Wagtail Issue 35, Spring 2017

issue no.35Highly sprung www.damstodarnley.org Welcome to our thirty fifth edition of Wagtail, the newsletter and events calendar for Dams to Darnley Country Park. Inside you will find: – Winter events look back – Whitelee Windfarm events – Joe’s wildlife witter – Spotlight on bird ringing – Patterton POW camp – Spring events calendar The next edition of Wagtail will be out in summer 2017.A carpet of wood anemones.From bones to bows Whitelee Windfarm eventsOUR WINTER EVENTS Christmas wreaths. AT WAGTAIL WE ARE ALWAYS The boggy beasties club is alsoprogramme began keen to promote the work of our back, and with a new theme too.with the ever popular might spot some nocturnal friends at Whitelee Windfarm This year they will be focussingHalloween ‘spooky creatures. Sadly the countryside ranger service. The on the history of Whitelee and ofSaturday’. This year we weather let us down and Whitelee events programme is Scotland. They will be re-enactingmade skeletons from there were no owls or almost ready and this year a few a historical battle, using potterypiles of glow-in-the-dark foxes around. of the most popular events have ‘skills’ to make some medieval‘bones’. You might still find been brought back. Nineteen clay pots, learning about ancientone that we missed! The most popular event events will be taking place, symbols and at the end of it all every year (we are half- including Warble AM; which hosting their very own ‘boggy’ John Parker from full for this year’s already) will involve a short hike into the highland games!Glasgow City Council is our Christmas wreath windfarm to decipher the birdcountryside ranger service making and 2016 was song and name the species, a If this all sounds good then youled November’s fungi no exception. There must mini beast hunt, spoon carving can find out more by grabbingwalk. He regaled us have been a lot of doors and so much more! an event leaflet from the Whiteleewith folklore and science in the area over Christmas visitor’s centre or check it out atbefore treating us to some with beautiful home-made The regular Whitelee stroller www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/fresh wild mushroom soup. wreaths. striders group for parents and whitelee. Come along to as many babies continues to go from events as you want! For event We had great fun Our first event of 2017 strength to strength, meeting updates and photos, as well asdissecting owl pellets was a lovely walk around every Tuesday morning at 10am news and developments fromon our ‘paws and poo’ the dams on a sunny but at the Whitelee visitors’ centre. Whitelee, visit the webpage orevent and looking at cold afternoon. The group then head out for a follow the countryside rangers onthe bones of voles and brisk walk, with the little ones Facebook.shrews through our field tucked up warm and cosy inmicroscopes. Everyone their buggies or carriers. The Whitelee windfarm.was surprised by just route covers around four mileshow many bones a single on good paths and is not toopellet could contain. strenuous. The walk finishes by around 12 noon, just in time for December’s first event a hot drink in the café.was an evening walk atdusk in the hope that we

Spotlighton park wildlifeJoe’s wildlife witterIN AMONGST OUR count of over 200 snipe Lesser celandine.resident gulls at Balgray amongst the reed beds ofReservoir we have had some Littleton Reservoir, along Our resident roe deer soon by lesser celandinerarer winter visitors; with with a few rarer jack snipe. have been much more and colts-foot. Greyyellow-legged, glaucous The snipe number probably visible over winter. It is not herons, which can be seenand Mediterranean gulls all includes winter migrants from so easy for them to hide throughout the country park,dropping by. You need to Northern Europe, as well as because of the lack of are one of the first birds tohave an expert eye to be our resident birds. Jack snipe leaves on the trees. lay their eggs, often by theable to distinguishing them are purely winter visitors. middle of March. They willfrom each other. Staying Finally, there have been Already by the first week begin to repair their nestsat Balgray, another winter plenty of sightings locally of in February snowdrops and or build new ones as earlyvisitor we have been seeing colourful visiting waxwings, butterbur were beginning to as February; a sure sign ofregularly are scaup. These but sadly no reports of any at appear in Dams to Darnley spring.are mainly marine ducks but Dams to Darnley. If anyone and they will be followedcan move inland in winter. has seen any in the countryWe also had an amazing park could you let me know. on bird ringingBird ringing facts• There are more than REPORT ANY 2,600 bird ringers in UK and Ireland. PROBLEMS• More than 900,000 Report any antisocial birds are ringed in crimes in progress to Britain and Ireland the police on 101 every year. Other antisocial problems• Ringing has been such as fly-tipping or carried out in Britain graffiti should be reported for over 100 years. to the countryside ranger service on A newly ringed great tit. 0141 577 4053/54RECENTLY THE CLYDE BIRD RINGING GROUP SPENT A MORNING IN THE COUNTRY Outwith office hours callpark catching and ringing birds. Lots of small tits were successfully caught, but why do Glasgow ‘Environmentalthe ringers do it? Firstly, it is important to know that catching birds in any way or being in Task Force’onpossession of a live wild bird is a criminal offence. Bird ringers are licensed, normally by 0300 343 7027the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and will carry their permit with them when working.Ringing is carried out to enable conservationists to get a better understanding of the survival or East Renfrewshirerates of birds and also of their movements. Ultimately, these factors influence population ‘Ring and Report’ onsizes over time and by gaining a better understanding of them scientists hope to be able 0800 013 0076to reverse the decline in numbers of many species. Before the birds are ringed they arenormally caught in a mist net; a very fine net used for birds or bats. The caught birds arethen measured and weighed before being ringed. The ring itself is a small, lightweightuniquely numbered metal ring attached to the bird’s leg. It does not harm the bird in anyway. All the information gathered is then sent to the BTO for analysis. We hope to invite theringers back to the country park in the future.

Pattertonprisoner of warcampMANY OF YOU WILL KNOW THAT THERE WAS Aprisoner of war camp on the western edge of what is nowthe country park at Patterton, just off Stewarton Road. Todaythe site is associated with Whitecraigs Nursing Home andthe Deacongrange housing estate, but it also extended tothe adjacent Walden Woods. We know a bit about the history of the camp; it featuredin one of the early editions of Wagtail. It is thought thatPatterton was originally a British military camp, but it wasItalian prisoners who were first housed there from May1944. The Italians made way for German prisoners whoarrived in June 1945, after the Second World War hadended in Europe. Aerial photograph of Patterton camp (1946).Image of Patterton camp (1945). English, German, arithmetic, mathematics, natural science, accountancy and shorthand. The men’s spiritual needs Research by Mearns History Group (www.mearnshistory. were the responsibility of a protestant camp chaplain,org.uk) now gives us a detailed insight into what life was with a service being led every Sunday. A local priest alsolike at the camp for German prisoners of war, largely visited the camp every Sunday to celebrate mass.thanks to a report on a Red Cross visit dated 17 November1945. The last German prisoner left in 1947 and from then until 1949 the camp housed Polish soldiers who had chosen On the day of the visit there were 535 prisoners, the to remain in Scotland after the war. In its final years thevast majority of which were from the army. But there were camp was used to house homeless Glasgow residents. Thealso prisoners from the air force and navy. Prisoners were majority of the buildings were removed by the late 1950s.housed in 26 dormitories, all of which had electric lightingand were heated by stoves. But it is very possible that one very visible reminder of the Patterton camp remains to this day. Although not The report went into considerable detail in terms of mentioned in the Red Cross report aerial photographythe prisoner’s accommodation across the site. Counting taken at the time suggests that there may have beenthe dormitories there were 59 huts including classrooms, gardens and allotments at the camp. If you take a walktheatre, infirmary, chapel, canteen, showers, toilets, kitchen along the country park paths within Walden Woods (justwith bakery, stores and workshops. More surprisingly the west of Stewarton Road) make sure you look out for thecamp also contained an artist’s workshop and hairdressers. mature apple tree which looks about 70 years old! The men appear to have had plenty to occupy their time. Patterton apple tree.Most worked in one of the workshops, for which they werepaid a small wage. In terms of recreation there was afootball pitch, a small library and a weekly film show. Thecamp had a theatre company with a dozen actors and achoir with 30 to 35 members. But there was no orchestraat the camp, probably because the only instrument atthe time of the visit seems to have been a solitary violin.Educational classes were also organised with courses in

Dams to Darnley Country Park • All events are FREE. • Booking is required for some events.Events calendar • All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.Wood whittling for beginners Easter paradeSaturday 18 March, 12noon - 3pm Wednesday 12 April, 12.30 - 2.30pmDescription: Always fancied carving your own utensils? If Description: Easter fun and games in the country park.so join us on this basic introduction to whittling. Spaces will Decorate some eggs and join in the Easter egg hunt withbe limited so book early to avoid disappointment. All toolsand materials will be provided. FULLY BOOKEDthe countryside rangers.FULLY BOOKEDLocation: Meet at the World Buffet Location: Meet at Patterton overflow car park, OPPOSITE side of Stewarton Road fromrestaurant car park, Corselet Road, Patterton Train Station,Darnley G53 7RN. Newton Mearns, G77 6NR.Hitchhikers and invaders Up with the birdsSunday 9 April, 1 - 3pm Saturday 6 May, 6 - 8am Description: Many plant and animal species are non- Description: Join the countryside rangers for this walk tonative to Scotland but have found their way to the country hear the amazing sounds of the dawn chorus.park. Join the countryside rangers as we discover a few Location: Meet at the Balgray Reservoirincomers and find out which ones are classed as naturalised car park, Balgraystone Road, offor invasive. Springfield Road, Barrhead G77 6PG.Location: Meet at the World Buffetrestaurant car park, Corselet Road,Darnley G53 7RN.Booking KEY CHART Bring binocularsrequired if you have them Wear suitable clothingJoin our mailing list or contact the countryside rangersThe Dams to Darnley countryside rangers are planning a series of events throughout the year.If you would like to be sent information on upcoming events and all the latest news join our mailing list.Name _________________________________________ Email Address _________________________________Address _______________________________________ Telephone No _______________________________________________________________________________ This information will be treated as confidential and used only for the purposeTo join our mailing list post or email your details to the address below. stated. If you do not wish your details to be held on computer tick this boxEmail: [email protected] Post: Dams to Darnley Country Park, East RenfrewshireTel: 0141 577 4053/54 Council, Environment Department, ThornliebankWeb: www.damstodarnley.org Depot, 190 Carnwadric Road, Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire G46 8HR.