issue no.20 www.damstodarnley.org Azure like it


Welcome to our twentieth edition of Wagtail, the newsletter and events calendar for Dams to Darnley Country Park. Inside you will find:


- Spring events look back - Something fishy - History feature on Charles Macintosh


- Dams to Darnley Local Nature Reserve - Horsing around


- Spotlight on the bumblebee - Summer events calendar


The next edition of Wagtail will be out in autumn 2013.


Azure damselfly on meadowsweet. Still waiting for spring!


DESPITE THE VERY POOR spring weather our ‘star trekking’ astronomy event in early March was treated to clear conditions and perfect views of the night sky. Sadly our ‘warming woodland’ event felt more like winter than spring and instead of identifying trees by their leaves we resorted to having to recognise them by their twigs and buds. Things improved greatly for our ‘Easter egghead’ event which this year was held at Parklands Meadow. This was one of our busiest days with more than 70 people enjoying the sun. Spring still hadn’t arrived by our ‘what are yew’ event. Once again tree identification was made more difficult by the lack of leaves. Everyone who braved the weather will now be experts in


identifying trees by their bark!


In May our ‘bursting with life’ event was also hit by bad weather. There were 27 people booked on but heavy rain and cold winds meant that we were down to single figures. The brave souls who joined us did at least see some signs of spring at last. Bluebells were flowering and bees were beginning to buzz.


Something fishy


Country park bluebells.


WORK WILL SOON be getting underway to construct three new disabled angling platforms along the western shore of Balgray Reservoir. The platforms will be accessible from the country park car park at Balgraystone Road and located about 200m along the Balgray Reservoir path, heading towards Aurs Road. The idea for platforms came from the Dams to Darnley Angling Club. The club recognised that opportunities for disabled anglers at the Barrhead dams were limited and that a few platforms, extending into one of the reservoirs, would begin to address this situation. The location of the platforms was chosen because it was close to the Balgraystone Road car park, as well as the existing Balgray Reservoir


Anglers at Balgray Reservoir.


path, ensuring good access. The site is also one that is not used by nesting birds, helping to reduce any potential risk of disturbance. It is hoped that the platforms will prove to be a great success amongst local anglers and provide a hub for club activities and future events. A grant for the platforms was secured by the club from East Renfrewshire LEADER Programme, with additional funding coming from East Renfrewshire Council.


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