The RSPB Scotland Glasgow Local Group are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! To mark the occasion, several members are taking part in today’s Kiltwalk between Glasgow and Balloch. Karen has been part of the group for 25 years and has been keeping us up to date on her training ahead of the big event.
My husband Alan and I moved up to Glasgow in 1997 after getting married and getting work up here. We wanted to meet other people with similar interests in photography and wildlife and so we went to the Glasgow RSPB Local Group’s talk by Chris Packham. We were made to feel very welcome and the talk was excellent. We were hooked and continued going to the Group meetings. Alan volunteered to do the newsletter to begin with and a year or so later I also joined the committee and became Membership Secretary. Alan did outings, and group leader posts whilst I progressed onto Outings Organiser about 5 years ago.
We wanted to do some extra fundraising for the Group as it is our 50th anniversary this year and, as I had done the Kiltwalk a couple of times before with my friend, I thought it would a great way to get Group members involved. We also thought we could do some birdwatching as we walked along the Forth and Clyde canal and River Leven. As it was, only our current Group leader Neil Rankine, my husband Alan Hill and myself are taking part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk on 30 April, although many of our Group members have donated to RSPB Scotland. So far this year we have already had a sponsored bird race and sold Group calendars, and in May we will be holding a plant sale.
Last Saturday, to help prepare for the event, I walked 16.2 miles from Dumbarton to Clydebank and back again along the Forth and Clyde canal and the national cycle route 7. The weather was glorious and the Cherry Blossom, Bluebells and Wild Garlic were all blooming and they in turn attracted Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Small White Butterflies. For birds there were the usual Chiffchaff - heard even above my music - Mallard, nesting Mute Swans very close to the path, Goosanders and Moorhens.
There were a lot of people out and about, and I'm sure a lot of them might have been training for the Kiltwalk.
The little permanent house boats at Bowling Basin looked amazing in the sunlight. I hope the weather is not as sunny and warm during the Kiltwalk itself, my preference would be dry but a bit cooler. I don't ask for much, do I?
On Sunday, I did a 7.5 mile walk with the Helensburgh and West Dunbartonshire Ramblers Group. This is a hobby which I recently started. They are such a friendly group and I get to see some brilliant scenery and do amazing walks, with great company, which I wouldn't necessarily I have done on my own.
The walk was the full circuit of the Falls of Clyde at New Lanark. It was a very scenic walk and although it was only 7.5 miles, there were a lot of height changes up and down the gorges, so it was a good workout. It was a bit showery near the end of the walk.
I heard Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Long Tailed Tits, as well as seeing Goosander, Jackdaw and Mistle Thrush. Scottish Wildlife Trust looks after part of the site and previously, Peregrine Falcons have nested there, but unfortunately not for a couple of years. There are also Otters, Dippers and Kingfishers in the area, but not seen by me today.
I’m feeling very excited as well as a slightly nervous, hoping I will be able to manage the 23 miles and not wanting to let my sponsors down. If I’m not ready by now, then it’s too late for me. I feel training has gone well so actually I am reasonably confident that I will be able to complete the walk.
Best of luck to everyone taking part in this year’s Kiltwalk. And a huge thank you to Karen and the rest of the Glasgow Local Group for their amazing fundraising efforts. So far they’ve raised an incredible £347 to support our conservation work!
Here’s to 50 more years!
To find out more about RSPB Local Groups, visit our website.