Update

New wildlife could soon be heading to Robroyston thanks to our ongoing biodiversity initiatives.

Don’t be alarmed when water levels drop in the wetland at Robroyston Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) this autumn – because it’s all part of a plan to encourage new habitats to the area.

Staff from Land and Environmental Services, in partnership with local community groups, are planning to open a sluice to drain away the water and attract other animals and wildlife, which prefer muddy conditions. For example, snipe, common sandpiper and greenshank.  It is the first time such work has been carried out. It will start later this month when the bird breeding season ends.

The sluice will help change the water levels so that a variety of wildlife can benefit. New ponds were created last winter so there will still be deeper water available for the water birds, including moorhen and coot that have already raised young this summer.  Another benefit is that it will allow water to be stored in the pond during wet spells in the winter which will help alleviate flooding on adjacent streets.

Given normal winter rainfall, the water levels will be back to normal before the spring so you should see the ducks and moorhens breeding again next summer.

Anyone who would like to know more about the Local Nature Reserve and its importance can contact the Conservation Team on 0141 287 7960.

Robroyston Park Local Nature Reserve - mud, moorhens and much more

Anyone who has visited the Robroyston Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) this autumn may have noticed one or two changes to the water levels in the main pond, and large machines moving across the marsh. Don’t be alarmed by this! This is all part of the plan to make the wetland even more attractive to a wide range of animals. By the end of the year the following activities to help wetland animals should have been completed:

1. The clearance of a blockage in the sluice at the northwest end of the large pond. This will help us to change the water levels so that a variety of wildlife can benefit. It will be opened in the autumn, if weather conditions allow, letting water out and thus attracting other animals that prefer the muddy conditions and the food this supplies. Waterbirds that have already raised young in the summer, such as Moorhen, will not be affected as there will still be some deeper water. The sluice will also allow the water to be stored in the pond during the latter part of the autumn/early winter, so it could also contribute towards helping alleviate winter flooding on adjacent streets.
2. New ponds will have been dug within the marsh. These will provide new homes for dragonflies and amphibians to breed in as well as acting as refuges for water birds such as Moorhen and Coot.

Spotted Redshank – this rare wading bird was seen at the marsh in September 2006, (there had only been 5 records of this migrant bird in the city prior to this). It is anticipated that other wading birds will be seen as a result of the creation of more muddy areas.

As well as providing a helping hand for the wildlife and assisting in water management, Council staff have also been active in helping people learn and understand more about the wildlife. A ‘Wildlife on the Wing’ event as part of ‘C in the Park’ introduced people to the wildlife that inhabits the small pond just off Robroyston Road and several young people helped to plant wildflowers to attract more wildlife to the woodland and grassland areas near Quarrywood Avenue.

During the coming year we are hoping to further improve people’s enjoyment and understanding of the LNR by creating new entrances to the nature reserve from Robroyston Road and near Gadburn School with wildlife art features included in these. We will also be creating new signs to describe the importance of the wildlife in the LNR, and improving the condition of the paths around the wetlands to assist access for visitors. In addition to all of this we will of course be again organising an LNR open day as part of another celebration event in the summer.