Going a bit batty!

Bats are one of our most interesting and elusive mammals in Scotland. And they’ve just started to emerge from hibernation. They are one of the only mammals to hibernate here – the dormouse and the hedgehog being the others. If you’re out walking the dog or coming home at dusk, the chances are there are bats overhead, flitting around streetlights

Looking out for Bluebells

(c) Katrina Martin/2020 Vision    ‘There is a silent eloquence In every wild bluebell’ – Anne Brontë As we begin to see the bluebell carpets rolling out, this quote certainly rings true. I want to take this time to highlight the importance of protecting these beautiful flowers. Throughout the blog, I will be referring to the ‘common bluebell’ but that

One swallow does not a summer make…..

Swallow, (c) Chris Gomershall, 2020Vision Every spring, I long for the sight of swallows returning to perch on telegraph wires and preen themselves after a mammoth journey which seems impossible for such a tiny, slight bird. Their chatter has been the constant soundtrack to my life over the years and their petrol blue and red plumage – and forked tails

New beginnings…..

At this time of year, I think it’s very appropriate to talk about new beginnings. As a DreamWorks character stated “Easter is new beginnings, new life. Easter is about hope,” and so is Spring itself. Hello, I’m Natalie, a new Trainee with Cumbernauld Living Landscape and I’m very new to conservation as my background is actually in childcare, which I

Keep it clean! Big litter pick a massive success

Volunteers gathered for a Big Spring Clean at Seafar Wood, picture (c) Laura Healy Smith In case you missed the memo, our project organised a BIG litter pick throughout Seafar Wood Wildlife Reserve on 1st April! This event was in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful as part of their Spring Clean 2023. Since 17th March, the Nature Ninjas volunteer group

Community gardens support wildlife in Cumbernauld

One of the bug hotels at Craigieburn Community Garden (c) Kate Fromings Community Garden Week runs from 3rd – 9th April so, today, we are handing our blog over to Kate Fromings from Craigieburn Community Garden for an update on what’s been happening there… In Cumbernauld, there is an issue with the lack of native plants within the town’s green

Big Spring Clean in Cumbernauld

There’s so much to look forward to at this time of the year.  As we start to see Spring awaken the plants and animals around Cumbernauld, we also find ourselves preparing for the warmer weather and longer days.  Here at Cumbernauld Living Landscape we’re no different.  We’re excited to be outside with many of you improving our greenspaces, as we

The magic of forests

As we come up to International Day of Forests, I thought it would be an idea to reflect on how our woodlands hold so much wonder and curiosity, and how they are beneficial to both people and wildlife. Take a saunter through the woods and you are immersed in a whole new world, of dappled light, earthy smells, and a

Soil is more than just dirt

March 13-19 is UK Compost week and, if you’re not already excited about the magic of making compost, hopefully by the end of this blog you will be. Healthy soils need a world full of microorganisms and organic matter. This is a world of living breathing things, cooperating and competing in search of food, allies, and safety.  When we help

Hello again, hedgehogs!

March is here and that means many things for nature but, this week, we are all about the hedgehogs, who should soon be emerging from hibernation. These prickly nocturnal characters are one of the few species of mammal to enter hibernation in the UK – alongside the dormouse and our native bats.  Hedgehogs go into hibernation around October or November