Category: Appeals and campaigns

Natural Connections – Help wildlife through a cold snap

, by Cumbernauld LL
Bee-utiful bumblebee © Katrina Martin Who else got a bit of a shock when Storm Doris rolled into town? Like many others I was caught in the traffic as the snow and ice brought the road network to a standstill.  It was great to see the spirit of Cumbernauld in action though as people helped out stuck motorists with a push or a shovel. Cold snaps like this can be a death sentence for wildlife.  A few days before Doris we were getting reports of bumblebee queens out looking for nesting sites. Read on to find out more about our bumblebees.....

Natural Connections – Motorbikes drowning out the birdsong in Forest Wood

, by Cumbernauld LL
Damage sustained from high velocity vehicles limits our ability to carry out conservation work I love a walk in the woods at this time of year so at the weekend I headed out to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Forest Wood reserve to see if I could spot the beautiful carved wooden pine martens the Trust has hidden among the trees.  The cold, still air carried sound wonderfully and my ears were tuned to the sounds of the birds singing, heralding the oncoming spring. Unfortunately however it wasn’t long before the sounds of the birds were drowned out by the sound of motorbikes.

Natural Connections – Transforming your views into actions

, by Cumbernauld LL
Concept plan of Ravenswood LNR improvements Cumbernauld Living Landscape is currently conducting a community consultation regarding improvements to the entrance to North Lanarkshire Council’s beautiful, Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve. These improvements include a small outdoor classroom to encourage local primary and secondary schools usage and stewardship of the site. Redesigning the butterfly garden to provide a haven for pollinators and creating a space that local residents can enjoy.

Natural Connections – Get involved in Beautiful Cumbernauld

, by Cumbernauld LL
Enjoying the wonder of a wildflower meadow Louise and I were delighted to represent Cumbernauld at the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards held in Aberdeen last week. This is an annual award for towns and communities to recognise the work that groups and volunteers do to improve their spaces and they are an inspiring bunch.  Thanks and well done to everyone who helped with this year’s entry. Cumbernauld won silver for the third year but after getting some tips and trade secrets from the judges I know that with a bit more work and more people involved we can win gold next year.

Natural Connections – Wild ways to Wellbeing

, by Cumbernauld LL
Once upon a time having a mental health problem was a taboo subject, something not mentioned in polite conversation, an issue that many sufferers tried to keep a secret even from their loved ones.  The times, however, are changing. The success of programmes such as the Scottish Government’s “See Me” campaign to end mental health stigma means that mental health issues should no longer be hidden away. Government statistics show that 1 in 4 people will suffer a mental health ‘event’ at some point in their lives.  For many people this will be a fleeting event but for others it will have a profound effect on their lives. 

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