Author: Cumbernauld LL

Natural Connections – Learning from others

, by Cumbernauld LL
Lochinver preschooler's identifying their next scavenger hunt item Last week, we had a visit to our sister programme Coigach and Assynth Living Landscape based in Lochinver, Sutherland.  The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape project covers a vast area of mainly small townships and crofts with a population of 1200, a huge comparison to the Cumbernauld Living Landscape which covers a much smaller area but a larger population of 55,000 plus. 

Natural Connections – To sleep or not to sleep…

, by Cumbernauld LL
© Amy Lewis Unless you have been away on holiday or snuggled up in your home for quite a while you will have noticed the drop in temperature in the last month.  This dip in temperature change triggers survival mechanisms for some of our wildlife in Cumbernauld such as hedgehogs, badgers, squirrels, pine martens, bats and other small rodents.  There are a few mechanisms but for now we talk about two, torpor and hibernation which are vital for these animals to survive the winter.

Natural Connections – Natural Capital in Cumbernauld

, by Cumbernauld LL
Heather pollination I attended The Wildlife Trust’s Conservation in the 21st Century event last week in Edinburgh to discover how we can implement ‘natural capital’ approaches in Scotland.  What is it, I hear you say? Well…natural capital values our environment by looking at the services we derive from nature. A great example of this is pollination from wild bees, butterflies and hoverflies. They estimate this ‘free’ service is worth a whopping £43million to the Scottish economy.  It is becoming increasingly necessary to assign a value to a natural asset in order to protect it for all of us and to show businesses the need for them to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable for their long term survival too.

Green route design event – register now!

, by Cumbernauld LL
Cumbernauld Green Routes feasibility project is looking to transform the centre of Cumbernauld and its links to surrounding communities by creating green routes which are accessible, safe and enjoyable. Register now for the design event to help shape the solutions to reconnect Cumbernauld's green network.

Natural Connections – A connection with nature

, by Cumbernauld LL
We had a cook out last week for the last Natural Connections workshop for the term with the students of St Maurice’s High School.  The lads instantly took up the primal challenge of cooking outdoors (man vs fire – safely and responsibly!) to supply the other students with amazing bacon butties.  We were surrounded by a sea of smiles as the students, in the pouring rain with a cup of tea in one hand and butties in the other got stuck in. 

The future of sustainability – Abronhill Primary School pupils win top award

, by Cumbernauld LL
Abronhill Primary School and Nursery Class have been commended for their environmental action by winning a national award. The schools nature garden and tree planting programme have helped improve Cumbernauld’s environment. Children have been busy working to enhance their playground, as well as a nearby Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. Pupils spent hours weeding and planting bulbs and new trees.

Natural Connections – Thanks to backroom team

, by Cumbernauld LL
Cumbernauld's finest with #VampireSquirrel - Looks like Sandy may have bitten more than he could chew! The beautiful Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Cumbernauld Glen, was the showcase for our first ever Halloween night nearly three weeks ago now. Seeing how much effort it took to plan, organise and deliver got me thinking about all the work in the background that also helped it become such a success.  Little is thought about the background works, they fade into comparison of the fun had but without them, quite simply, the event would not have been able to take place.

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Engaging comunities, Public opinion, Wildlife Watch Group, Weekend Volunteering, Yew, Chirstmas, Comments, Disqus, Make it count, Plastics, Frost, Beautiful, Green Routes, SUSTRANS, CSGNt, Memories, Play, National Toast Day, Tracks, International Year of the Forest, Wildlife gardening, Forestwood, Flowers, Cowslips, Black birds, Swift, Witch, Wizard, Magic, Inspiring