Ayrshire Newsletter
Spring 2014
Chairman’s note, March 2014
Up to the time of writing this note, the middle of January, it has been a slightly depressing winter. It has been mild, but the general impression is of endless wind and rain. Will we get any of that cold bright weather that tempts one out to enjoy the stark winter countryside? The warm second half to last summer brought large numbers of Small Tortoiseshells into our gardens. Many of these should now be hibernating in our garages and garden sheds. If the mild winter does not tempt too many of them to wake up early (usually a fatal mistake) they may give us a welcome start to spring 2014. In our Gailes Marsh reserve, the caterpillars from our first batch of reintroduced Small Blues should also be hibernating. It will probably be May before we know whether some of them have survived their first winter, to mark a tentative return to Ayrshire after an absence of about 40 years.
The winter meetings programme is now in full swing. Having heard about urban deer, the Carrifran Wildwood and marine life around Arran we are looking forward to hearing about the most successful group of animals on Earth – yes beetles! After this there are Red Squirrels and the latest news about the Knapdale beavers to look forward to. After our AGM on 15th April we are going to try something new – a wildlife “Question Time”. We have invited a panel of local wildlife experts to answer your questions about local plants, animals or fungi; or discuss controversial aspects of conservation policy. This will be your chance to get the answers to those questions that are puzzling you, or perhaps to really get them arguing about some current conservation problem. If you can write your questions out before the meeting it would be very helpful. I am looking forward to being a surrogate Dimbleby for an hour.
We try to keep our AGMs fairly short and painless, and this year we will want to move on to our “Question Time”. However, we also hope that our AGM this year will mark a bit of a turning point for the Ayrshire group. There is much that can be done to protect the excellent range of habitats and species in our county and we are eager to continue and expand the work of the Trust in Ayrshire. However, each of us can only do so much. During the last year we have struggled a bit, with a Members’ Centre committee that has three unfilled vacancies, and has an average age that just seems to increase each year. There is only one possible outcome if this trend continues much longer; and I am sure I don’t need to spell it out for you. I know I have said this before, but we do need some more help. If you could spare even a little of your time to help with local organisation or better still, join the MC Committee (it only meets 4 or 5 times a year), then please contact our Secretary, Wendy Annan on or 01292 264170. Ayrshire without its SWT group is unthinkable. [Contact details are also on our website >.]
Enjoy the returning spring weather, flowers and butterflies (and think whether you could spare us a few precious hours from your diary).
Roger Hissett
EVENING MEETINGS PROGRAMME
In early January, it seems hard to believe that we shall be (should be!) enjoying Spring by the time you read this, with only the last two winter meetings to come.
We shall continue meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings in the comfortable premises of the Horizon Hotel, Esplanade, Ayr KA7 1DT. This provides plentiful parking, with all disabled facilities, and tea and coffee available in the interval. There is no charge for our meetings.
18th March – Simon Jones: Beaver update.
As the trial reintroduction of European Beavers in Knapdale nears its conclusion, we hope that Simon (or one of the “beaver team”) can come to Ayr to bring us up to date and discuss future possibilities.
15th April – AGM followed by “Wildlife Question Time”.
Bring along your questions to put to our panel of experts.
Together we are Stronger
Partnership working allows the sharing of resources to achieve goals that would be impossible individually. A shining example of this is the Garnock Valley Futurescape initiative. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB, along with many other bodies big and small, intend ending the isolation of designated sites and wildlife reserves in the landscape. By helping the neighbours improve their land for wildlife, species are able to move about and survive threats such as climate change or temporary habitat damage. For more information, visit the RSPB website Futurescape pages.
The Bogside area of Irvine is particularly rich for wildlife and potential projects. Our Garnock Floods Wildlife Reserve is a key site there. Its diverse birdlife benefits from being part of the wider habitat network. Improvements to Garnock Floods and to the network are planned, connecting us with the RSPB’s reserve at the other end of the estuary. Enhanced bird viewing and information panels will benefit both the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Futurescape.
Futurescape progress, projects and opportunities will appear on websites, in the press and other media so keep your eyes peeled for how you can get involved.
Gill Smart
Reserves Manager South West Scotland
Editor’s note: Even if you think that you don’t know Garnock Floods, you’ve probably seen more of it than you realise. On the train fromIrvineto Kilwinning, there is a really good view of the reserve on the right just before crossing the river. New photographs, and more information on the reserve and its new management plan can be found on the website:
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (registered number SC040247) having its registered
office atHarbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, EdinburghEH6 6NF. It is also a Scottish registered charity (charity number SC005792).