Clyde Muirshiel News

New Wheelyboat at Castle Semple Named Following a recent ceremony, the new V17 Wheelyboat has a name - Lightyear! Thank you to Kyle from Corseford School for the suggestion, named after his favourite movie character. The Wheelyboat will provide accessible boating for all to meet growing demand.

Kibble Outdoor Education Group The Ranger Service have just finished a block of outdoor education with S1 pupils from the Paisley residential school. They did den building, photography, water and land minibeast hunting, fire lighting as well as climbing Windy Hill. See K’s & T’s photos using macro skills and different angles of lichen and a dead tree – cracking shots!

Castle Semple Conservation Volunteers Update Thanks to our hard-working Thursday volunteers all the fences and benches and planters at Muirshiel have a new coat of paint, the SRANI path is looking much tidier and new benches. Like to join them? Email the Rangers on cmrp.rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list.

Responsible Access This time of year is very busy for farmers with livestock surrounding the Park’s locations and trails. Please keep your dog under close control, if in doubt on a lead, when near any animals or wildlife. Refer to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for further guidance.

Renfrewshire Sheltered Housing Joined the Muirshiel Ranger team for some Easter craft activities and enjoyed walks around the Country trail over a 6 week programme of activity.

Youth Volunteers Do you know a young person doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award? The Ranger Service runs a weekly volunteer group on Sunday mornings, 10am-12 noon. This month they’ve been working on spring cleaning with litter picks and painting at Muirshiel. Email the Rangers on cmrp.rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list.

Lochwinnoch Community Walk Looking for some gentle exercise and good company? Meet on Mondays (except public holidays) at the McKillop at 10:30am and are led by the Park’s Ranger Service. At the start of July this will be moving to Castle Semple as the start point. Walks are 1-1.5 hours long at a social pace. See you there!

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RSPB News

With the days getting longer and the temperatures higher, June is a fantastic time to visit RSPB Lochwinnoch. Watch out for osprey fishing over the lochs, great crested grebes with young nestled on their backs, dragonflies and damselflies patrolling their territories around the water’s edge or simply enjoy a relaxing stroll around our easily accessible trails. Swifts, swallows and Martins can frequently be seen swooping through the air, chiffchaff, blackcap, willow and sedge warbler all add to the chorus of birdsong that can be heard all around and greenveined white, small tortoiseshell, red admiral and peacock butterfly all add a splash of colour alongside the many varied wildflowers that are in bloom.

If you enjoy seeing the wildflowers, but are unsure of their names, or would simply like to learn more about them, why not come along for our “wildflower guided walk” (Saturday 3rd June) led by local botanist Jim Blackwood? Jim will point out interesting species as you explore the trails, tell you about the folklore or varied uses of some of the plants as well as other interesting information. To book this please visit events.rspb.org.uk/lochwinnoch. In addition to this we will also have our usual offer of self-led activities for families running throughout the month, details of which can also be found on our website.

Our shop continues to stock our popular range of “Wild Isles” items, inspired by the recent BBC documentary series. The shop and visitor centre are open daily between 9:30am and 5pm.

If you would like any further information about the reserve, please call 01505 842663 or email us on lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk We can also be found on Facebook @RSPBLochwinnochNR and twitter @RSPBLochwinnoch

Image above of ‘Great Crested Grebe’ by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

Sunday 4

th

June - Carruth, Bridge of Weir

2pm - 5pm @ CARRUTH, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SG

Mr and Mrs Charles Maclean. Nominated charity: Marie Curie 60%.

Over 20 acres of long-established rhododendrons, woodland with good bluebells, young arboretum and lawn gardens in a lovely landscaped setting. New landscaping carried out in 2020. Directions: Access from the B786 Kilmacolm/Lochwinnoch road. From Bridge of Weir take the Torr Road until you get to the B786. Turn right and after about 100 metres, the garden entrance is on the right. About 3.5 miles from Kilmacolm and 5.5 miles from Lochwinnoch on the B786.

Sunday 25 th June - Bishop’s

Kilmacolm

2pm - 5pm @ Bishop’s House, Kilmacolm PA13 4PD

House,

The Bishop’s House is one of six villas in Kilmacolm designed by James Salmon in 1905. Come and explore the grounds as they open their doors to the public for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. It was originally named Miyanoshta, but renamed when it became the official residence of the Catholic Bishops of Paisley (19481993). The house is now a family home and much care has been taken in preserving the house and garden, both in landscaping and planting, which remain mostly as designed by Salmon. The house sits at the top of the garden and is framed by mature beech trees. There is a burn running down the side of the property (children should be supervised).

Directions: PLEASE ACCESS THE GARDEN FROM THE GLENCAIRN ROAD ENTRANCE. Turn off the A761 in the centre of Kilmacolm onto Houston Road or Porterfield Road for access to the garden on Glencairn Road. Follow SGS signage. Parking on-road. McGill’s buses run through Kilmacolm on the A761.

£5 entry / children free