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The Millennium Nature Reserve |
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4. This pond was built in the autumn of 1999 after frogspawn was found in a plastic bag in the woods during the spring of that year. Since then the pond has been colonised by water beetles, pond Skaters and Common Newts. Frogspawn was laid in the pond for the first time during 2001.
Native marsh plants have been planted around the pond including Flag Iris, Medowsweet and Marsh Marigold. Common Spotted and Northern Marsh Orchids have also been planted here as they were to be destroyed by a new housing scheme in Castlemilk.
The circular millstone was found during pathwork, buried under soil and leaves. There were many mills along the river in the past and it may have come from one of those. |
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5. From this point you have a fine view of one of the limekilns in the quarry. You are now looking at what was the steep quarry cliff face but has since eroded to form a slope. You may be able to see a ditch behind you running behind the log circle to the top of the staircase. This was to prevent the quarry from flooding after heavy rain. |
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The dead trees on the bottom of the glen are Elm trees. There were many large Elms in this area but all have been affected by Dutch Elm Disease which is caused by a fungus carried to the tree by an otherwise harmless bettle. |
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This gate replaces an old green iron gate that marked a former entrance into the woods. It is thought to indicate an old track from a nearby coal mine to the limestone quarry. The original iron pillars were retained and painted to reflect the surrounding habitats. One of the pillars shows the wildlife found in the meadows and the other shows plants and animals found in the wood itself. |
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7. A solid wooden bridge was built to cross a small drain from the stable yard. Wildflowers such as Purple Loosestrife and Ragged Robin have been planted here, as well as Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo-flower and Water Avens.
The tall fast-growing plant situated behind the fence is Japanese Knotweed. This plant originates from the far east but is commonly found in gardens. It frequently escapes and when it does it can dominate an area by mid-summer, shutting out light to the woodland floor and preventing other wild plants from growing there. |
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