aug-09 - Lochwinnoch Online

Got any old photographs
of Semple Estate Lochwinnoch
International Volunteers
come to Clyde Muirshiel
Regional Park
As part of Homecoming Scotland, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is going to be
mounting an exhibition of photographs and maps of Castle Semple Estate
through the ages.
Twelve young international volunteers
and two leaders from Xchange Scotland
will be joining the staff at Clyde Muirshiel
Regional Park for a two-week programme
of volunteer work and cultural exchange
from Saturday 1st of August 2009.
Xchange Scotland is a newly founded
voluntary organisation that offers a
diverse and dynamic range of projects,
opening the opportunities of international
volunteering and exchanges to
as many people as possible and as
they say on their website “Sharing
cultures and working together with
other young people from around the
world is one of the most exciting and
enriching experiences.”
The volunteers will be assisting staff
with the Maze Restoration Project, as
well as learning some drystone dyking
skills in Parkhill Wood. The volunteers
will also receive some evening
tuition on canoeing as well as spending
some time with Castle Semple
Sailing Club and Lochwinnoch Rowing
Club.
Some work will also be undertaken on
the sea wall at Lunderston Bay, helping
to avoid erosion of the shore path
over the winter from storms. A few
of the volunteers may also be assisting
the staff at the Knights and Princesses
event on the 9 th August at Castle
Semple.
It will not be all work and no play,
however, as there is an itinerary of
sight-seeing and some days off for
them to explore Scotland themselves.
In their final week the volunteers will
attend a reception at Castle Semple
Centre with staff and local councillors
and Park Authority representatives, to
thank them for their efforts and this
will be followed by a ceilidh to finish
off their stay. We hope that they shall
feel welcome here in Scotland and
enjoy their stay.
If anyone has photographs/maps of the estate in the past and especially of the
people who worked the estate and they are willing to let these be displayed, then
please bring them down to Castle Semple Centre, as soon as possible. They
don’t need to be very old, as we need photographs from throughout the ages,
even through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and up to present day, which show the
changes in and around Lochwinnoch.
We don’t need to keep the originals for very long, as we will scan them and
return the originals. These images will then be displayed in an exhibition at
Castle Semple Centre starting the weekend of Renfrewshire Doors Open Day
(12 th & 13 th September). All photographs displayed will have an acknowledgement
of ownership.
For further information please contact Pat Emslie on 01505 842882 ext 22.
Woodland Wander around
Muirshiel Country Park
Ever wanted to know a little bit
more about the places on your doorstep
Want some FREE expert
help on discovering what is there
Join the Clyde Muirshiel Regional
Park Ranger Service at Muirshiel
Visitor Centre, Lochwinnoch, on
Saturday 22 nd August 2009 from
1.30p.m. to discover and learn about
the woodlands to be found there.
The woods are slowly changing
from being blanket conifer forestry
plantations with very little wildlife
to welcoming deciduous woodlands
full of life of all kinds. Find out why
this is happening, and what sort of
wildlife has moved into the areas
which are being re-planted with native
species of trees. If you would
like to learn more and find out what
you can do to help, please call Muirshiel
Visitor Centre on 01505 842
803 to book your places. Families
welcome, though the route will not
be suitable for buggies.
Wildlife Wonders at
Muirshiel Country Park
This summer, the Ranger Service at
Muirshiel arranged a programme of
fun-filled wildlife experiences to capture
the imagination and to get families
out exploring the natural world
around them during the summer holidays.
Sessions in July included Watery
Worlds where the families got to
explore the wildlife of one of the
ponds at Muirshiel. The August session
on 4 th August was about Natural
Artworks - bringing out the creative
side and producing an artwork to be
left out in the country park (the 2008
artworks are still visible!).
The final session on Tuesday 11 th
August, is from 1pm to 3pm and is
entitled Bird-brained. Families will
learn about some of the birds of the
area and how to construct nestboxes to
be put out around the park to provide
extra homes until all the newly planted
trees grow large enough.
To book places, call into Muirshiel
Visitor Centre or phone 01505 842
803. Children must be accompanied
by at least one adult.