Outdoors

out & about

Kilmacolm Horticultural Society

The Virtual Flower Show, undertaken by the Kilmacolm Horticultural Society when the traditional Annual Show needed cancellation, provided a delightful alternative. 43 members provided a huge range of photographs including the traditions of the usual Flower Show plus some views of their gardens in bloom. The website continues to entertain visitors, please go to www. kilmacolmhorticultural.com and click on ‘Virtual Show’. Until the restrictions are eased to enable us to meet together in larger groups once more, until the public halls are open for meetings once more, we are unable to hold our popular Lectures, Plant sales, Coffee morning etc. But normal activities will be resumed a.s.a.p. Enjoy the changing colours of autumn into winter, prepare your bulbs for spring blooms, take care of each other.

A Winter’s Tale

Brighter Bridge of Weir’s summer plants lasted quite well this year but, alas, all things come to an end. We have to arrange a suitable time for getting the summer plants out and the winter ones in. It’s not an easy job; each part has to be done quickly, so we have to pick a time when most of us are available, traffic is light and the weather’s not too bad. At the time of writing, phase one (summer plants out) has been completed and by the time you read this, the winter plants should be in and settled down. And while we’re looking ahead, our quite famous rustic reindeer are making their appearance. They’ve been very successful for us over the past couple of years and so popular that we’ve started making them earlier. There’s a new addition this year, too - a table-top size for just £6. If you’d like to pre-order you can on 07969 642487, or (01505) 613043. We can deliver, or you can collect from our popup shop on December 5 (more about this on our Facebook page). Meantime, keep the heid everyone, and stay safe.

RSPB Lochwinnoch

So, December is now upon us, this has been an exceptional and very different year for all of us. But our amazing reserve is still here and all the different wildlife that calls the reserve home. We have all our winter migrants in from colder climes, Whooper swans and Greylag geese, jostling for space on the Airds meadow and Barr loch with Goosander, Golden eye, Wigeon and Teal. But the usual all year-round suspects are still here so look out for graceful Mute swans and noisy Mallard ducks. As you walk the beautiful trails see if you can spot cheeky robins, tiny Coal tits, and beautiful do so by calling Neil

Blue tits, Great tits, Goldfinch and even the odd Pheasant at our feeding station. Our reserve shop is open so why not come and see if you can find an unusual Christmas gift for a loved one. We have a wide range of Christmas cards and gifts, diaries and calendars. But don’t fret we continue to stock all your RSPB favourites, and every purchase helps us to protect wildlife and their habitats in the UK. But as usual we aren’t forgetting our younger visitors to the reserve, for the month of December we will have a Reindeer scavenger hunt as our Christmas activity on the reserve. We will hide our wooden reindeer along our Airds meadow trail for you to find. Santa’s Reindeer Hunt – cost: £1.50 per child plus normal trail fees which apply for non – members. This activity will run for the month of December anytime between 10-4pm, 7 days a week. Please when visiting our reserve stick to current Scottish government guidelines including travel out with different council areas.

Kilbarchan & District Beekeepers Association

It’s the month when beekeepers can settle down and put their feet up by the fire and take a break from hive care. Well not exactly. December is not suitable for opening the hives for inspections or the bees could be chilled with disastrous consequences. Inside they are in their winter cluster, maintaining the temperature by contracting and relaxing their flight muscles. However, for the beekeeper there is still some work to be done, from the occasional visit to the apiary to make sure that all is well, to cleaning and checking equipment. Now is a good time to use wax collected over the summer and turn it into presents for Christmas. Candles give a lovely warm glow and wax can also be made into cosmetics such as soaps and lip balm. At this time of year, the recent honey harvest finds its way into cakes and drinks for the festivities too. During the autumn there have been plenty of on- line lectures and meetings to keep beekeepers informed and connected including monthly meetings arranged by the KBDA. Kilbarchan Beekeepers continue to enjoy their winter meetings online during restrictions with discussions, talks and advice. If you are interested in beekeeping for yourself please contact our secretary via helenajbee@gmail.com who will provide more details about our association and how to join. We have a Facebook page which is reserved for members and beekeeping friends, but you can follow us on Twitter @KilbarchanBees