The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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SNH Area News Strathclyde and Ayrshire Correspondents: Sarah Watts, Nancy Fraser, Catriona Scriven Sweet dreams What have making honey and a new long distance path got in common? Well, they’re just two of the 31 projects that have received a grant from the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund. Over £1 million has been awarded to projects in central Scotland this year. SNH and Forestry Commission Scotland manage the fund and support projects that will improve the local environment. Planning has already started on the John Muir Trail, a new long distance path that will run from Dunbar to Balloch. It will mean you can walk or cycle from one side of central Scotland to the other. Meanwhile, the Kelvin Valley Honey Project will help local groups to set up bee hives. This new venture will not only sell honey but also help farmers and gardeners by increasing bee numbers. And a new project in Glasgow is going to make the most of vacant spaces. Some will have new paths put in so people can enjoy them, while others will be used for food growing. These are just temporary solutions, but will mean that even for a short while people will have the chance to make the most of these places. Lunchtime walkabouts A big push to encourage more working folk in and around Glasgow to get outside at lunchtime was launched in the summer. SNH staff handed out leaflets in the city centre, urging people to make use of the green places close to where they work. The leaflets give people ideas on where to go and what to do for a bit of time out with nature during their lunch break. 53,000 copies of the ‘Simple pleasures, easily found in Glasgow’ leaflet were also delivered to city households. It highlights four trails across the city that are easy to get to: Glasgow Green, the Forth & Clyde Canal Walkway, the White Cart Water and the River Kelvin Walkway. For those who want to go a bit farther afield, ‘Get out and about in Glasgow’ gives details of over 60 places to enjoy nature in and around the city, from Greenock in the west to Lanark and Cumbernauld in the east. And a new leaflet detailing places to visit in the East End of Glasgow will shortly be available. If you’d like a copy of any of the leaflets, contact SNH publications on 01738 458 530 or at pubs@snh. gov.uk. You can also download them at www.snh.gov.uk/simplepleasures Ypeople garden For a number years, we’ve supported a community garden programme on the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden programme. Each year, keen communities identify an area that could benefit from a makeover to improve the site for local people and wildlife. The site has to be peat free, organic, sustainable and wildlife-friendly, and there’s always a high number of entries. This year we selected a site in Glasgow for Ypeople. This is a supported accommodation residence for young people made up of asylum seekers and individuals who have been made homeless. Most of the residents of Branston Court in Maryhill are from backgrounds where it’s been difficult for them to be engaged with gardening or the environment. So this project presented an opportunity for them to be ‘hands on’ in setting up and maintaining the site. The design aimed to create an area that would allow residents to meet and sit out, a barbecue area for socialising, flower beds, raised beds for growing vegetables and a sensory garden. The aim is to improve the site so the residents can use the vegetables in cooking, as a way of developing healthier eating. The project will be maintained by the residents with supervision from the staff. 44 The Nature of Scotland
The prime online source for information on protected nature areas in Scotland has had a makeover New look for old favourite ‘SiteLink’ provides a range of information on sites designated for their natural heritage importance across Scotland. As part of the ongoing redevelopment of the SNH website, we’ve given the application a makeover. As well as a fresh new look, the application has an improved layout and faster response for data return. For anyone who’s not yet familiar with SiteLink, it’s one of the much-used interactive applications in our ‘SNHi – Information Service’. Since its launch in 2005, SiteLink has become widely used by planners, farmers, consultants, students and other members of the public. SiteLink is very easy to use, providing the option to search for areas using a text or map search. The interactive map can be used to zoom in or pan around to view chosen areas. Alternatively, a search can be made using a place name, postcode or grid reference. Land managers or farmers can also search for information using their unique farm code or field identification numbers. SiteLink provides access to a wide range of data, including site features, management agreements and site condition monitoring details. You can view boundary maps and download site related documents, including site management statements, operations requiring consent and conservation objectives. So, if you haven’t already visited SiteLink, why not have a look today. You can find this and other useful applications at www.snh.gov.uk/snhi or look for the 'SNHi – Information Service' in the ‘Quicklinks’ on our home page. Sitelink allows you to view data and information on designated sites. www.snh.gov.uk 45
Page 1: Scottish Natural Heritage Autumn 20
Page 4 and 5: Credits The Nature of Scotland The
Page 6 and 7: Autumn 4 The Nature of Scotland
Page 8 and 9: 2 The art of love In autumn, it's n
Page 10 and 11: 1 The power of natural play 8 The N
Page 12 and 13: value of smaller scale, loose, natu
Page 14 and 15: 7 8 If you go down to the woods Nat
Page 16 and 17: People of all backgrounds and circu
Page 18 and 19: Personal stories On the edge of Dun
Page 20 and 21: NEWS Dolly scientist working on clo
Page 22 and 23: NEWS Greater protection for shark,
Page 24 and 25: NEWS Extra rangers help capercailli
Page 26 and 27: Inspired by nature 1 As usual, we r
Page 28 and 29: In our third article to mark the 20
Page 30 and 31: 3 Floating homes Office workers wel
Page 32 and 33: Dualchas coitcheann Common heritage
Page 34 and 35: Supporting sporting interests 32 Th
Page 36 and 37: 2 Bad press Promoting country sport
Page 38 and 39: Reserve focus Visit the Clyde Valle
Page 40 and 41: 24 2 1 Cartland Bridge Start from t
Page 42 and 43: 7 7 There are good numbers of badge
Page 44 and 45: SNH Area News Northern Isles and No
Page 48 and 49: Events diary 2011 October Friday 7
Page 50 and 51: Hare’s-tail cotton grass, Uath Lo
Page 52 and 53: Bruce Percy 1 Coming from an arts b
Page 54 and 55: Lorne Gill Lorne is the full-time p
Page 56: Sandra Bartocha Sandra is a German
Page 59 and 60: 1 interested to learn about some of
Page 61 and 62: 1 Red kites are good for business.
Page 63 and 64: “The project to reintroduce red k
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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13

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The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13