Everyone got the chance to build their own bird box, to give wildlife a home. Lots of people also took packs of wildflower seeds home to grow wildlife friendly garden plants.
Local musicians performed and ran workshops to give people the chance to learn new skills. One of the highlights of the festival was a guest appearance by Michelle McManus, who lives locally and is interested in improving this greenspace for wildlife.
S.W.A.T. event
Springwatch Action Teams (S.W.A.T.) transformed four areas in Scotland into wildlife havens.
At Hogganfield new ponds were created. Volunteers responded to adverts on BBC Radio Scotland and in the local area, and turned out in great numbers to help. On the day, volunteers planted over 1500 wildflowers, created a hibernaculum (frog home) and started digging a new pond.
If you are interested in future volunteering opportunities please contact:
Cath Scott on 0141 287 7026 or e-mail catherine.scott@land.glasgow.gov.uk
Cath Scott, Biodiversity Officer
“Thanks to everyone for all their invaluable help. These new ponds provide a valuable wildlife habitat at this Local Nature Reserve. Frogs and aquatic invertebrates, such as dragonflies, will soon make use of the new wetlands. Hopefully Water Voles, which have declined nationally, will move into these areas as they are present in the park.”
Wayne Travis, Landscape Officer
“Another species to benefit will be humans! Colourful wildflowers will create attractive areas. The ponds will also help to reduce areas of localised flooding, as water is now diverted away from paths and into the ponds. The ponds are lasting resources for environmental education. A wheelchair accessible platform will be constructed so that local school children have safe access to a pond for wildlife discovery.”
Glasgow's year of action was launched on 9th June 2007 at a hugely successful Springwatch Festival in Kelvingrove Park. Thousands of wildflowers were planted to naturalise the park pond, create meadows and enhance the woodland. Everyone got the chance to join in by helping with the planting, building bird boxes, making bird feeders and going on a guided walk of wildlife discovery.
There are many ways you too can help wildlife.
Events
Visit the Aren't Birds Brilliant exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Check out the Wild About Glasgow countryside events programme for a whole host of fun environmental activites happening all over the City.
Garden for Wildlife
Gardens of any size, including window boxes and pots, can be managed to benefit wildlife.
Some top tips are:
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Don't be too tidy! Leave some areas of long grass, seed heads and dead wood, as these are all beneficial to wildlife.
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Put up bird and bat boxes, to give a helping hand.
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Create a garden pond to provide a home for a whole host of animals including frogs and damselflies (remember to have shallow edges so the animals can get in and out).
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Plant native berry bearing shrubs and trees to provide natural food for birds and insects.
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Supplement natural food by feeding birds, and remember to keep feeding once you've started.
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Plant nectar rich flowers to attract adult butterflies, and look after the caterpillars too by leaving patches of long grass and nettles.
For further information on wildlife gardening visit the Gardening Advice section of the RSPB website.
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Visit a local wildlife site
Glasgow's wildlife can be seen everywhere in the City. Visit a site near you to experience it first hand.
Record wildlife
Help us to help wildlife. The more that is known about the species that live in our city the easier it is to protect. Send any records to biological.records@csglasgow.org or take part in Wild About Glasgow or the Biodiversity In Glasgow (BIG) Project.
Get Involved
There are opportunities to get involved with practical work at sites across the city. Visit the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) Scotland website or Glasgow's Countryside Rangers website for further information.
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