Summer 2017
Features
[P2] Top five summer expeditions Volunteer to care for your local landscape [P3] Kirkyard Conservation Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Campaign #MakeYourWay #HHA2017 [P4] Training, volunteering and events
@ClydeAvonValley Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership clydeavonvalley www.clydeandavonvalley.org 01555 663 430
Valley Life Investigating the Past at Castle Qua and Black Hill Archaeological excavations at two of the Clyde and Avon Valley’s most enigmatic Scheduled Ancient Monuments are set to take place this summer with CAVLP Heritage – and we need YOUR help to unearth the secrets that lie beneath. Digs will be taking place at the earthworks remains of ‘Castle’ Qua in Cartland Craigs, Lanark and Black Hill, 3km east of Blackwood, from Wednesday 5 – Friday 21 July. Who lived there? What did they do there? And when? As a project volunteer, you will assist in answering these questions. Places are limited, so early booking is advised on the details below. No experience is necessary as free training will be provided. You can also join in with the Investigating the Past launch family fun day with Roman re-enactors at the Roman Bathhouse, Strathclyde Country Park, on Sunday 1 July, 11am – 4pm. For a full list of events and to book, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/news or contact Paul Murtagh, CAVLP Heritage Project Officer, pmurtagh@yorkat.co.uk / 01555 661 555.
Image courtesy roanokecollege via Foter.com / CC BY
FREE Growing Up Wild summer play for all the family Mud slides, tree faces, climbing trees and a whole lot more! Join in with FREE Growing Up Wild family natural play sessions throughout the Clyde and Avon Valley with OutLET: Play Resource. Sessions take place between 11 July and 4 August, in RSPB Baron’s Haugh, Motherwell (Tuesdays, 1-3:30pm), Chatelherault Country Park (Wednesdays, 10am-12noon), Lanark Racecourse (Wednesdays, 13:30pm) and Birkwood Estate, Lesmahagow (Thursdays, 1-3:30pm). Limited spaces are available – book quickly at www.Growing-UpWild.eventbrite.com.
Top five Clyde and Avon Valley summer expeditions Explore the luscious woodlands on foot, by bike, or by getting your hands dirty The verdant summer valleys offer a staggering variety of opportunities to get out and about. Make the most of them for FREE with this handy top five.
1
Cleghorn Glen, Lanark
Enjoy this ancient oak and ash woodland balanced on the precipice of the Mouse Water, just a short distance from Lanark. Don’t miss the dramatic Mouse Falls and link to longer walks in Cartland Craigs, finishing at Thomas Telford’s Cartland Bridge.
2 Mauldslie Woodlands Take a walk under the iconic Mauldslie Bridge, once the gateway to Mauldslie Castle, on the 1.3km of restored Clyde Walkway. This path is a crucial part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR network as well as the National Walking and Cycling Network.
3 Jookers Johnnie Take the train to Lanark and enjoy the improved route, linking you to the Clyde Walkway at New Lanark and Falls of Clyde. But who was Johnnie? And why did he jook?
4 Clyde Walkway Download the new Clyde Walkway app to help you traverse the 40 mile stretch of paths from the heart of Glasgow to the Falls of Clyde in five manageable stages.
5 Volunteering Get your hands dirty by becoming a path surveyor volunteer on the five Clyde Walkway Community Links with Clydesdale Community Initiatives. Find out more www.clydeandavonvalley.org/joi n-in/events
Volunteer to care for your local landscape From therapeutic gardening to woodland maintenance, five environmental volunteering opportunities are available to help you get out and about and meet new people whilst caring for the unique Clyde and Avon Valley landscape. No experience necessary – all tools and training are provided by Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI). Interested in gardening? Help at Lesmahagow Allotments, Brocketsbrae, every second Tuesday, or at Castlebank Park, Lanark, second Tuesdays in the month.
Interested in woodland maintenance? Help at Jock’s Burn, Carluke, second Wednesdays in the month; at Stonehouse Park, second Thursdays in the month; or Mauldslie Woods, first Thursdays in the month. As mentioned above, path surveyor volunteering, providing essential maintenance to routes to the Clyde Walkway, takes place until August. To find out more and to book, contact CCI on enquiries@cciweb.org / 01555 664 211.
and train stations in the towns and villages, where you will be able to pick up copies of the maps and tips on walking and cycling locally. Download your FREE maps at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/m ake-your-way and get involved in discussions on social media using #MakeYourWay
Kirkyard Conservation The Clyde and Avon Valley is home to some fascinating historic graveyards – St Patrick’s at Dalzell Estate, St Michael’s at Cambusnethan, New Lanark burial ground, and St Ninian’s Churchard and Cemetery, Stonehouse. These special graveyards, which retain important information on our Clyde and Avon Valley ancestors, are subject to a new conservation project with Archaeology Scotland.
#MakeYourWay
There’s still time to help uncover hidden stories in the Experience Carluke, Glassford, Clyde and Avon valley, by Lanark, Larkhall and volunteering forways the Capturing Stonehouse in you’ve the Past project never before withwith newCAVLP Heritage. #MakeYourWay sculpture
The project will provide opportunities for people to get involved in researching and recording these kirkyards, playing a vital role in securing their future. Visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org to keep up to date with upcoming opportunities including volunteering and events.
trails. The team have been researching andcreated recording The trails were by Hoolet Row at Chatelherault, artists in collaboration with the Stonehouse Kirkyard, local communities, and focus Craignethan Castle Clyde on: bricks in Carluke;and stoneValley market gardening sites carvings in Glassford; viewamongst others. finders in Lanark; pattern sliders in Larkhall and Journey Volunteers have the chance to Boxes in Stonehouse. learn traditional archaeological survey and archival research www.clydeandavonvalley.org/ skills, as well as artistic make-your-way interpretation, photography and the latest 3D imagery techniques. A series of FREE hands-on learning opportunities relating to the historic working lives of people in the Clyde and Avon valley are available to schools, youth and community groups as part of the project.
#HHA2017
For volunteering and hands-on learning opportunities, contact Mauldslie, Milton-Lockhart, cavlp.heritage@gmail.com / Carfin, Cleghorn and 01555 661 555. Stonebyres Estates are just some of the local, grand designed landscapes that you can now find out more about as part of the Glorious Gardens project. Published in the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, search ‘Glorious Gardens’ at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/ museum
Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Campaign Bats and candlesnuff fungus are the species of the month for July and August, during the school holidays. Get out and about to see if you can spot them!
#CAVWChallenge: Join in with spotting events and download spotting sheets to complete a checklist for your chance to win.
500 Words Competition: Pick your favourite of the 12 species and write a short, fictional story about it in under 500 words. Ages 5 – 9 and 10 – 12. 12 wildlife species are included in the campaign – one for each month. Download spotting guides, checklists, join a spotting event and be inspired to take part in the 500 Word Competition at www.clydeandavonvalley.org. Record your sightings on iRecord at www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/join/clyde-and-avon-valley-wildlife-challenge.
Training and Volunteering Opportunities FREE Investigating the Past archaeological training and surveying, Wednesday 5 – Friday 21 July, Castle Qua, Cartland Craigs, Lanark and Black Hill, Blackwood. Join in with the archaeological excavations at the area’s two most enigmatic Scheduled Ancient Monuments to help uncover the mysteries of the sites. Get in touch at pmurtagh@yorkat.co.uk / 01555 661 555 to find out more and to book. See front page. Clyde Walkway Community Links path maintenance, various dates until the end of August. Help maintain paths linking Braidwood, Crossford, Dalserf, Larkhall, Law and Nemphlar to the Clyde Walkway. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Volunteer at Lesmahagow Allotments, every second Tuesday, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Volunteer at Castlebank Park, second Tuesdays in the month, 10:30am – 2pm. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Volunteer at Jock’s Burn, second Wednesdays in the month, 10:15am – 2pm. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Volunteer at Stonehouse Park, second Thursdays in the month, 10:30am – 2pm. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Mauldslie Woods volunteering team days, first Thursdays of the month, 10:15am – 3pm. Join the brand new volunteering group at Mauldslie in a range of tasks from creating new tree enclosures to path maintenance. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211
Events and exhibitions FREE Investigating the Past Launch, Saturday 1 July, 11am – 4pm drop-in, the Roman Bathhouse, Strathclyde Country Park. Family fun day with Roman re-enactors, celebrating the launch of Investigating the Past archaeological project at Castle Qua and Black Hill. See front page. No booking required FREE Investigating the Past Pop-up Exhibition, Wednesday 5 – Friday 21 July drop-in, Lanark, venue TBC. Discover the history of Castle Qua and Black Hill through displays. See front page. No booking required FREE Growing Up Wild family play sessions, Tuesday 11 July – Thursday 3 August, various locations, see front page. Session take place in RSPB Baron’s Haugh, Motherwell (Tuesdays, 1-3:30pm), Chatelherault Country Park (Wednesdays, 1am-12noon), Lanark Racecourse (Wednesdays, 1-3:30pm) and Birkwood Estate, Lesmahagow (Thursdays, 1-3:30pm). Book at www.Growing-Up-Wild.eventbrite.com FREE Investigating the Past Open Day, Sunday 16 July, 11am – 4pm drop-in, Castle Qua, Cartland Craigs, Lanark, and Black Hill, Blackwood. Come along to the archaeological digs to see what the archaeologists and volunteers have been doing and what they have found. See front page. No booking required FREE Mauldslie Woods Sunset Survey with the Bat Conservation Trust, Friday 18 August, 8:15 – 9:30pm, Mauldslie Woods, Rosebank. Training in bat surveying. Book at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/slc-ranger-service11103433750
For full listings go to www.clydeandavonvalley.org Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership David Dale’s House, Rosedale Street, New Lanark, Lanark, ML11 9DJ www.clydeandavonvalley.org info@clydeandavonvalley.com @ClydeAvonValley Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership clydeavonvalley Check out all news, events, volunteering, training and sign up to our monthly e-news!
The Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership is a Heritage Lottery Fund and LEADER supported programme, working with ten key partners: Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Clydesdale Community Initiatives, New Lanark Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, Northlight Heritage, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust, South Lanarkshire Council and Rural Development Trust