Friends of Almondell and Calderwood

Almondell News
New Orchard for Almondell
The planting of a new orchard got underway in January at Almondell Country Park The work was planned and organised by the Friends of Almondell, a group of volunteers who help to conserve and maintain West Lothians 220 acre country park. The group were successful in securing funding from the Central Scotland old walled garden, will introduce some twenty additional fruit trees to the park. The new orchard will include a selection of twenty Scottish-grown fruit trees, including different varieties of apple, pear and plum. A planting plan for the new orchard was staked out by the Friends group in early December, and the earth turned over in preparation for planting. Additional work involved removing one dead tree and moving another small tree to a more suitable position in the park. Many lowhanging branches were also removed at
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the proposed access points to the site. The new trees arrived at the park in early January. A number of local community groups got involved in the tree planting, including the East Calder Cubs, the parks childrens Look group, and pupils from Beatlie school. Stuart Appleyard, Chair of the Friends of Almondell, said: The new orchard will improve the biodiversity of the park, with the added bonus in future years of fruitbearing trees for the community to enjoy. We are very grateful to the Orchard Grant Scheme which funded both the purchase of the trees as well as provided training for members of our group. The Central Scotland Green Network Orchard Grant Scheme 2013 / 2014 is administered by Forth Environment Link. The Scheme is funded by the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund 2013, in partnership with the Forestry Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

local groups to rescue old orchards and plant new trees in their area. Two representatives of the Friends of Almondell have also received training under the grant scheme on how to set up an orchard. A few old fruit trees still survive from the days when Almondell was the private home and estate of the Erskine family. Now the new orchard, which will be sited just above the visitor centre, close to the

Green Network Orchard Grant Scheme which encourages and assists

Friends monthly meeting dates for 2014

3rd May 7th June 12th July 2nd August 6th September 4th October 1st November 6th December

North Driveway Upgraded

Work to upgrade the north driveway at Almondell Country Park was completed in March. The newly resurfaced and very smooth drive, now with passing places, was reopened to the public on Sunday, 16 March, in good time for the visitors coming to enjoy the daffodils and make the most of the park during the spell of warm sunny weather over the Easter weekend.

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Almondell News

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February
The Friends met on the 8th February to tackle some tree and rhododendron pruning. Undeterred by the rain, the Friends cut back branches on the path by the river below the children's play area in preparation for path re-surfacing. Snowdrops Snowdrops begin to flower in February when there is little other sign of life in the park. They grow ideally in damp woodland or on river banks and are therefore ideally suited to Almondell. There are already fairly large numbers of snowdrops in Almondell and the Friends are in discussion with the Council as to the best way to build on this, creating an enhanced visitor attraction at a typically quiet time of year. Currently snowdrops are concentrated at the rear of the garden at the Visitor Centre, and down the bank outside the garden fence leading down to the river. Walking in the direction of the Nasmyth Bridge, they grow all along the path in the woodland beside the river, on the banks below the disabled car park, and, turning back before the Nasmyth Bridge and returning to the Visitor Centre via the main path, they can be found throughout the woodland in this area.

There are currently several varieties of snowdrops in the park, but principally Galanthus Nivalia the Common Snowdrop, and Galanthus Flore Pleno, the Common Double Snowdrop.

March
The Friends worked hard on Saturday 8th March clearing the track that leads from the Nasmyth Bridge to the Larch Wood path. Stuart, Norrie, Dianna, Anna, Jim, Susan and new lad Scott all got stuck in. The group scraped mud, cut and cleared the branches of the old beech tree that had fallen on the path, and cleared and channelled the drains to prevent further water damage to the path. The condition of the track is now much improved - as lots of very muddy people could evidence Stargazing Friends assisted at the parks Star Gazing event, organised in partnership with the Royal Observatory and the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh on 6th March as part of National Astronomy Week.

April
The Friends group met for their monthly practical meeting on 12th April near the Oakbank Recycling site on A71 to start the project of pruning and re-tubing some 400 deer damaged trees. This involved identifying the damaged trees, removing spiral rabbit guards, pruning side shoots then re-tubing with 1.2m tube and a stake. It was a blustery morning but thankfully the rain kept away. A good start was made on the project, though there is still a great deal of work to be done. Great to see new faces joining the group again this month. A warm welcome to Peter, Sharon, Mike, Scott and Anna who have all recently joined.

Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis), an indicator of ancient woodland

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Easter Weekend
The Easter weekend arrived with fabulous warm sunny weather, bringing lots of people out to enjoy the park. Walking groups, cyclists, horse riders and families were just some of those making the most of the long weekend. The Friends were out on Easter Saturday, weeding the formal garden, organising a plant sale and selling home made cakes to raise funds to assist their work in the park. The willow weaving session organised by Rural Connect proved to be very popular with all age groups, everyone being delighted to take home the items they had made.

Childrenss LOOK Group

Almondells LOOK Group gets children involved in a range of fun outdoor activities. On 22 March they planted an amazing living willow dome in the Visitor Centre Garden with the help of Bernice from the Rural Connect project at Oatridge. The LOOK Group meets once a month on a Saturday morning at the Visitor Centre at Almondell from 10.30am 12 noon. Cost 2.36 per session. If your children enjoy being outside and finding out about nature in a fun and exciting way, why not bring them along for a variety of challenges, crafts, games and lots of laughter! Call 01506 882254 to book.

31st May Big Day Out 28th June Burn Scrambling 26th July Den Building 23rd August Bug Life

Invasive Non-Native Species

River Forth Fisheries Trust has a programme to prevent, monitor and control the introduction, spread and extent of Invasive NonNative Species , some of which are present in Almondell. The programme currently aims to control invasive non-native flora (Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and Skunk cabbage) together with American Mink control and monitoring of Signal Crayfish. The Trusts catchment areas include the River Almond, and a workshop to help identify these species will be run in the park on 1 June. If you would like to attend contact the ranger on 01506 882254 . Find out more about these species, and how you could get involved, at www.fishforth.co.uk/inns/

Friends of Almondell and Calderwood All enquiries to the Ranger Team at the Visitor Centre.
Phone: 01506

Almondell and Calderwood Country Park is a 220acre Country Park in Mid Calder and East Calder in West Lothian, Scotland. "Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park" is a group of volunteers who regularly help out with conservation and maintenance tasks. The 'Friends' meet once a month, usually the first Saturday in the month between 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon, to work with the Rangers. Tasks might include tree thinning, planting and weeding in the Visitor Centre garden, cutting back vegetation from paths, path repairs, drainage ditch clearance and pond clearing. We are always looking for new volunteers so if you would like to get involved please get in touch.

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E-mail: almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk

www.facebook.com/friendsofalmondell

Events and Activities 2014

To help you get out and explore the outstanding nature on your doorstep, West Lothian Councils Ranger Service has created their biggest events programme so far. Theres something for everyone, from guided walks celebrating our wildlife and natural history to our increasingly popular activity weeks that get kids out playing and experiencing nature, whatever the weathers doing! Find the full programme online or pick up a copy at the Visitor Centre.

Almondell Highlights
Sunday 11th May Den Building (6-12 year olds) Saturday 17th May Herbal Walk (for all) Sunday 25th May Watery Worlds (for families) Fri 30th May, Sat 31st May, Sun 1 June The Spokesman by Visible Fictions (for families) Mon 2nd June Explore Calderwood (for all) Sunday 8th June Pond Dipping (for families) Wednesday 2nd July Wonderful Wild Wednesdays

Sunday 31st August Bat Walk Friday 5th September Creatures of the Night Tuesday 16th September Oakbank & Calderwood Walk Sunday 28th September Food for Free Sunday 5th October Autumn Collecting Sunday 19th October Lantern Making Sunday 16th November Feed the Birds Sunday 14th December A Country Christmas: Gathering and making Christmas decorations