After 4 weeks of wildlife spotting 'down under', we eventually ventured out yesterday (26 December 2012) to see what winter in Glasgow could offer.
We visited Dawsholm Park, which is also one of the City's 8 Local Nature Reserves, and hoped for a pleasant morning's stroll.
Right away we encountered a small flock of birds - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and a beautiful male Bullfinch. This was quickly followed by a Red Fox, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and the ever present and numerous Magpie.
The views from the park over the City can be superb but today it was grey and misty....
However, the Highland Cattle posed well......................................................................
and another Red Fox successfully managed to catch and despatch a small mammal, with the local Magpies looking out for any scraps...................................
The Highland Cattle have been introduced as a management tool to help improve the grassland for wild flowers and insects. Elsewhere in the LNR it appears that contractors are still carrying out works in the woodlands with evidence of the cutting of rhododendron ponticum regrowth. (Note: Following on from the extensive 'rhody' removal over the past few years, the stumps should be sprayed to prevent any regrowth. Whilst, in the main, this appears to have been done, some small areas of regrowth appeared during the summer).
As we continued through the park the various bird and bat boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves appeared to be intact. However, some of the paths were still impassable as a result of wind blown trees from last winter! We eventually reached the upper walkway overlooking the River Kelvin, which was in full flow...........................
This walkway was extremely muddy and clearly many people had chosen to leave the path thus creating disturbance to the woodland floor which can't be good for any plants/understorey trying to come through after years of having been smothered by rhododendron.
Sadly, dog walkers were also continuing to hang bags of dog dirt on the boundary railing.
As the steps down to the River Kelvin are still blocked by fallen trees, we moved back towards the new pond created by 'Froglife'.............................................
Since our last visit, the Council has erected an interpretation board explaining the purpose of the pond and politely requesting dog walkers not to allow their dogs to enter the pond.....
However, just next to the sign were 2 bags of 'rubbish', which on closer inspection included yet more dog dirt!
The Council has erected signs asking people to report 'dog owners' that flout the regulations but still we see the evidence. The day finished with a dog running straight towards me with shouts by its owner that it wouldn't bite. Over the last 12 months I have been intimidated by dogs, primarilly packs of dogs being 'looked after' by dog walking companies, and been subject to verbal abuse by their owners/walkers. I neither 'like' nor 'dislike' dogs. However, I feel that I should not be subjected to dogs, 'friendly or otherwise', running towards me, barking at me, baring their teeth at me or jumping up on me. The fact that this is happening in a Local Nature Reserve makes the situation even worse.
Local Nature Reserves are meant to be quiet, peaceful places that are good for wildlife and which can be enjoyed by people without creating disturbance or harm to the wildlife. They should benefit from positive habitat management (for wildlife) and good access (for people). People should feel safe and should certainly not feel intimidated when visiting a LNR (or any other park).
Dawsholm is excellent for wildlife; a small number of dedicated Council staff are doing their best to manage and improve the habitats with the support of local groups such as 'Froglife' and the 'Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves'. The removal of rhododendron has opened up the LNR for the benefit of wildlife and people. However, I have been told by a few people they still don't feel safe in the park mainly because of the dogs.
Despite its many good points, I am afraid that Dawsholm is no longer a place I would recommend to visit.
