Glasgow City Bio-Enhancement sites

Glasgow City Council worked with TCV to identify a list of several priority sites across the city. Together we recognised that a more reactive way of working was required to address the issues greenspaces and groups were facing. This way of working also means we can focus on Local Nature Reserves that require work to be carried out when it arises. This may be due to the seasonal nature of some tasks, or because of a site needing to be prioritised.

This priority list forms the basis of the work that we deliver under the Glasgow Bio-Enhancement Programme.

The map shows the sites where tasks have taken place across the city.

Glasgow Green meadow – TCV volunteers learning how to use a scythe.

LINN PARK GLASGOW GREEN

Over 2 days working alongside the Friends of Linn Park we started our work on the Glasgow Bio-Enhancement Programme at Linn Park.

We also held successful events with COP26 volunteers to improve the biodiversity and access in the park, in which the Friends of Linn Park played a big part. As well as practical activities, we demonstrated different habitat surveying techniques, giving them the skills and experience to undertake Citizen Science activities in the future.

On this site we have, so far: • Worked with 7 TCV volunteers and 7 members of Friends of Linn Park • Undertook training with 75 COP26 volunteers over 4 events • Removed 530m2 of invasive species • Maintained 400m2 of wildflower meadow • Improved 260m of paths • Cleared a pond • Removed epicormic growth • Improved 100m of access paths With the COP26 team, we ran events involving 28 COP26 volunteers to maintain the area around the Irish and Highland Famine Memorial. We also taught the volunteers how to do an air quality survey using the lichen growing on the trees as a pollution indicator. We also improved the meadow area along King’s Drive, during which we trained some of the volunteers in scything techniques.

TCV assisted with the Sakura Tree Planting Festival alongside the Friends of the People’s Palace, Winter Gardens and Glasgow Green, plus local schools, and Lord Provost Philip Braat.

On this site we have, so far: • Worked with 23 volunteers and 26 community volunteers from the Friends of the People’s Palace, Winter Gardens and

Glasgow Green • Worked with 12 TCV volunteers • Trained 28 COP26 volunteers • Managed 2,500m2 of wildflower meadow • Planted 2,000 bulbs and 27 trees

“I thoroughly enjoyed every exercise and learned so much.”

In November 2021 we worked with GCC staff and the Friends of Bellahouston Park to assist with the Sakura Tree Festival – celebrating the friendship between the Uk and Japan. We also managed the wildflower meadow beside the running track. With the meadow management work, we were able to train a volunteer on strimmer use and that volunteer recently gained their Lantra ‘ticket’.

On this site we have, so far: • Over 5 days worked with 11 community volunteers from the Friends of

Bellahouston Park and 14 TCV volunteers • strimmed and managed 982m2 wildflower meadows • Planted 1,900 bulbs and 25 trees At Queen’s Park we assisted GCC staff with Sakura Tree Planting.

On this site we have, so far: • Over the 3 days we worked with 10 TCV volunteers and 4 members of the local community • Planted 34 trees and 1,800 bulbs

Queen’s Park Sakura Tree Planting – Community groups working with GCC and TCV staff and volunteers.

Ruchill Park meadow – Butterfly Conservation Scotland working with TCV staff and volunteers. KING’S PARK RUChIll PaRk

We worked with the Friends of King’s Park over 2 days to create a new meadow. Some of the Yellow Rattle seed used on this site was collected and donated by a local community group. At Ruchill Park we worked with Butterfly Conservation Scotland to manage the meadow. Another joint work party is planned to continue to improve this area for biodiversity on 3rd March 2022.

On this site we have, so far: • Over 2 days we involved 6 TCV volunteers and 14 members of the Friends of King’s

Park • Created 550m2 of new wildflower meadow On this site we have, so far: • Worked with 3 TCV volunteers and 6

Butterfly Conservation Scotland volunteers • Managed 1,750m2 of the wildflower meadow

sPRIngBURn PaRk

At Springburn Park, TCV volunteers cut 80m2 circles into the meadow area to sow wildflowers and improve the biodiversity. We then had follow-up sessions with Butterfly Conservation Scotland to improve this work further.

On this site we have, so far: • Over 3 days we worked with 5 TCV volunteers • Managed 1,800m2 of wildflower meadow

At Dams to Darnley, we attempted to cut the meadow with a ride-on mower, with cut and lift capacity. This was to try different methods of cutting the thick bush and reeds on site. Unfortunately, the machine broke down not long after we began and so future work at the meadow in the park is still to be organised. We did have a follow-up training session with a TCV volunteer to use a petrol strimmer and maintained 1km of path.

CART AND KITTOCH VALLEY

Along the White Cart River, we worked on removing the invasive non-native species Himalayan Balsam. We also cleared butterbur and maintained the meadow.

Recently, we began working on steps along the Magnificent 11 trail and installed cross drainage on flooded sections of the path.

On this site we have, so far: • Trained 1 volunteer in strimming • Maintained 1,000m of path On this site we have, so far: • Over 7 days worked with 28 TCV volunteers • Removed 730m2 of invasive species • Maintained 1,430m2 of wildflower meadow • Improved 206m of path

Left: Cart and Kittoch Valley – TCV removing invasive species Himalayan Balsam (before). Below: Cart and Kittoch Valley – TCV removing invasive species Himalayan Balsam (after).

Amanda Malcolm, TCV Team Leader, discussing tree planting with pupils from Battlefield Primary School.

CATHKIN BRAES TCV at THE LOST WOODS

At Cathkin Braes, TCV volunteers worked to remove beech saplings from the woodland. At another session, volunteers removed invasive species, sowed wildflowers, and diversified the heath habitat. TCV has supported The Lost Woods, ‘Glasgow Children’s Woodland’ in which 151 Glasgow primary schools and over 1,200 children participate in the largest woodland creation in Glasgow for 40 years.

TCV led 2 tree planting technique training days. The training sessions were delivered for The Lost Woods ‘Tree Planting Leaders’. By providing training to these volunteers, we not only supported the delivery of The Lost Woods project, but future volunteer-led tree planting and community projects. We also provided staffing and volunteers for the tree planting week in October 2021 when 2,200 trees were planted.

On this site we have, so far: • Worked with 13 TCV volunteers • Maintained 37,000m2 of woodland • 2,000m2 of invasive species and heath meadow management

“It was great to see so many children already so interested in looking after the environment, and how keen they were to get stuck in.”