Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership

3rd Dec 2013 Volume 2, Issue 10

Valley Life
Connecting with the Clyde: What are your connections to the River Clyde? Do you simply cross it on the way to work? Or does it go further than that? Come along and explore in fun, innovative ways your connections to the Clyde Valley today and in the past with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and CAVLP. Free family friendly activities and tasty titbits on offer. Drop in and join us Saturday 7th December, Lanark Tolbooth, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Stone-walling in Nemphlar: This month, due to local demand, our partner CCI ran a new training opportunity in dry stone walling in historic Nemphlar. This first weekend course re-built a section of wall using the traditional technique. CAVLP funds a range of opportunities hedgelaying and fencing coming up in 2014, so get your place booked!

Our People, Our Land, Our History: Shaping our Future

Tis the season to Connect with Clyde

Its official (as if we didnt know it already), getting out in our lovely local environment is good for you and your familyall year round! Last month our newsletter publicised walking routes in the CAVLP area. This issue highlights new, improved CAVLP funded walking routes that will help you get up close to some of the best local wildlife and history. Why not read on and try them out? Renewed Boardwalk at Falls of Clyde: This month MSP Claudia Beamish opened the renewed boardwalk at Scottish Wildlife Trusts Falls of Clyde Reserve. The original structure carried many hundreds of thousands of visitors from New Lanark to Corra Linn, the largest of the spectacular Falls of Clyde. The new boardwalk uses recycled plastic posts in its construction, which will last many years longer than the timber legs of the original. Stephen Blow, Scottish Wildlife Trusts Reserve Manager for the South of Scotland, said: The route brings visitors right up to the rivers edge and gives them the chance to see kingfishers, otters and goosanders. Check out P3 for details of route improvements coming up in 2014 and how to get involved.

Connect With Us:

Level 1 Offices Robert Owen School, New Lanark, Lanark, ML11 9DB Tel: 01555 663430 www.clydeandavonvalley.com info@clydeandavonvalley.com Follow: @ClydeAvonValley Like: Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership Sign up to our monthly e-news: newsletter@clydeandavonvalley.com

Certificated and vocational training

Our volunteers had a good sunny day to get trained up in dry stone walling in Nemphlar. Clydesdale Community Initiatives are running fencing and hedging training courses in the New Year, amongst other topics. Book fast for a CAVLP funded place by contacting Niall McShannon on 01555 664211 or enquiries@cciweb.org.uk CAVLP FUNDED Training Opportunities from South Lanarkshire Council Emergency First Aid: Tuesday 3rd December, South Vennel, Lanark Health & Safety Policy and Risk Assessment: 22nd January, Chatelherault Country Park, The Stables, Hamilton. We are providing funding so you can get training for free. Booking essential, please contact Louisa on 01355 236644 or email louisa.maddison@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

Events, talks and dates for your diary

The New Lanark Christmas Experience started on Saturday 29th November, running every weekend through to the 22nd December with additional days on 23rd & 24th December. The event includes a special Panto 'A Magical Journey', a visit to Santa in his grotto, and our sparkling 'Spirit of Christmas' where your guide, Holly, tells you all about Christmas, past and present. Craft activities also take place on the days listed (from 12-4pm). All included in a Passport Ticket: 9.50 per person/35 for 2 adults & 2 children/48 for 2 adults & 4 children. VIVA Walkers and Strollers November to February programme, every Thursday 10.30amwatch out for the uploaded programme on our facebook page. Explore the many walks around the CAVLP area. Contact Joan Rankin on 01555 860664 for information. Dark Age Lanarkshire by Alex Wolf, Monday 9th December, Lanark and District Archaeological Society talk, Lanark Library, 7.30pm. Check out the 2014 programme and volunteering opportunities on www.ladas.org.uk. CAVLP Village network tour, Braidwood Hall, Saturday 14th December 2pm-4pm, Our last village network event for this year, come along and tell us how to conserve, enhance and celebrate your local area. Pick up info on local walks and tell us more about the heritage along the routes. Winter Warmer walk, Sunday 15th December, Falls of Clyde with Scottish Wildlife Trust, 1.30 to 3.30pm 3-6. Contact Laura Whitfield on 01555 665262 or email lwhitfield@swt.org.uk.

Counting up path improvements

Volunteers from Phoenix Futures worked with South Lanarkshire Council staff to install people counters on routes around Morgan Glen near Larkhall. The counters will tell us how many people are using existing and improved routes well hopefully see more people getting out and about enjoying their local heritage. We know how much volunteers enjoy their work outdoors and their help in installing the remaining people counters is invaluable. The CAVLP team have been out and about in Dalserf, Ashgill and Larkhall seeking comments on a project to improve walking links between those communities, Rosebank and the Clyde Walkway. The proposed route improvements are the first phase in a programme of works to better connect local communities to the unique l andscape of the Clyde and Avon valleys. Elements of the work will provide employability training as well as opportunities for a wide range of volunteering. The project, which is expected to start Spring 2014, will result in an improved access network of 6.25km including renovated footbridges, new waymarkers and finger posts and a heritage trail guide. CAVLPs Kirsten Robb said, There has been great feedback on the route, from practical issues to stories about the fascinating heritage along the way. Well be getting back in touch with local people as the project develops further.

Go down to the woods today!

You can take your teddy bears with you if you want, but we would also recommend the following:

Free activities and games:

Be a nature detective with the Woodland Trust http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk

Local Walking maps:

Lanark: www.clydeandavonvalley.com/downloads/Lanark_Leaflet_walks.pdf Strathaven: www.clydeandavonvalley.com/downloads/Strathaven_Leaflet_walks.pdf Carluke: www.clydeandavonvalley.com/downloads/carlukemaplayout.pdf

Mauldslie: The Lost Estate?

By Sarah Phillips, Built and Cultural Heritage Officer Mauldslie Castle no longer stands majestically on the banks of the Clyde, but you can still discover remnants of this once grand estate, with its designed parkland and woodlands. CAVLP commissioned consultants LUC to undertaken a conservation management plan for Mauldslie. This explored why Mauldslie is significant and how we can sustain that significance. It focused on the Clyde Valley National Nature Reserve to inform our partners, South Lanarkshire Council, in their management of this part of the estate, to look at opportunities for natural and heritage conservation projects as well as improving walking access and interpretation.

One project already developing is SLCs new walking route from Rosebank to Ashgill to Dalserf, discussed with local communities recently at our networking events. The route takes you along the Clattie Brae, an old boundary of the estate with a once splendid avenue of beech trees that brought people to the estate. Today it is over grown but this project will re-instate a traditional link for people to MauldTo understand the significance of Mauldslie, you need to explore its past and historian Christopher Dingwall provided us with a fascinating account of its long history. While the famous lost castle was built in the 18th century, our researchers found references to Mauldslie dating as far back as the 13th century. It was in 1792 that Thomas Carmicheal, 5th Earl of Hyndford commissioned well-known Scots architect Robert Adam to design and build the new mansion. While we may mourn its loss, others would not have. Sir Edmund Burke in 1855 said

it was built in the very worst possible taste!

However others admire it and we think its history is important. We plan to publish the history of Mauldslie when we re-launch our website in the New Year. But have we really lost this grand estate? No - look closely and you will discover evidence from the past remains. In the woodland while crossing the streams via stone culvert bridges, think about how these structures allowed Victorian ladies to travel through the estate in a horse and coach. Or consider the ancient trees in the parkland that would have formed part of the castles beautiful gardens. This weekend, why not take a step into the past and enjoy a walk in the National Nature Reserve at Mauldslie? If you are interested in its history, have photographs or information, please contact us.

BBC Landward highlights Clyde Valley Orchard revival

Last week saw the final of BBC Landwards four part trip down the River Clyde from source to sea. It highlighted two of the great features of the CAVLP area New Lanark and the revival of the Clyde Valley orchards. Presenter Dougie Vipond interviewed former chair of the Clyde Valley Orchard Group, Maureen Anning, who told viewers about the history of the orchards, which date back to the 1700s. The Heritage Lottery fund recognises the orchards contribution to the unique landscape of the area and through CAVLP has also part-funded 10 replanting grants to owners, as well as training courses and Fruit Day and Blossom Day events, all to ensure a healthy fruit supply into the future. If you missed Landward you can still view short clips on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03gl1m1 or find out more about Fruit Day by watching SLTVs Fruit Day film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpr6yJRXYGk&feature=share&list=PLD8772C2144277BCF.

Get Involved
Be part of the orchard revival: As nature winds down for winter, this is exactly the right time, before the soil gets much colder, to be planting fruit trees and bushes more advice on planting and local varieties of fruit trees is available on the Clyde Valley Orchard Group website http://www.clydevalleyorchards.co.uk/ management/ If youd like to help keep fruit growing alive in the Clyde Valley and learn new skills, why not contact us to find out how you can get involved, email info@clydenavonvalley.com

Volunteers needed:
Scottish Wildlife Trust are looking for a Teacher Naturalist, Archeological Dig volunteer, Events Assistant, Wildlife Watch Group leader and volunteers for the Lanark local members centre. Contact Laura Whitfield on 1555 665262 and email lwhitfield@swt.org.uk . More info: http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer/ Path Surveyors: If you like going for walks and are interested in improving routes why not join the South Lanarkshires Adopt-a-Path Scheme? Contact Chris McGinley on 07795 453441 or email chris.mcginley@southlanarkshire.gsx.gov.uk. More info: http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/ press/article/734/path_surveyors_wanted.