have been declared in the City: Cathkin Braes by Glasgow City Council and Dams to Darnley by Glasgow City Council and East Renfrewshire Council.
A copy of the official declarations as lodged with the Evening Times can be seen in the pictures on the left (click on the picture to enlarge).
We hope to post more information on both LNRs in the Local Nature Reserve section of the web site.
A big thank you to all those responsible for managing to get these areas declared. We now have 10 LNRs in the City!
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Posted 14 April 2013 – Conference – 22 to 23 June 2013
Glasgow Natural History Society, in association with a number of other organisations, is hosting a conference entitled ‘Natives, Aliens and Reintroductions: how does ecology inform wildlife conservation in Scotland?’
More details from www.gnhs.org.uk/2013conference.html
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Posted 13 April 2013 – Group AGM
The Group held its AGM on Wednesday 10 April 2013 with 19 people present.
The following were elected to the Committee: Jim Coyle (Chair), Val Charlton (Vice-chair), Agnes Gunn (Treasurer), Toby Wilson (Secretary). Other Committee members: Bo Wang, David Palmar and Karen Hill.
Membership fees were retained at £5 for adults and £7 for families
Thanks go to Toby Wilson for leading the guided walk, prior to the AGM, in Kelvingrove Park and to RSPB South & West Region for providing the meeting space.
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Posted 3 April 2013
Following on from the Group’s AGM in 2011, the Committee has been lobbying Glasgow City Council in respect of dog-dirt and the problems created by some professional dog walking companies in Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve and other green spaces.
Glasgow’s Evening Times picked up on the story resulting in an excellent article appearing in today’s morning edition (front page news!) and online at http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/fears-over-glasgow-dog-walkers-120166n.20646801
The paper edition has more photographs including one of our Group Chair!
We have tried our best and await any letters or comments that appear online or in their paper edition.
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Posted 15 March 2013
1) Commonhead Moss LNR – update
The City Council has advised that funds have been obtained for Commonhead Moss LNR from the Scottish Government’s Green Stimulus funding initiative for lowland raised bog restoration. This has paid for the installation of 20 more plastic piling dams and ensured the clearance of just over 8 ha of light-intermediate scrub. A further 1 hectare of dense scrub, with trees, will be removed later this year at the end of the bird breeding season and this will then optimise the bog’s ability to restore itself – so three cheers to Scottish Natural Heritage for arranging this!
2) Hogganfield Park LNR – update
We are pleased to report that the Council’s works to improve the loch edge and visitor experience (see 18 January 2013 post below) are now complete. Photo follows.
copyright Jim Coyle
3) Forthcoming Events
a) AGM and Guided walk – Wednesday 10 April 2013
The Group’s AGM will be held in the RSPB’s offices at 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow, G3 6BS from 7.30pm. Prior to that there will be a guided wildlife walk around Kelvingrove Park leaving the RSPB’s offices at 6.30pm.
b) Guided Walk – Commonhead Moss LNR – Wednesday 22 May 2013
This will be a joint walk with RSPB Glasgow Local Group. Meet at the Visitor Centre, Drumpellier Country Park at 10.15 am for coffee. We aim to walk to the LNR leaving the Centre at c10.45am. More information will be posted here and on www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow
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Posted 11 February 2013 – Guided Walk – advance notice
We aim to host a guided walk to Commonhead Moss LNR on Wednesday 22 May 2013. We have taken advice from a GCC ecologist and he has confirmed that “late May would be a good time for a guided walk.” The walk will be held in conjunction with the RSPB Glasgow Local Group and the planned meeting place would be the visitor centre at Drumpellier Country Park. More information will follow closer to the time.
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Posted 18 January 2013 – Local Nature Reserves Update
We are pleased to report that much has been happening within the City since our last update. A big thank you to the Council officers – particularly from the Land & Environmental Services biodiversity, landscape and woodland sections – and those from other organisations that have helped turn ideas into reality!
Hopefully, there will be even more to report over the next few months.
1. Hogganfield Park LNR
The third phase of the project to naturalise the loch edge is nearing completion. This has involved: a) removing old, broken paving slabs and creating a grassed wildflower area; b) creating surfaced viewing/feeding areas; and c) creating planted areas along the loch edge to replace the broken and decaying concrete revetment. All these works are illustrated in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos:
Before photo taken 2011:
After photo taken January 2013:
Both photos copyright Jim Coyle
Finally, as part of a ‘Seven Lochs Project’ proposal to enhance access from Hogganfield Park LNR to Commonhead Moss LNR, an existing entrance is going to be upgraded and a new entrance feature created.
2. Cardowan Moss LNR
The Group sought support and funding to upgrade an existing path within the LNR which would link with a new footpath that had been created from the Frankfield Loch proposed LNR. Both the City Council and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) were supportive and indeed FCS agreed to fund the upgrade as part of their day-to-day management of the LNR.
Unfortunately, the route of the path has potential implications for underground services. FCS intend to arrange meetings with the utility companies and report back once they have an agreement.
3. Bishop Loch LNR
As part of the ‘Seven Lochs Project’ access improvements mentioned above, a new access point is to be created at Balcurvie Road leading to the LNR.
4. Commonhead Moss LNR
The Group lobbied the Council suggesting that the LNR was badly in need of two clearly marked entry points and suggested the building of two walled entrance features. This proposal was accepted and included in the overall scheme to enhance access along the whole of the ‘Seven Lochs Project’ area during 2013.
Hopefully, these will be in place, along with a waymarked route, in time for the Friends proposed guided walk around Commonhead Moss in May 2013 – watch this space!
5. Dawsholm Park LNR
The City Council has erected an interpretation board next to the new pond that was created by FrogLife to help palmate newts. Hopefully dog walkers will heed its advice!
Dawsholm – new pond
Dawsholm – new sign
Both photos copyright Jim Coyle
In addition, the Wise Group spent around 5 weeks in the autumn of last year undertaking Rhododendron cutting & chipping and Himalayan balsam pulling. The Wise Group team comprised 5 x 16 -17 year olds with a supervisor provided via the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Skills and Employment Training Framework agreement.
6. Linn Park LNR
We are very pleased to report that some £75,000 of improvement works have been carried out at the park funded by Forestry Commission Scotland and Glasgow City Council. These works have brought an extensive woodland area into positive management and have improved visitor access with new and upgraded paths. Woodland management works have consisted of thinning and restructuring including the removal of 6ha of Rhododendron ponticum. Nearly 7,000 native trees have been planted and 1,260 ground flora plants will help add some colour and interest to the woodland where before there was just dense Rhododendron shrubs.
Interpretation panels covering Ancient Woodland, Wildflower Meadow, Archaeology and the White Cart Water have been installed (or will be shortly) along with directional fingerposts to help visitors find their way around the park.
Glasgow’s Buzzing, a 3 year partnership project between Glasgow City Council and Buglife to survey, create and enhance meadows in Glasgow, has created a new meadow in the park near the golf course club house. The existing meadow was surveyed by Buglife in 2012 and uncovered a few interesting invertebrates including Blue winged olive mayfly (Serratella ignita) and the leaf beetle Galeruca tanaceti. Six-spot Burnet moths were also recorded at Linn Park for the first time last year, one of three new sites in the city for this attractive day flying moth.
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Posted 27 October 2012 – Hogganfield Park LNR
We are glad to report that Glasgow City Council has instigated grassland management, once again, at Hogganfield Park LNR and this was undertaken on 9th and 10th October 2012 – see photo.
This involved cutting the wildflower grasslands in the LNR and more importantly lifting (and baling) the arisings to prevent nutrients being absorbed back into the soil. This in turn should limit the growth of the grass species allowing wildflowers a better chance of flourishing.
In addition, the third phase of naturalisation of the loch edge is due to start in the next couple of weeks. This will take place opposite the golf course practice area. Explanatory signs will be erected soon with work due to commence on 5th November 2012. The water levels in the loch will be slowly lowered to allow access to the water edge for work to be done. It is anticipated that the works will be completed in 6-8 weeks.
Photo courtesy of Cath Scott
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Posted 10 September 2012 – D in the Park a success!
Our ambitious event held in Dawsholm Park LNR on Sunday 9 September 2012 proved to be a success.
In the morning we undertook practical works erecting 5 starling nest boxes and 3 bat boxes and filled 20+ bags full of rubbish – see photos (click on photo to enlarge).
After lunch the Council’s Countryside Rangers held 3 pond dipping sessions and they advise that c.50 people including lots of children took part.
Our Group chair, Jim Coyle, led a guided walk and talked about the habitat works that have been undertaken over the past few years. He explained the dual benefits of introducing Highland cattle – enhanced biodiversity and a visitor attraction. Although not the best time to see birds he showed us where to look for certain species, particularly early in the morning when there are fewer people around. In the end everyone had good views of various tits, corvids and goldcrest. One of the local buzzards was also seen as were swallows on their long migration south.
A big thank you to everyone who came along, volunteered, asked questions and participated in the events.
All photos copyright Jim Coyle
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Posted 5 September 2012 – ‘D’ in the Park – Programme of Events
Time: Sunday 9 September 2012 from 10.30-15.30hrs
Venue: Dawsholm Park, marquees at disused playing fields, off Dalsholm Road, Glasgow, G20. Approximately 250 metres east of the Ilay Road entrance; or c200 metres west of the car parking area on Dalsholm Road.
Programme of Events
10.30-11.30 – Erection of bird and bat boxes
10.45 – 12.30 – General clean-up/litter pick
11.30 onwards – Browse the displays and stalls in the main marquee with the Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves, RSPB Glasgow Local Group and Butterfly Conservation. Book a pond dipping session with Countryside Rangers.
12.30 onwards – bumble bee trail and a nature detective table with skulls, footprints, pellets etc at Countryside Ranger’s table in the main marquee.
12.45-13.30 – Pond Dipping and Bug Hunt with Countryside Rangers. Maximum of 15.
12.45-14.00 – Guided Walk led by Jim Coyle – hopefully spotting various birds including Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove and maybe even Kingfisher!
13.45-14.30 – Pond Dipping and Bug Hunt with Countryside Rangers. Maximum of 15.
14.45-15.30 – Pond Dipping and Bug Hunt with Countryside Rangers. Maximum of 15.
If participating in any of the events, wellies or waterproof boots are strongly recommended!
We would like to thank once again CSV, Scottish Natural Heritage and Glasgow City Council for their support.
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Posted 6 August 2012 – ‘D’ in the Park
The Group has once again obtained a CSV Action Earth grant for an event at Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve – ‘D’ in the Park!
The event will take place on Sunday 9 September 2012 from 10.30-15.30hrs with two marquees being erected on the disused playing fields. The marquees will be c200 metres west off Dalsholm Road and c250 metres east of the Ilay Road entrance.
The theme of the event will be ‘Discover Dawsholm’. We aim to erect some nest boxes, undertake a clean-up and hope to show you what wildlife can be found – keep an eye on the web site for further details and timings.
We would like to thank CSV, Scottish Natural Heritage and Glasgow City Council for their support.
In the meantime why not join the ‘Friends’ (contact toby.wilson@rspb.org.uk) and/or purchase a ‘Friends’ fridge magnet £1 plus p&p (contact j.coyle13@ntlworld.com)
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Posted 30 May 2012 – Dawsholm Nest Boxes
Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, visited Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve on Tuesday 29 May 2012 to check on the Group’s nest boxes. He is pleased to report that all 11 have survived the winter storms and that at least 5 are occupied by Blue Tits. Hopefully, we shall soon see some young, just like the one pictured (Copyright Jim Coyle).
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Posted 19 May 2012 – Local Nature Reserve Day at Linn Park
The Friends will be attending the following event on Saturday 19 May 2012 from 12 noon to 15.00hrs:
Local Nature Reserve Day at Linn Park
Linn Park is soon to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve. To mark this occasion, there will be lots of ‘Wild and Wonderful’ activities and games all about “bees, butterflies and blooms”. Buzz along and have fun with the Council’s Countryside Rangers and Conservation Team along with range of other organisations.
Why not pop along to the marquee and say hello and learn more about our Group?
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Posted 18 April 2012 – Report on AGM of Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves 2012
The Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves celebrated our first successful year with the Annual General Meeting. A big thank you to Ewen Donaldson, the Botanic Gardens Manager, who not only kindly provided the meeting venue, but also led the pre-meeting guided walk around the Botanics, attended by 22 people.
At the AGM, group Chair – Jim Coyle, presented a short annual report summarising the group’s achievements; and Treasurer – Agnes Gunn provided a brief financial r
eport. Download the Chair’s written annual report here (Friends Annual Report 2012). The 28 people (including 3 children of family members) at the meeting approved the modification to the group’s constitution. The group committee were re-elected for another year. The meeting ended with a delicious buffet and an amazing cake prepared by Scott and family. Join us so you can taste the cake next year!
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Posted 4 April 2012 – Notice of AGM of Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves on 18 April 2012
18:00 – Pre-AGM guided walk of the Gardens, led by Ewen Donaldson (Gardens Manager) – meet outside the Kibble.
19:15 – AGM of Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves – the Hopkirk Building
20:00-ish – Buffet and social
Download a flyer here 
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Posted 3 February 2012
Newsletter No. 2 has been published – see our Media Gallery pages (bottom of page).
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Posted 12 January 2012 – Guided Walk
Jim Coyle reports that his guided walk around Hogganfield Park & Cardowan Moss LNRs on the 11th went very well. Normally 10-15 attend people attend RSPB Glasgow Group mid week outings, so Jim was amazed that 29 assembled at Hogganfield Park car park for the 4 hour walk. He was even more amazed when an Iceland Gull put in an appearance and was seen by all!
The main aim of the walk was to help people familiarise themselves with the various habitats to be found at Hogganfield Park (more than just the loch) and the adjoining Cardowan Moss LNR and to encourage them to make further visits. It was also hoped that a wide variety of birds would be seen and we can report that at least 34 species of bird were recorded at Hogganfield with a further 5 added from the Cardowan part of the walk.
It was good to note that the ‘Friends Crossing’ (see News item 2 December 2011) was also put to good use – see photo.
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Posted 11 January 2012 – Hogganfield Park LNR – Guided Walk
A reminder that our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, is leading a guided walk to Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs on Wednesday 11 January 2012.
Meet at the new Viewing/Feeding Platform, next to the car park, at Hogganfield Park, 1240 Cumbernauld Road, G33 1AH at 10am. These walks have been organised by the RSPB Glasgow Local Group but all Friends are welcome. Please wear appropriate warm/waterproof clothing and boots and bring a packed lunch and binoculars, if you have them.
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Posted 5 January 2012 – Dawsholm Park LNR
Much of the LNR has been devastated by the recent weather with many trees blown over and some paths blocked and/or suffering from flooding – if visiting, wellies are a must!
Remarkably, most of the nest boxes erected by the Group last year have survived the storms (9 out of 11 could be relocated, the remaining 2 could not be accessed, so may have survived). The photo below shows box no. 8 – central tree – surrounded by fallen trees!
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Posted 2 December 2011 – Hogganfield Park/Cardowan Moss LNRs Pedestrian Traffic Island
The Group is pleased to confirm that the pedestrian traffic island being installed at Avenue End Road between Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs is nearing completion – see photo.
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Posted 18 November 2011 – Hogganfield Park LNR Improvements
We are glad to report that Glasgow City Council has:
i) managed to organise the cutting, lifting and bailing of the substantial wildflower meadows within the Park. If the grass had just been cut and left this would have resulted in more nutrients entering the soil which would, put simply, have an adverse im
pact on the wildflowers. As a result we should look forward to next summer and hopefully a range of colourful wildflower meadows across the Park.
ii) erected a series of direction signs providing much needed information for park users. In particular, it is good to note that signs have been erected pointing people in the direction of the little known Cardowan Moss Local Nature Reserve (see photo and following item).
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Posted 18 November 2011 – Hogganfield Park/Cardowan Moss LNRs Pedestrian Traffic Island
As previously reported the Group has managed to put together a financial package to allow a pedestrian traffic island to be constructed on Avenue End Road. Currently walkers wishing to walk to and around both LNRs have to cross the busy Avenue End Road – see photo. There are plans to try and link Hogganfield Park LNR with other LNRs and wildlife sites in the area, through a series of paths, all the way to Drumpellier 
Country Park. Both Hogganfield and Cardowan have good path networks but the Friends Committee felt that the road was acting as a potential barrier to people wanting to walk around both reserves. After much negotiation with the Council and various grant applications, we are pleased to say that work has commenced (see photo) and, hopefully, will be completed in time for the organised walk planned for 11 January 2012 – see previous news item.
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Posted 7 November 2011 – Advance Notice of Guided Walks
Our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, is leading two guided walks to Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs. The dates are: Wednesday 11 January 2012 and Wednesday 13 June 2012. Meet at the car park at Hogganfield Park at 10am. These walks have been organised by the RSPB Glasgow Local Group but all Friends are welcome. Please wear appropriate warm/waterproof clothing and boots and bring a packed lunch. Hopefully we shall be able to use a new traffic island to walk safely between both Reserves – see News item below.
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Posted 7 November 2011 – Pedestrian Traffic Island
The Group can now report it has been successful in obtaining sufficient funds to allow the proposed pedestrian traffic island to be installed at Avenue End Road between Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs. The funding has been obtained from Forestry Commission Scotland, Glasgow City Council (GCC) North East Area Committee and GCC Land & Environmental Services.
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Posted 19 October 2011 – Dawsholm Park Pond
Our Group Vice-chair, Eilidh Spence, reports that Froglife has created a new pond at Dawsholm Park and helped naturalise the edge of the old one.
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Posted 4 September 2011 – Dawsholm Park LNR
The Group successfully erected 11 woodcrete bird nest boxes in the woodland at Dawsholm Park on Sunday 4 September 2011. We would like to thank everyone who attended, joined the Group and agreed to monitor the use of the boxes.
The ev
ent was only made possibly through us receiving a CSV Action Earth Award grant and we would like to thank, once again, CSV and Scottish Natural Heritage for their support.
Photographs of the event are available in the Media Gallery.
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Posted 4 September 2011 – Event at Dawsholm Park LNR
The Group will be erecting 11 woodcrete bird nest boxes in the woodland at Dawsholm Park on Sunday 4 September 2011. We shall also be hosting a guided walk where people can also volunteer to look out for the nest boxes and monitor which birds are using them over the years. The event will take place from 11.00-14.00hrs with the meeting point being at the Ilay Road entrance to the Park – postcode G61 1QQ. Look out for our banner and table! The guided walk will commence at 11.30am and should last no longer than 2 hours. Note that children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
The event has only been made possible thanks to a CSV Action Earth Award grant and we would like to thank CSV and Scottish Natural Heritage for being so supportive and making it all possible.
Posted 1 September 2011 – Illustrated Talk – Wildlife of Greater Glasgow
On Thursday 1 September 2011, our Group Chair, Jim Coyle, has been invited by the RSPB Glasgow Local Group to present an illustrated talk entitled ‘Wildlife of Greater Glasgow’ at the first indoor meeting of their 2011-12 season.
The meeting takes place at Adelaides, 209 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HZ. Doors open at 7pm with the talk commencing at 7.30pm. Cost £3 (£2 for members of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group) and includes a free cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit.
See www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow for more information.
Posted 11 July 2011 – Grant Application to CSGN Development Fund
The Group’s grant application to CSGN towards the costs of installing a pedestrian travel island on Avenue End Road between Hogganfield Park and Cardowan Moss LNRs was unsuccessful.
The Group are looking at alternative funding sources to match the funds already committed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Posted 21 June 2011 – Grant Application Submitted to CSV Action Earth 2011
The Group has submitted a grant application with a view to erecting 10 ‘woodcrete’ bird boxes in Dawsholm Park LNR. ‘Woodcrete’ boxes are more robust than wooden boxes and have a minimum guaranteed life of 25 years. In addition, the Group aims to hold a guided walk and encourage volunteers to make regular visits to the LNR and report on the success of the boxes.
If the grant application is successful, the event will take place in Dawsholm Park LNR on Sunday 4 September 2011 from 11am-2pm.
Posted 20 May 2011 – Grant Application Submitted to Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund
The Group has submitted a grant application with a view to installing a pedestrian travel island on Avenue End Road to make it more safe for those wishing to walk between Hogganfield Park LNR and Cardowan Moss LNR. The Project is supported by Glasgow City Council Land & Environmental Services, Forestry Commission Scotland and Score Environment.
Posted 13 April 2011 – First Annual General Meeting held to setup a Friends of Glasgow’s Local Nature Reserves
On Wednesday 13 April 2011, over 20 people attended the first annual general meeting and joined the group. A Group constitution was approved – see link above – and a management committee was elected.
Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves 