326 JULY 2022 - Gryffe Advertizer

Clyde Muirshiel
The Ranger Service are continuing our seasonal wildlife surveying work around the Park, such as butterfly,
bumblebee and breeding bird surveys. With the help of the Estate Squad we have also been busy repainting
the benches and fences at Muirshiel, finishing off the upgrading of the waterfall path and edging
the car parks across the Park. We continue to deal with fire damage from disposable BBQs ; we always ask
visitors to remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which means be respectful of other Park users, the
landscape and wildlife, and to leave no trace. At this time of year we would like to ask dog walkers visiting
the Park to keep their dogs on lead or under close control in order to protect farm animals, ground nesting
birds and other sensitive wildlife.
The Duke of Edinburgh group volunteers have been helping with tree maintenance and Plantlife flower
surveys. We counted over 480 cowslips in the Johnshill field meadow in Lochwinnoch as part of a Europe
wide survey.
As part of Plantlifes No Mow May campaign we left areas of grass at Castle Semple and Muirshiel uncut.
The youth volunteers helped us count the flowers at each site. At Castle Semple we counted cuckoo flower,
cowslips, ox-eye daisy and 4 other species. At Muirshiel we only had one solitary daisy. Hopefully with
some management in the Autumn we shall boost the flower numbers in the future.
At Muirshiel the Castle Semple Conservation Volunteer group have been removing old tree tubes from
around the park and the Cample Burn area. At Castle Semple they have been controlling the growth of Fewflowered
leek Allium paradoxum an invasive plant, litter picking the far shore and carrying out path repairs.
We had a group of 5th year students from St Columba’s in Parkhill Wood at Castle Semple helping prune
the rhododendron maze and laying scalpings and whindust to re surface the paths up to the maze.
As part of Renfrewshire Council’s commitment to improve biodiversity in the area, a portion of the playing
field at the Lochwinnoch Annexe has been given over to growing native wildflowers. The ground near the
River Calder has had some turf scraped and built into embankments. Wildflower seed from a wet meadow
mix was sown and firmed into the scraped areas, with the help from the Primary 5 pupils from Lochwinnoch
Primary School. After some recent rain the wildflowers have started to germinate.
Join us online: www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk Contact us: rangers.castlesemple@clydemuirshiel.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Clydemuirshielregionalpark
Twitter and Instagram: @clydemuirshiel #clydemuirshiel
Upcoming Events - July
Sat 2nd - Guided Bird Watching - 10am - 12pm. All ages
Wed 6th - Summer Kids: Stick Boat Building - 10am - 12pm. Ages 5+
Sun 10th - Bumblebee Identification Walk - 1pm - 3pm. All Ages
Wed 13th - Summer Kids: Practical Orienteering -10am - 12pm Ages 5+.
Sat 16th - Wildflower Identification Walk. 10am - 12pm - All Ages
Sun 17th - Summer Butterfly Identification Walk - 1pm - 3pm. All Ages
Wed 20th - Summer Kids: Den Building - 10am - 12pm. Ages 5+
Sun 24th - Guided Historical Tour: Castle Semple Country Park - 1pm -
4pm. All Ages.
Wed 27th - Summer Kids: Insect Hotel Building -10am - 12pm. Ages 5+
Fri 29th - Drop In: Practical Conservation (Himalayan Balsam) - 10:30 -
3pm. All Ages
Sat 30th - Drop In: Wildflower Seed Collection - 10am - 12pm. All Ages
Drop In events are free to attend. All other events cost £5 per head. For bookings please visit our website at www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/events.
Kilbarchan Smile Volunteers
Next Deadline...
#327 August 2022: 13th July
Summer has finally arrived and for the volunteers at Kilbarchan Smile this
means that the work never stops. At the Gateway Community Garden
the vegetable planters are flourishing and the tatties are promising an
amazing crop this year. The garden is open Monday and Friday from 2pm-
4pm most weeks.
Throughout the village the areas we care for have burst into life and colour.
The Rose Garden and the Green at the Cross, Steeple Square Garden,
Traffic Lights Garden on Barn Green and the newly installed Mary Barbour
Garden on New Street are all cared for by our volunteers.
The dry Spring proved very challenging however, with trying to keep
everything watered and weeded, and we are always looking for new
volunteers to come and help with our various projects.
It is not all work though, we always have time for a wee break and a natter.
So if you want to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and a bit of company this
summer with the bonus of improving our community, drop us an email
at hello@kilbarchansmile.co.uk or text 07952 169341 we will welcome
whatever help you can manage.
local community, local business, local life ......... 38