269 February 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

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46 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 07731 923970 e: info@advertizer.co.uk BoW Horticultural Society Trish Telfer’s January presentation took place on the coldest night of the winter, so far. She took us around several Scottish Gardens. The first were Geilston and Greenbank - both NTS gardens near Glasgow. Geilston, outside Cardross, has a sheltered, spring woodland area filled with mature Rhododendrons, Bluebells, Azaleas and Irises. Greenbank, on the South Side, has a large walled garden divided into 12 tree-lined “rooms”. The July Garden was full of colourful herbaceous plants, Campanulas, Hemerocallis, Montbretia and Sidalcia and the greenhouse exhibited Begonias, Streptocarpus and an unusual Brazilian Plume Flower. Moving to Galloway, we visited Glenwhan; a 12 acre garden hewn and tilled out of marshy, rocky ground into lochans surrounded by trees and shrubs. In April the Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Magnolias were in full bloom. Here, a dark turquoise peacock emerged to give us (and the dog) the once over. Trish then took us to Logan Botanic Gardens in autumn; a garden renowned for its Southern Hemisphere plants. In addition to Eucalyptus, Palm and Tree Ferns we saw many colourful sun-loving plants; some of which we put into our hanging baskets. Homeward bound, Trish stopped off at the new Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden at Dumfries House. Here, late summer herbaceous - Phlox, Helenium, Kniphofia and Agapanthus - were in flower. This and the new arboretum are a must for gardeners. For comparison Trish showed ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots of her own new garden; an empty expanse of gravel a n d lacklustre Pieris, transformed by a framework of trellis, patios and raised borders. There will be more Arctic conditions for us this month when Sue and Adrian Whitaker take us on an Arctic Odyssey on Thursday 9th February at 8pm at The Legion. As ever, all welcome! Kilbarchan & District Beekeepers January and February are the least ‘hands-on’ for time in the hive and for the beekeeper and most time is spent on planning for the year ahead, cleaning, maintaining and replenishing equipment. The honeybee does not hibernate, the colony is reduced to minimal numbers that are able to keep the small cluster of bees warm enough to survive the low temperatures, with the Queen kept at the centre of the cluster at all times. Weather permitting they will still venture out of the hive for water and to do other essential ‘business’, called cleansing flights. Snow does not cause issues for the Honeybee colony, as long as the entrance is not blocked, and it can actually help insulate the hive. It can be an anxious time for the beekeeper, waiting to see if the colony has survived the dark cold winter months and resisting the temptation to take a peek, as this can lower the hives sorely maintained temperature, to a dangerous level. There are ways of checking that the colony is active and has access to stores or food provided by the beekeeper, such as hefting the hives to check the weight or by quickly looking under the roof to see if the fondant most beekeepers use, is accessible and that there is enough left. Pictures above show a couple of members receiving Scottish Beekeeping Association certificates. The first picture is of Susie Kennedy who passed her Basic Beemaster practical exam with Distinction. Also pictured, Helena Jackson who passed a practical and written Microscopy exam last year. Interested? If you are interested in beekeeping for yourself or the whole family, anyone is welcome. Contact Helena Jackson, the Kilbarchan and District Beekeepers Association Secretary via e-mail Helena.Jackson72@sky.com if you would like to know more! KBA hold evening meetings during Autumn & Winter months in The Steeple Halls, Kilbarchan between 7.30pm – 10pm. You can come along and find out more about Honeybee husbandry and related topics, drop in to find out more at one of the remaining winter season meetings below. Evening Programme 14th February - Honey Show - Judge Enid Brown 14th March - Swarm Control & Queen Rearing - Ian Craig
@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk february 2017 47 47 Welcome to Scotland’s largest Regional Park Tag-n-Track Wildlife Technology Arrives at CMRP A New Wildlife Project It’s a New Year and it’s time to introduce you all to the exciting new project starting in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. Tag-n-Track (TnT) is using the latest technology to track birds locally and globally. This project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Greater Renfrewshire LEADER and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and started on 9th January. It will run for the next two years. One of the species we will be tagging and tracking is the lesser black-backed gull (below). They are a much maligned species, most people viewing them as chip-stealing pests. However, are you aware that some of these UK amber listed birds (due to fewer individuals over a limited range) actually migrate to Europe and Africa in the winter time and then back to the UK in the summer. The project will also be tagging juvenile barn owls (above) to investigate their dispersal after they leave the nest. The data collected will be used to gain a better understanding of how the birds use the Regional Park. It will also allow us to develop and deliver an extensive school project across the Park encompassing the three council areas. We will be offering numerous events, workshops and talks to various groups and other interested parties. We will start deploying tags this summer and there will be plenty of opportunities for people to get involved in volunteering with the project. Event News One of the first events for T-n-T will take place at Muirshiel Country Park on Sunday the 19th February. We will be running a Bird Ringing Demonstration from 10.30am to 3pm so feel free to pop up at any time to discover why we ring birds and find out more about the project. More Info… Details can be found on the Park’s website www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/tagn-track or by emailing TnT@clydemuirshiel.co.uk. Talks to groups can be arranged if you are interested in finding out more about the project and its findings as the project progresses. Lochwinnoch Arts Festival: We are hosting 2 events at Castle Semple for the festival, both run by local historians celebrating village culture. The first event is poetry themed and on 5th February see – www. lochwinnochartsfestival.co.uk. Volunteer for the local environment: Give back to your Park in 2017 and get fit in a laid back social atmosphere by joining the Park’s volunteer groups. Castle Semple’s group meets every week on Thursdays 12.30pm – 3.30pm. Greenock Cut is weekly on a Saturday 10.30am - 2.30pm. Programme of tasks online. Resolve not to fail: Well done to you if you’re still keeping up any healthy lifestyle changes from New Year resolutions. If you’re not then it’s not too late to pick it up again - you only fall off the wagon if you don’t get back on. Use our trails and tracks to walk, run or cycle and just get outside more! Stargazing Returns for 2017: These popular evenings are back at Renfrewshire’s darkest sky location – Muirshiel Country Park. Next date is Monday 6th February, 7pm-9pm - book now by calling 01505 842882. Special deal £2.50 for a hot drink & cake! Weave Willow for your Valentine! Always get your other half stereotypical valentines flowers/chocolates/perfumes?! Our Rangers will help you weave a heart wreath or make something to take home with you. It means more to spend your time together. Event at Greenock Cut Visitor Centre on Feb 14th, 1-3pm, book your place now, £5 per person. Easter & Summer Courses Online now: Planning ahead? We’ve just taken our first bookings for Spring and Summer courses through our new online booking system. Check the dates and learn a new skill for 2017. Pedal the Park Road Sportive Sunday 23rd April: Online entry is now LIVE for this 100km sportive! Sign up now for just £15, this includes a £5 donation to local charity CLIC Sargent in Scotland supporting their work with young people with cancer and their families. Ride 63 Community Cycle Club: The 2017 Ride Calendar will be out soon. Join our new ‘group style facebook page’ contact the secretary by email ridesixtythree@gmail.com for a membership form and ride info. Regular Events Mondays (but not public holidays) Lochwinnoch Community Walks meet 10.30am at The Cross, Lochwinnoch. Weekly Volunteer Groups - Newcomers always welcome! Thursdays Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, from 12.30pm – 3.30pm. Saturdays Greenock Cut Conservation Volunteers, Adult group, 10.30am – 2.30pm. Sundays Castle Semple Young Volunteers, 12 - 18 yr olds, 10am – 12noon Keep up to speed with events and activities taking place on the Park’s Facebook: facebook.com/ClydeMuirshielRegionalPark or Twitter @Clydemuirshiel pages and Instagram pages.
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269 February 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

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