Winter 2016 / 17
Valley Life
Features
Make Your Way in the Clyde and Avon Valley
[P2] Recipe: A Delicate Chewit
Communities in and around Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse are in for a treat this winter as a new campaign, Make Your Way, launches.
An ancient landscape restored [P3] Take the dorodango challenge Who are your local landscape heroes? Growing Up Wild this winter [P4] Training, volunteering and events
@ClydeAvonValley Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership clydeavonvalley www.clydeandavonvalley.org 01555 663 430 Header image courtesy www.ourlarkhall.com
Make Your Way focusses on encouraging walking and cycling whilst exploring the rich heritage of the communities - and there’s something for everyone to get involved in. Activities include a Dorodango Mud Dumpling Challenge (p3), walks with periscopes, art workshops, creative place name activities and creation of new art installations. What’s more, the Make Your Way team are looking for people of all ages and experiences to form a Citizen Journalism task force that will bring the communities and activities to life through digital storytelling – volunteers will be trained in photography, filmmaking, social media and more. For activity schedules, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/make-your-way, email sarah@icecreamarchitecture.com, or call 07513 074 991. For Citizen Journalism opportunities, email myw@icecreamarchitecture.com, or call 7713 585 584.
Plan a winter wander in the Clyde and Avon Valley The days might be short but it’s the perfect time of year to pull on your winter coat and wellies and walk off some of that Christmas excess. There are opportunities galore in the Clyde and Avon Valley from Chatelherault to New Lanark and plenty more in between. Try one of the newly improved Clyde Walkway Community Links routes, improved pathways at Cartland Craigs and Cleghorn Glen, or the upgraded Clyde Walkway at RSPB Scotland Baron’s Haugh and Dalzell Estate at Motherwell. Visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/trails for more walking ideas.
Recipe: A Delicate Chewit – forerunner to the Christmas mince pie Adapted from A New Booke of Cookery, 1615, by Karen McCusker, CAVLP Heritage Ingredients 300g minced veal / pork, precooked and cooled 150g beef suet 60g bone marrow 1 large apple or 2 medium pears 300g dried fruit - mixed currants, raisins, sultanas 150g chopped dates 2tbsp mixed peel 50g brown sugar 1 tbsp nutmeg / mace 1.5 tbsp brandy / spiced rum / rosewater / apple juice 2 sheets shortcrust pastry 1 egg, beaten White sugar for dusting pie
Method 1. Soak dried fruit in warm water or a splash of brandy / rum / rosewater / apple juice, until plump 2. Peel, core and chop apples / pears, then drain the dried fruit 3. Mix the meat, beef suet, fruit, dried fruit, half of the marrow, mixed peel, sugar and spices 4. Line a pie dish with pastry. Spoon in the mixture and dot the remaining marrow over the top 5. Sprinkle the pie filling with the brandy / rum / juice 6. Close pie with remaining pastry, brush lid with egg and
An ancient landscape restored at Chatelherault The future of the nationally important and ancient landscape at Chatelherault Country Park has been saved for future generations by the removal of 15 hectares of commercial plantation conifers between the Cadzow Oaks and White Bridge. Revenue generated from the felled timber will be reinvested in vital improvements at the Country Park, a key part of the Clyde Valley National Nature Reserve, in 2017. These will include restoration of the White Bridge, path improvements and re-establishment of dramatic, historic viewpoints.
The felled area had been covered by native, broad-leaved woodland until the 1930s, when it was replanted. The area will now be allowed to regenerate naturally, thanks to the fantastically rich and fertile soil, protected by the steep gorge landscape throughout time. The felling restores a fascinating historic landscape that has played a crucial role in Scotland’s story, from the Forest Kings and Queens of Strathclyde to a powerful Medieval landscape with French connections to the present day. Find out more: www.clydeandavonvalley.org.
dust with white sugar. Use a pie bird or cut holes to let out steam 7. Bake at 200oC for 35 minutes until the crust is golden and fruit cooked through. Serve hot with cream or brandy butter. Enjoy!
Got a taste for more? Additional historical recipes will be published soon in the Clyde Valley Apple Cookbook, available at www.clydeandavonvalley.org. If you have family recipes you’d like to contribute, contact Karen at cavlp.heritage@gmail.com / 01555 661 555.
Take the Dorodango ‘Mud Dumpling’ Challenge You are invited to join the Dorodango Mud Dumpling Challenge this winter as part of the Make Your Way campaign in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse (page 1).
Who are your Local There’s still time to help Landscape Heroes? uncover hidden stories in the Clyde and Avon valley, by Perhaps it’s farmer or a volunteering forathe Capturing fisherman, poet or painter the Past project with CAVLP whoever you chose, get Heritage. involved with the new Local Landscape Heroes The team have beenproject with CAVLP Heritage! researching and recording Hoolet Row at Chatelherault, Explore characters Stonehouse Kirkyard, from throughout historyand to present Craignethan Castle Clyde day that have gardening shaped thesites Clyde Valley market and Avon Valley, and how we amongst others. experience it today. Take part in Volunteers the chance walks, have workshops and to learn traditional archaeological activities, available online at survey and archival research www.clydeandavonvalley.org. skills, as well as artistic 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.
Growing Up For volunteering and Wild hands-on learning opportunities, contact Family-based natural play cavlp.heritage@gmail.com / initiatives continue to grow in 01555 661 555. the Clyde and Avon Valley, with even more play sessions, training (p4) and a Natural Play Conference taking place on Saturday 12 November (now fully booked). Little Pips, Larkhall and Little Saplings, Stonehouse will continue to meet monthly during winter. Visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/e vents for full details.
The aim is to make 500 Dorodango by February which will be exhibited locally next spring. So if you can make one or 20, why not get involved – instructions below, or you can request a private workshop and / or kit for your school, group or organisation via the details below.
Step 1: Make the mud: Gather some dirt with no stones or twigs. Add a small amount of water; mix and add more water until the mud reaches a dough-like consistency.
Step 2: Create the core: Shape a handful of mud into a ball, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Gently shake to remove lumps, bumps and holes. Clay will appear on the surface, making it easier to smooth. Once it’s tacky, you can move onto step 3.
Step 3: Add a layer: Holding the ball in one hand, grab handfuls of dirt with the other and sprinkle it all over. Gently sweep the excess off, rotating the ball as you do so. The new dirt will absorb the surface moisture quickly. Keep going until the ball retains its shape but isn’t so dry that it cracks.
Step 4: Take the moisture out: Put the ball into a plastic bag and leave on a soft surface, like a towel, to stop a flat edge forming for 20 minutes. Condensation will make the surface wet again. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the ball feels leather-hard to touch.
Step 5: Dust your dorodango: Very fine dirt is needed for your final layer – you can use ash or sift dirt through a fine mesh. Rub the fine dust into the ball and continue to do so until the surface moisture of the ball has been completely absorbed – it should look and feel powdery. Put the ball into a new plastic bag until condensation forms around the bag. Repeat this as many times as possible until the dust no longer sticks to the surface.
Step 6: Polish: Remove the ball from the bag for a final time and let it dry for 20 minutes. Polish with a soft cloth – carefully at first to see if it’s completely dry. Polish or buff more vigorously once the ball is dry. Voila! You have your own mud ball. Try making different variations with different samples of dirt! Contact sarah@icecreamarchitecture.com / 07513 074 991 to request a kit or workshop. For more information and a full set of instructions, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/make-your-way.
Training and Volunteering Opportunities FREE hands-on learning opportunities with CAVLP Heritage, dates and times flexible to suit individual needs. Explore the production and working lives of people in the Clyde and Avon valley through a variety of FREE workshops, including MapCRAFT, Tasting Through Time, Sheep to Shawl and Brick by Brick. Contact cavlp.heritage@gmail.com / 01555 661 555 FREE historical and archaeological training through ‘Local Landscape Heroes’ with CAVLP Heritage. See page 3 for details. Contact cavlp.heritage@gmail.com / 01555 661 555 to find out more. FREE environmental training and volunteering with CCI, various dates and times throughout the year. From therapeutic gardening to woodland and graveyard maintenance, path resilience and much more in between, go to www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/events FREE Mauldslie Woods volunteering team days, the first Thursday of every 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. Contact Clydesdale Community Initiatives on 01555 664 211 / colleen@cciweb.org.uk
Events FREE Local Landscape Heroes Walks and Workshops, rolling programme, various locations throughout the Clyde and Avon Valley including Dalserf, Larkhall, Lesmahagow, Motherwell and Dalzell Estate, New Lanark, Strathaven. Explore characters from throughout history to present day that shaped the physical and cultural landscape. Visit www.cavlp.eventbrite.co.uk for up to date listings Winter Arrivals at RSPB Baron’s Haugh, Sunday 6 November, 10:30am-12:30pm, Motherwell. Come and see some of the birds that have travelled far and wide to winter at the reserve. £2 adults, £1 children, FREE to RSPB members. Book your place by calling 07872 814 911 / 0141 331 0993, or emailing baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk ***FULLY BOOKED*** FREE Growing Up Wild - Lanarkshire’s First Natural Play Conference, Saturday 12 November, 9:30am-4pm, Hamilton Racecourse. Day of talks, networking opportunities and workshops aimed at parents and those working in childcare and education. The conference is fully booked but put your name on the waiting list at www.cavlp.eventbrite.co.uk FREE Little Pips family play sessions, first Saturday of the month, Morgan Glen, Larkhall, 10am-noon. Pull on your waterproofs and wellies for some outdoor winter family fun with OutLET: Play Resource. £5 per family. Book at www.outletplayresource.eventbrite.co.uk FREE Little Saplings family play sessions, first Saturday of the month, Stonehouse Park, 10am-noon. Pull on your waterproofs and wellies for some outdoor winter family fun with OutLET: Play Resource. £5 per family. Book at www.outletplayresource.eventbrite.co.uk Elves workshops, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, 11am-4pm, Scottish Wildlife Trust Falls of Clyde. Become an elf for nature and make Christmas gifts to take back to your garden. Pick a 1 ½ hour time slot at 11am, 1pm or 3pm. 4 years +, one adult required per 2 children. £8 plus booking fee per elf. Booking required at www.eventbriteco.uk/o/scottish-wildlife-trust-falls-of-clyde
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 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