Wagtail Newsletter Issue 38

issue no.38 www.damstodarnley.orgWelcome signs of spring?The delicate white blooms of wood anemone are one of the first welcome signs of spring. Welcome to our thirty eighth edition of Wagtail, the newsletter and events calendar for Dams to Darnley Country Park. Inside you will find: – Winter events look back – Project insight for students – Joe and Alyson’s wildlife witter – Destination Dams to Darnley – Artistic ideas for the boardwalk – Spotlight on the red belted bracket fungus The next edition of Wagtail will be out in summer 2018. Project insight for students Bird boxes in the snow. THE CLOSURE OF AURS Road at the end of last yearSnow joke for investigation works gave students from WoodfarmOUR WINTER EVENTS boxes as part of the RSPB High School the opportunity Woodfarm High School students to don high visibility vests in on site.began with our fungi walk Big Garden Birdwatch. Sadly, order to find out more about what was happening on Aurs Road, bridge replacementled by John Parker from just before we began, the site. Third year geography and new boardwalk. pupils met engineers fromGlasgow City Council’s snow came down heavily East Renfrewshire Council The students and their contractors BAM Ritchies and teachers then joined landscapeCountryside Ranger Service. so we had very cold toes by Mott MacDonald to discover architects from ERZ on an how different professions are interactive walk to discuss ideasJohn’s expert knowledge the end. working together to deliver around geography, place, new Glasgow City Region ecology, art and engineeringmade it a fascinating walk, Into February and the City Deal infrastructure and how they might influence projects next to Balgray the functionality and design ofespecially when his keen eye annual walk looking at our Reservoir. Students also the boardwalk. gained a practical insight intospotted a red-belted bracket winter birds took place on the kind of work and skills The visit was arranged as involved in these careers. part of the Council’s Communityfungus. We were excited to an almost spring-like day. Benefits programme, whereby The site visit gave pupils appointed contractors anddiscover that this was a first We saw a pair of ravens an understanding of what consultants commit to sharing was involved in the ground their skills and knowledgerecording of this species in sky-dancing and a couple investigation works taking and support training and place along the reservoir employment.the Glasgow area. of great crested grebes dam embankment, as part of preparations for theOur annual Christmas beginning their courtship proposed realignment ofwreath making ‘berries, display. We also spotted aboughs and bows’ event was few scaup in a group of overa great success as usual, with 100 tufted ducks, as wellsome fabulous and colourful as a yellow-legged gull oncreations on show. Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.The New Year saw our first Our total count for the walkevent of 2018. We helped was 33 different species.people make their own nest A great day birding.

Spotlighton park wildlifeJoe and Alyson’swildlife witter Snowdrops.THIS WINTER SEEMS TO them hang around for a few In November we were At the time of writing thehave been colder and drier weeks. Another none too excited to find a red-belted onset of spring has beenthan the last few. There common bird that was often bracket fungus (Fomitopsis put on pause by the snow.were fewer sightings of seen over the winter was pinicola). It was spotted But hopefully the first signsone of our regular winter a yellow legged gull. This by John Parker from of spring that we spottedvisitors, the whooper herring gull sized bird is Glasgow City Council’s in mid-February will soonswan, with only a couple normally found further south Countryside Ranger reappear. At that timebeing spotted. On the plus and spends summers around Service in Waulkmill Glen many birds were alreadyside though, scaup were the Mediterranean, but wood. It is classed as singing and displaying,regularly seen amongst occasionally is seen in more rare in the UK and this is herons (one of the firstlarge flocks of tufted ducks northern latitudes. Its yellow the first record of it in the breeding species) hadand pochards. Scaup are legs distinguish it from the Glasgow area. We will started nest building andrare inland visitors in winter, similar looking herring gull, keep our eyes peeled for snowdrops were alsoso it was a bonus to see which has pink legs. more of them. in bloom.Destination The country park is now a Children’s University Learning Destination.Dams toDarnleyWE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT DAMS TO collect credits for their passport, which could be a stamp orDarnley Country Park has become a Learning Destination a sticker. Many, maybe even all, of the activities you canwith the Children’s University Scotland. The Children’s take part in with the Countryside Ranger Service in DamsUniversity is a charity that celebrates learning outside of to Darnley Country Park would result in gaining credits toschool hours by encouraging exciting educational activities put in your passport. We have stickers ready and waitingat home and in local communities. to be stuck pride of place in your passports! When enough credits have been collected, each passport holder gets Trying new things and ways to learn, developing to take part in a graduation ceremony to celebrate theirpractical and personal skills and building confidence are achievement.all part of the learning journey. They are also a great wayto encourage learning as a family. Joining the Children’s Collecting stickers and stamps may also be the smallUniversity is done through school, and on becoming a incentive needed to encourage more and more kids to getmember each child receives a Passport for Learning. The out and about visiting many of the Learning Destinationspassport is used to record all achievements gained out with the Children’s University already has registered. Examplesthe school environment. This way of learning has great of destinations include castles, beaches, nature reservesbenefits for those who may be struggling with, or who find, and now Dams to Darnley Country Park.a more formal learning environment overwhelming at times. For more information about broadening horizons Children between 5 and 14 years of age can take part and raising aspirations you can visitby getting creative, getting active and getting outdoors to www.childrensuniversityscotland.com

Artistic ideasfor theboardwalkAS MENTIONED IN THE LAST EDITION OF WAGTAIL, Printing workshop.over the last couple of months local residents and studentshave been getting the opportunity to work with a number opportunity to take a look at the results of the workshopsof artists to develop ideas for distinct design elements of the and how they have contributed to design ideas for theproposed Balgray boardwalk. boardwalk. The exhibition opens between 3-7pm on 14 March, and can be found in the foyer of Barrhead In late January two workshops were held at Rouken Glen Foundry. ERZ will be on hand to take you through the draftPavilion, Giffnock. The first workshop focused upon poetry plans and answer any queries. The exhibition will remainand was led by Ken Cockburn of Studio Alec Finlay. The in place at the Foundry until 18 March, so you can dropsecond session, led by Yvonne Elliot-Kelligan of Bespoke in at any time. The exhibition will also be in place at theAtelier, involved a print workshop and gave everyone a Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns, on 19 March.good opportunity to get their hands dirty. The two workshops were repeated in early February, thistime at St Luke’s High School in Barrhead. St Luke’s pupilswere joined by students from Barrhead High, CarlibarPrimary and Isobel Mair schools. There will be a public exhibition giving everyone theon the red-beltedbracket fungusFantastical fungal findings:• The first Glasgow recording of a red-belted bracket fungus has taken place in Dams to Darnley Country Park.• Extracts from the red-belted bracket fungus have been studied for its ability to inhibit the HIV replication cycle.• One fun fact about hoof fungi (which are easily confused with red-belted bracket fungus) is that they are also called tinder polypores, referring to their use in ancient times for lighting fires and for carrying burning embers from hearth to hearth. Red belted bracket fungus.AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ON OUR FUNGI WALK BACK The species name ‘pinicola’ means living on pine trees,in November John Parker’s eagle eye spotted a red-belted which this mushroom often does. But our specimen was foundbracket fungus growing out of a fallen birch tree in the on a birch tree. Studies have shown that red-belted bracketLocal Nature Reserve section of the country park. fungus are not limited to pine trees and have in fact been found growing on at least 100 different species of tree hosts. The scientific name for this red-belted polypore (a fungusthat discharges spores through pores) is Fomitopsis pinicola. The red-belted bracket fungus has been used for manyFomitopsis means similar in appearance to Fomes, the different ailments through the ages, including being appliedgenus that includes hoof fungi, another common fungus to wounds in a paste form. It has also been used to treatthat is found in the country park and easily confused with intermittent fevers, chronic diarrhoea, neuralgia, nervousred-belted bracket fungus. As their name might suggest, this headaches, excessive urination, jaundice, tuberculosis feverstype of fungus look like a horse’s hoof. and more recently anti-obesity studies in mice!

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.Wet ‘n’ wild Food for freeSunday 25 March, 1-3pm Saturday 21 April, 10am-1pm Description: Discover the country park’s wetlands on this Description: Ever wondered what there is in the woodsfamily pond dip. See what wildlife lurks beneath the water to pick up and enjoy? Join us to see what we can find toof our ponds. eat for free in the country park.Location: Meet at the World Buffet Location: Meet at the World Buffetrestaurant car park, Corselet Road, restaurant car park, Corselet Road,Darnley G53 7RN. Darnley G53 7RN.Bedtime bugs A dawn delightThursday 5 April, 8-9.30pm Saturday 12 May, 5-7am Description: Ever wondered what might go bump in the Description: Join the countryside rangers as we enjoynight or scurry while you sleep? Come and explore the an early walk to soak up the fabulous sounds of the birdscountry park’s woodland and wetland after dark to see what and their dawn chorus. We’ll be on the lookout for a fewwe can find lurking under logs or lying in wait among the other early risers as well.leaves….and Halloween isn’t for months! Location: Meet at the World BuffetLocation: Meet at the World Buffet restaurant car park, Corselet Road,restaurant car park, Corselet Road, Darnley G53 7RN.Darnley G53 7RN. ‘Treesure’ huntOne egg or two? Saturday 19 May, 12.30-2.30pm Tuesday 10 April, 10am-12noon Description: Come and try a ‘treesure’ hunt round ourDescription: How many eggs will you decorate on our orienteering course with a twist. Can you find all the cluesEaster craft event? Can you find the hidden eggs on our and piece together the puzzle? Come along with yourtreasure hunt? Come along and join in the family fun with sense of adventure to find out. No experience necessary.the countryside rangers. This is a drop-in event so you do not need to book.Location: Meet at Patterton overflow car park, The last group will set off at 2.30pm.opposite side of the road from Patterton Location: Meet at the World BuffetRailway Station, Newton Mearns G77 6NR. restaurant car park, Corselet Road, Darnley G53 7RN.Booking No booking KEY CHART Bring Bringrequired required a torch binoculars 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 purpose stated. If you do not wish your details to be held on computer tick this boxTo join our mailing list post or email your details to the address below.Email: [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.