Category: Tips and advice

Natural Connections – The dangers of garden escapes

, by Cumbernauld LL
New Zealand flat worm - Invasive non-native species The Cumbernauld Living Landscape team have been hard at work recently working with volunteers to make improvements to Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve.  Part of this job has involved digging up some of the garden escape plants that have found their way onto the site and replacing them with native wildflowers. We had hoped that some of the plants we removed could have been donated to volunteers and local charities, however while we were digging we made a very unpleasant discovery - New Zealand Flatworms.

Natural Connections – Wildlife Watch fun

, by Cumbernauld LL
Wildlife Watch leader Sharon helping the kids with identification Not long now until the kids are back at school and while some of you may think yeah! Other may still be looking for activities for them to do in these last few weeks.  Look no more, the Cumbernauld Living Landscape intern has teamed up with two potential new Wildlife Watch leaders for the area and they are delivering pop up Watch days for the kids.

Looking for funding?

, by Cumbernauld LL
Looking for funding towards environmental improvements in your local area? Greggs are distributing the money raised through the carrier bag tax to small groups and school who wish to improve their local environment. You can find out more here -  https://www.greggsfoundation.org.uk/large-environmental-grants Grants range from £2500 to £10,000 and all projects must benefit the environment.

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 – Looking for inspiration

, by Cumbernauld LL
I’ve been hit by a touch of writer’s block these last few weeks and I couldn’t work out why!  While out working on our Natural Connections project, I had a conversation with Justyna Pabisz our intern volunteer for the Cumbernauld Living Landscape, and she said “How do you think you are going to get inspiration sitting at your desk all the time, you haven’t been out of the office lately” You know what, she is right.  So I made a concerted effort to get out a wee half hour before I started work to go to a site and just enjoy it.

Managing Bulgaria's natural assets against economic pressure: what can we learn?

, by Cumbernauld LL
I was recently given the opportunity to be part of an Erasmus+ programme to Bulgaria, to gain insight into how their natural assets are being managed in the face of economic pressure.  With our wonderful guide Velis, we were able to enjoy a jam-packed programme, meeting many local experts to discuss the compromises between economic growth and protecting nature.   The competing interests of nature conservation and tourism development within an economic recession echoes the challenges facing Scotland, so the exchange provided a mirror to reflect upon our practice back at home.

How To Make A Pooter

, by Cumbernauld LL
This summer, get out into your garden or local greenspace and get your Sherlock Holmes inspired natural investigation on!  We’ve got a “how to” make pooters here – a great little tool you can make from a recycled materials in no time at all.  Use it to suck up minibeasts for an up close and personal inspection!

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