Category: Wildlife reserves

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.

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 – 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.

Natural Connections – Celebrating Local Wildlife Sites

, by Cumbernauld LL
The beautiful oak and bluebell wood of Cumbernauld Glen Wildlife Reserve In the conservation world we have specific designations for sites which are important for wildlife.  From Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation to Special Protection Areas they all have one thing in common.  They create corridors and pockets of habitats for wildlife to live freely.  Here in Cumbernauld we have many sites with designations, but one that most of you will know are the fantastic local wildlife sites or local nature reserves.

Natural Connections – Discover Broadwood Loch

, by Cumbernauld LL
Plenty of routes to explore the beautiful Broadwood Loch We are hosting a guided walk around Broadwood Loch on Saturday 27 August from 12 - 2pm as a farewell to Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s summer events programme.  Broadwood Loch is on the site of the old Drum Mains farm and is now managed by North Lanarkshire Council. I can vividly remember chasing butterflies through fields of wheat when I first came to Cumbernauld in the late 1970’s.  I can also remember trying very hard to jump the wee streams but usually ending up in them and returning home filthy and wet head to toe. It turns out that peat stains your clothing very well!

Wildlife Watch pop-up events 2016

, by Cumbernauld LL
Getting to grips with nature As we get closer to the start date for the new Wildlife Watch Group in Cumbernauld we thought it would be a great idea to host a few Pop-Up events showcasing the kinds of activities that will be taking place during the Wildlife Watch Group itself. The wonderful staff at Palacerigg Country Park, where the Wildlife Watch group will be held, allowed us to set up four activity sessions in the Eriskay Longhouse. The wonderful volunteers here at Cumbernauld Living Landscape led the sessions which took place on the 28th of July and the 3rd, 9th and 11th of August in the run up to the schools starting again. 

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.

Categories

Tags

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