North Lanarkshire

Cumbernauld

NATUREWATCH!

New for our members: NATUREWATCH!

Want to know more about the countryside?

Bats? Mammals? Butterflies? Birds? Flowers? Trees? Insects? Water creatures?

Then join our new NATUREWATCH group in Cumbernauld district!

SWT Clyde Members Centre invites members and friends to join  with us in fellowship and fun in a new venture designed to develop skills in identifying, recording and learning about the wildlife species in and around your area.

We aim to provide teaching sessions and site visits together with the equipment necessary for you to become more confident and comfortable in the countryside.

This is a group for wildlife enthusiasts who have no special expertise in the field but who would love to learn. To register your interest and for more information please contact Patricia Stewart on 0141 775 3850 or email chair@clydeswt.org

GREAT NEWS FROM DULLATUR MARSH

Thanks to our website and newsletter articles we now have our Birds, Bugs and Botany people to help with recording the many wonderful species on the Marsh. Did you know that this reserve is what is known as a Site of Special Scientific Importance (or SSSI) ? This is because of some rare plants contained in it.  Only a few of our reserves have such a high status !

Last year, on a walk with members, we saw and heard Reed Buntings and  Warblers, Grasshopper Warblers, Willow and Sedge Warblers, Dunnocks, Wrens, Skylarks and Whitethroats. Kingcups, Cuckooflowers, Speedwells and Bluebells were out, and we also saw Orange Tips, Green Veined Whites and a Large Red Banded Damselfly, and that was without trying hard !This year we ought to be able to record many more, especially the rare plants and beasties. We will keep you updated on these and other information and events.

A word of warning,  if anyone wants to go for a walk across the Marsh, we must warn you that it IS a marsh and as the weather since October has been extremely wet, followed by the frost , the ground is often very boggy indeed. Wellies are a MUST. The reserve is definitely not the best place to take the family for a walk. However, if you are a keen naturalist then this is the place for you ! Let us know what you find.

In the meantime, our contacts are:

Paul Carter,     Birds (Convenor)     telephone 01236 822437

Norman Still   Bugs  (Vice convenor)   email norman@glenclova47.freeserve.co.uk

Alex Deacon   Botany  (Vice convenor)  email Id009b9374@blueyonder.co.uk

The second is Marsh Marigolds or Kingcups which graced the Marsh.

If you can help, or are interested in finding out more, please call me, Paul Carter on 01236 822437 or write to “Woodlin”, High Banton, Klsyth G69 ORA

TREE RECOGNITION WALK Sunday 7th March, 2010

Thirty-one tree enthusiasts, led by Andy Gallagher of |Scottish Forestry Commission , spent a great morning learning to identify trees by their silhouettes and twigs in Nethercroy Woods.  Andy gave us all identification sheets to work from and then let us loose in one of the groves.. We roamed all over the place, discussing, disagreeing, discovering., taking pictures, laughing, and trying to avoid the clumps of Snowdrops .We discovered one ancient Elm that had a peculiar flattening  on one side and were told that the trunk must have been split at one point , giving it a flat side. Either that or bark could have been rubbed off by deer while it was still a sapling. Fascinating stuff!

We learned not always to look at the shape of an ancient the tree, as it will be knarled and look a bit like an oak. Andy told us to look then at the lower branches and twigs.

A dead badger was found by some of the kids on the walk with us. We didn’t know what had happened to it but it was close to two of the local setts so perhaps it was an old one. The canal was still frozen in parts and we saw  otter and fox tracks going across the water.. The trees were just beginning to show  the faintest tinge of green on them but two Hazel trees (picture)at side of the road  were displaying beautiful green catkins There were gorgeous views over the canal and the “Coochies” from the road coming down from the woods.

Our thanks to Andy for a really great morning.