Category: Species and habitats

Natural Connections – Lots of bugs and beasties

, by Cumbernauld LL
I’m always amazed by the fascinating range of people I meet in Cumbernauld. Last week, during the Living Landscape team’s first Wildlife Watch taster session, we had a great group join us and take part in a range of fun activities, from pooter and mask making to identifying lots of bugs and beasties. What a surprise it was to meet one resident who happens to be an entomologist (someone who specialises in the study of insects). It made me appreciate what a rich community we live in and how nature can unite so many people from different walks of life.

Natural Connections – Meeting newborn deer

, by Cumbernauld LL
With a week of relative heat and sunshine, it finally feels like summer has arrived! When you’re out and about enjoying the sunshine, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for wildlife. Last week, whilst out walking my dogs, I caught site of a roe deer in the woodland close to St Maurice’s Pond. On closer inspection I saw that the deer wasn’t alone; twin fawns reminiscent of Bambi were alongside the doe. These tiny deer were probably only a day or two old and the fact that there were twins suggests that last year must have been a bountiful year, with plenty of food around for the mother to eat.

Why St Maurice's pond is a special place!

, by Cumbernauld LL
My family moved to Cumbernauld in 1979 and for as long as I can remember St Maurice’s pond has always had a special place in my heart.  Growing up in such a green town was an incredible experience for a child from the East end of Glasgow. Imagine the wonder at finding burns, woods and ponds full of wildlife, being able to explore for miles in open grasslands, jump streams and occasionally fall in! I have, and always will be a regular visitor to St Maurice’s Pond, it is my haven.  Before the digital age of cameras I would gleefully take picture after picture on film, sadly only a few snaps remain but they spark very fond memories.  I continue to snap away on my digital camera now and no longer have that agonising wait until the film is developed; as a result I have hundreds if not thousands of shots from this beautiful oasis of calm.

Reflections of a Natural Communities Trainee

, by Cumbernauld LL
I want to share my last blog with you as a Natural Community Trainee. As a resident of Cumbernauld I have seen areas become overgrown and been angry that I saw nothing being done to tidy the place up, or make it feel safer… I didn’t have the skills and to be honest I wasn’t looking under the surface, it was too easy to blame others.  The economy at present is pretty bleak with huge cuts to Local Authority spending.  The area that has less impact on us and appears to be the easiest to take the hit is the environment.  As the Community Engagement Officer for the Cumbernauld Living Landscape I have seen first-hand, the difficulties of trying to maintain one of the largest landscaped towns in Europe.  But I have also seen the look of satisfaction on a volunteers face during an event or even when clearing a woodland of rubbish.  If we, as a community don’t improve our surroundings, why should we expect others to do it for us? 

Natural Connections II – Habitat Workshops

, by Cumbernauld LL
You may remember in my last blog I was telling you about the Pine marten workshops, when we first piloted this out in Condorrat Primary School in June 2014 we realised that we were missing the point of reconnecting habitats for the benefit of wildlife and that we weren’t getting that vital message out to the community.  The solution was a second workshop which linked the wildlife to the urban environment and looked at reconnecting green areas such as woodlands and parks to create a mosaic of varied habitats.

Otters caught on camera II

, by Cumbernauld LL
  The North Lanarkshire Council, Countryside Rangers Service have been monitoring a current otter holt within North Lanarkshire with the aid of a fantastic high tec camera. As a partner of the Cumbernauld Living Landscape they have graciously shared their images with us, as a tantalising teaser of what we could achieve as Rangers have build another holt here in Cumbernauld!

500 children get up close to Cumbernauld’s wildlife

, by Tracy Lambert
I can’t believe that I have been on placement for a year with the Cumbernauld Living Landscape, what a busy time it has been. Over 500 children have now taken part in my pine marten workshop! The past five months have been spent developing and delivering pine marten and habitat workshops to spread the news of the town’s wildlife and ask young people what changes they would make to improve it. So far we have delivered the workshops to 5 primary schools and 7 local groups. Next year looks to be just a productive with 8 bookings already. So what’s all the fuss about?

Woodland cascades project creates better homes for wildlife and people

, by Cumbernauld LL
Work has started to improve the biodiversity of Northside Woods (known locally as Seafar Woods). This will create wildlife rich cascade woodland edges making space for native species and homes for wildlife. The Scottish Wildlife Trust's urban wildlife reserve borders many local residents’ houses, making the woodland a healthy place will benefit local wildlife and people.

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