Category: Education and community

Natural Connections – Good health goes green

, by Cumbernauld LL
Volunteer Intern Louise Smith wearing the Fitbit A few weeks ago we realised an article on the benefits of volunteering and how we were turning desk jockeys into Nature Ninja’s, it was picked up by a popular Sunday newspaper and you may have seen our brilliant intern Louise, modelling the Fitbit as she carried out conservation tasks.  Each time we have a volunteer day one of our volunteers wares this hi-tech band on their wrist to count the distance and steps travelled during a four hour period.  I also wear one every day and every six months we look at the differences between the two.  

Natural Connections – Watching out for winter

, by Cumbernauld LL
This Sunday 20th November 12 noon – 2pm the Cumbernauld Wildlife Watch club for children aged 7-12 years, who love the outdoors and nature, will be creating Christmas crafts to raise funds for the group to help them with equipment.  These crafts will be on display and available to pick up for a  donation, on Saturday the 10th of December from 12 noon - 4pm at the Palacerigg Country Parks annual Winterfest Event.  This is a fun event for families with Santa, craft stalls and other activities.

Natural Connections – Nature in Minature

, by Cumbernauld LL
Re-enacting that dinosaur film... what was it's name again????? It’s often difficult for people to realise that connecting with nature is of benefit to them, which can cause us to be a bit creative in the office to come up with ideas to show the benefits of the outdoors while having fun too. That is why we held a Lego photography event in the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s beautiful Cumbernauld Glen wildlife reserve last week.   Sadly for us the first day was a bit of a washout with horizontal rain, so with the high likelihood of damage to cameras and phones we decided to postpone the event until the Wednesday for a chance of better weather. Unknown to us though some brave soul was out (during the only dry part of the day) and they captured some amazing shots.

Natural Connections – Hallowe'en at Cumbernauld

, by Cumbernauld LL
Last year's scary crew It is coming up to that time of year again when the spirits of the Otherworld can walk on our side for one night only.  Where our children dress up as ghosts and witches to confuse and befuddle these spirits.  Cumbernauld Living Landscape is holding a Hallowe’en night at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Cumbernauld Glen reserve to help local families practice their zombie shuffles and ghostly groans.  On Saturday the 29th of October from 5pm - 7:30pm there will be a self-led walk around the Glen with activities around the route.

Natural Connections – The wonder of learning

, by Cumbernauld LL
Identifying scat through smell Children's incredible aptitude for learning when the subject excites them and is different from the norm never ceases to amaze me. Last week Cumbernauld Living Landscape delivered four workshops about the wildlife you can find in Cumbernauld to P5-7 pupils at Woodlands Primary School. We covered badgers, otters, deer, foxes, hedgehogs and of course the elusive but beautiful pine marten, as well as more well-known species like herons, robins and butterflies. You could feel the excitement in the class with all the children very vocal and animated. We all left the school with a lighter step and wee buzz in our hearts, not to mention ringing ears!

Cumbernauld Living Landscape transforms desk jockeys into Nature Ninjas

, by Cumbernauld LL
Natura Ninja - Louise Smith with Fitbit tracker Nature Ninjas taking part in conservation work in Cumbernauld burn nearly double the number of active calories compared to a day spent at an office desk. The Cumbernauld Living Landscape Nature Ninjas volunteer on the first Sunday of every month to help improve three green spaces in Cumbernauld, St Maurice’s Pond, Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve and Cumbernauld Glen Wildlife Reserve. These volunteers are wearing activity trackers on their wrists to record the amount of steps taken and calories used during work on nature reserves and at public events. Data from the devices revealed that they burn around 1,500 calories and walk an average distance of ten kilometres (six miles) during conservation work, roughly double the amount of active calories used in a normal day at the office. 

Natural Connections – A path to kingfishers

, by Cumbernauld LL
Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis I saw my first kingfisher last week! Paul and I were on a Path Grading course at Oatridge College run by Paths for All.  While we were learning how to measure and describe paths our instructor stopped dead in his tracks and whispered that there was a kingfisher on the wee bridge to our left. I could hardly contain my excitement. I felt like a teenager again desperate to see this amazing bird, that I had heard looked like a blue jewel shimmering in the sun.

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 – Small coppers seen in Cumbernauld

, by Cumbernauld LL
Small coppers? - Police Scotland Youth Volunteers and local volunteers  Normally when we are talking about small coppers we mean butterflies, this time we mean business. During the summer our regular volunteers fall away due to family commitments, holidays and a chance to get out and enjoy the brief glimpses of sunshine we get here in Scotland.  However, this summer we have had a boost in numbers thanks to the lads and lassies of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers. These volunteers are local teenagers who are taking part in a two year programme with Police Scotland to build up work experience, boost their confidence and become responsible members of our community.

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