Valley Life winter 2017 / 2018

Winter 2017 / 18

Features [P2] Glorious Gardens revealed Make Your Way: Chatelherault [P3] Clyde and Avon Valley Exhibition Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Campaign #CAVWChallenge Good luck, Donna! #HHA2017: Fruits of their labours [P4] Training, volunteering and events

@ClydeAvonValley Clyde and Avon Valley CAVLP clydeavonvalley www.clydeandavonvalley.org 01555 663 430

Valley Life New Shaping the Landscape exhibition A new FREE exhibition, Shaping the Landscape, is set to open at New Lanark World Heritage Visitor Centre on Thursday 21 December.

The exhibition will explore how the unique geology of the area, stretching from the Avon Gorge at Chatelherault Country Park in the north, to the Falls of Clyde at New Lanark in the south, has influenced the lives of people living there – and continues to do so today.

Visitors will be able to explore 400 million years of the Clyde and Avon Valley’s geological story, from Devonian times to the present day, using multimedia and interactive exhibits. You will be able to find out about ancient coal swamps, vast ice sheets and the powerful rivers that have shaped the land through time.

Other sites will include RSPB Baron’s Haugh, Lower Nethan Gorge and Threepwood Quarry, known locally as ‘Sandyholm Caves’.

More details on the FREE exhibition will be available from www.clydeandavonvalley.org/museum. The exhibition will be open daily, 10am – 4pm, with the exception of 25 and 26 December, and 1 and 2 January.

More homes for nature at RSPB Baron’s Haugh

New pools, removal of overgrown vegetation and installation of cattle fencing, has transformed the area of the Nature Reserve known as Cemetery Marsh.

Wetland habitat such as Cemetery Marsh has been disappearing in the Clyde Valley, creating a squeeze on wildlife such as otters, wetland bird species, amphibians and insects. Restoration of the marsh will increase the biodiversity of the Reserve, encouraging both migrant and resident species to move in, including ducks and whooper swans.

Plan your next visit: www.clydeandavonvalley.org/explore

Glorious Gardens revealed 12 designed landscapes added to Historic Environment Scotland Inventory 12 sites The designed landscapes of Baronald House, Cambusnethan Priory, Carfin Estate, Cleghorn Estate, Dalserf House, Harperfield House, Jerviswood Estate, The Kerse, Mauldslie Castle, Milton Lockhart and Stonebyres, have all been researched and recorded by volunteers, and added to the Inventory of Designed Landscapes.

Volunteer contribution 18 volunteers contributed a staggering 706 hours to the project which was managed by

Scotland’s Garden and Landscape Heritage.

Defining features No stone was left unturned as volunteers pored over historical maps, then searched for remains of approaches, sundials, walled gardens, ice houses and more.

Strategy and Guidance Notes

designed landscapes, tasks involved and possible sources of funding.

Stakeholders Stakeholders with an interest in the designed landscapes including landowners, heritage groups, and people involved in land-based industries such as farming and forestry, are invited to join the next workshop on Monday 22 January.

Booking is required through talamh@hotmail.co.uk / 07447 357 257.

A Conservation Strategy and Guidance Notes for landowners of 41 designed landscapes in the area are being developed as the next stage in the project. Information will View the Glorious Gardens reports: include good practice in managing www.clydeandavonvalley.org/mus eum

Make Your Way: Chatelherault With Make Your Way art installations in place in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse, the next phase of the arts, heritage and active travel project has begun connecting communities around Chatelherault Country Park.

birdwatch, or sit and ponder for a while, add your thoughts to the interactive ‘Make Your Way Chatelherault – What do you love?’ map at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/m useum

Wayfinding installations and new interpretation will be created in collaboration with artists and local communities for seven routes in the park, connecting with Hamilton, Larkhall and Quarter.

Don’t miss the chance to get involved with the programme of artist-led workshops and walking and cycling events, including guided rides and bike maintenance days, which will take place between November and March.

What do you love about Chatelherault? Whether it’s the best place to fish, forage,

New maps and digital trails promoting the routes will be available in March.

Date for the diary - Clyde and Avon Valley Exhibition An exhibition celebrating the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership is set to take place at Chatelherault Country Park Visitor Centre, running from Friday 16 February – Sunday 18 March 2018.

Curated by CAVLP Heritage to correspond with the end of the Landscape Partnership in April 2018, the exhibition will explore the projects and defining features of the landscape, centred on the themes of land, water and life.

Good luck, Donna!

The CAVLP team would like to send our thanks and best wishes to Donna Marshall, Programme Manager since February 2015. Her enthusiasm has been an inspiration to the team and within the wider partnership!

Expect a multi-sensory immersion in what makes the Clyde and Avon Valley unique, including 3D models, paintings, artefacts and interactive displays.

CAVLP Heritage are looking for volunteers to help with GIS map making, oral histories, and installation and stewarding for the exhibition. No experience necessary. Contact Paul at pmurtagh@yorkat.co.uk / 01555 661 555, to find out more and to register your interest.

We wish Donna all the best in her new role at Changeworks.

Clyde and Avon Valley Wildlife Campaign: #CAVWChallenge #HHA2017: Fruits of their labours The Lanarkshire Songwriters have released an album, Fruits of their labours, inspired by the fruit growing and market gardening tradition of the former ‘Fruit basket of Scotland’.

The songs have been released alongside a collection of oral histories and Apple Day album, featuring songs on the same theme by local primary schools.

Listen to the songs and oral histories at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/ museum

The final species of the month in the Wildlife Campaign is the roe deer. Spot one to tick off your checklist or use as inspiration for the 500 Words competition! Open to under 12s.

Common throughout the Clyde and Avon Valley, the shy roe deer is roughly the size of a Labrador dog, with a reddish brown body, black nose, and white chin and rump. Look out for them in the evening, through the night, until early the morning.

Download spotting guides, checklists, join a spotting event and be inspired to take part in the 500 Words competition at www.clydeandavonvalley.org for your chance to win prizes.

Contribute to local wildlife records by recording your sightings on iRecord at www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/join/clyde-and-avon-valley-wildlifechallenge.

FREE Training and Volunteering Opportunities Chatelherault Country Park volunteering team days, Wednesdays 6, 13 December; Tuesdays 9, 23 January, 6, 20 February, 6, 20 March, 10:15am – 2:30pm. Carry out vital repair work, vegetation clearance and carpentry projects. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Life in the Cadzow Oaks invertebrates survey volunteering, flexible Thursdays and Fridays until March 2018.

Help survey which beetles and spiders live in the deadwood habitat of the ancient Cadzow Oaks with the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. Find out more and sign up at Jeanne.robinson@glasgow.ac.uk / 0141 330 2303 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 Treasured Remains historical graveyard workshops, Saturday 9 December (Stonehouse Old Kirkyard), Saturday 13 Jan (New Lanark Burial Ground), Saturday 10 February (Cambusnethan Kirkyard). Book at adopt@archaeologyscotland.org.uk / 0300 012 9878 Volunteer at Jock’s Burn, second Wednesdays in the month, 10:15am – 2pm. Help restore this little oasis of nature in Carluke through litter picking and path maintenance. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Volunteer at Stonehouse Park, Thursdays 21 December, 25 January, 22 February and 29 March, 10:30am – 2pm. Help restore the beautiful and historic park at the heart of the community through clearing pathways and making new benches. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211 Willow tunnel maintenance at Clearburn Natural Play and Picnic Area, New Lanark, Tuesday 5, Thursday 7 and Tuesday 12 December, 10:15am – 2:30pm. Help with pruning and to identify points that may need fixed. No experience necessary. Please contact CCI for details and to book on enquiries@cciweb.org.uk / 01555 664 211

FREE Events and exhibitions Elves Wildlife Workshops at the Falls of Clyde, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, various times according to age group. Make presents to take home for the animals – bird feeders, bug houses and animal track wrapping paper. £10 per child. Booking essential from www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/events FREE Shaping the Landscape geological exhibition, New Lanark Visitor Centre, opens Thursday 21 December, 10am – 4pm daily. Celebrating the rocks, gorges, hills and more, of the local landscape. See front page for more details.

FREE Clyde and Avon Valley exhibition, Chatelherault Country Park, Friday 16 February – Sunday 18 March.

Celebrating the unique landscape and projects that have been part of the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership. See page 3 for more details.

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