Updates

Update 2
Monitoring continues at both Hogganfield Park and Trinley Brae. Plants are slowly starting to appear in the seeded areas at both Hogganfield Park and Trinley Brae but these areas may require enhancing through ‘plug planting’, etc. If required, this would be done over the autumn. We are, however, pleased to report that the white flowering Heath Bedstraw and Lesser Stitchwort have appeared in great numbers in the uncut areas at Hogganfield Park.

Update 1
Following on from the public consultation we can confirm that the two demonstration projects will go ahead and work is underway. We are also pleased to report that funding has been obtained from Scottish Natural Heritage towards meeting some of the costs of the works.

Introduction

The aims of the project, therefore, are: 

• To create colourful, attractive meadows for people and wildlife to enjoy
• To trial the creation of wildflower meadows using various techniques
   

Project Details

Two demonstration project sites, have been identified, one at Trinley Brae, Knightswood and the other at Hogganfield Park.

The total area of meadow to be created by these 2 schemes is just under 9 hectares (approximately 89,000 m2).

The work will be trialled in order to assess benefits including machinery capability and increased plant and animal life. Depending on its success it could be rolled out in a number of other sites

The following four different treatments within each site will be carried out. This will allow the different methods of treatment to be assessed. All of them will require to be cut once a year and the cut material removed. The treatments methods are:

• Turf Stripping - Strip the turf from the area and remove from the site and then sow with seed.
• Rake Turf - Scrape the turf to create gaps and then sow with seed.
• Plug Planting - Change the cutting from amenity cuts to a meadow cut and plant wildflowers.
• Cutting Change - Meadow creation can be achieved in some situations naturally, by a changing from frequent cuts to once yearly meadow cut.

Small-scale meadow creation has occurred in recent years. This has included grassland management by British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and Scottish Wildlife Trust trainees on Council-owned wildlife sites rather than on managed parks or open spaces.

These treatments have improved both the attractiveness and the plant and animal life (biodiversity) of the grassland. In order to maintain these improvements meadows need to be managed.

Management

Seeds should be sown by mid April, whilst small plants should be planted by May.

In all situations, the wildflower meadows require an annual cut and lift. The annual cut takes place between September and mid October. All cut material will be removed off site.

Litter removal will still be carried out and the grass next to paths will continue to be mown. Cut walking strips at larger plots will provide public access to view the meadows.


Public Consultation/Signage

Information boards will be placed at the entrances where large scale changes are proposed.

Local Councillors and residents whose properties border on the boundary to the site of the project will be kept informed.


Further Information

If you want more information or have any enquiries please contact:

Henry Adomako,
Project Officer
Land and Environmental Services
Parks Development
37 High Street
Glasgow
G1 1LX
Phone: 0141 287 73744
E-mail: henry.adomako@ls.glasgow.gov.uk