Dalzell Estate & RSPB Baron’s Haugh
Events 2018
Wednesday 11 April
10:30 – 12:30
Bug Hunting at Baron’s Haugh
Join our friendly reserve warden to look for all kinds of fascinating creepy crawlies in amongst the woods and meadows at Baron’s Haugh. From millipedes to spiders, learn how to identify the different bugs and beasties you’ll see on the reserve and in your garden!
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather (you will be standing for periods of time, so please wrap up well). Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Saturday 12 May
Dawn Chorus Walk at Baron’s Haugh
06:00 – 08:00
With spring in full swing, the woods at Baron's Haugh are full of bird song in the early hours. It may seem awfully early for an event, but you early birds will be rewarded with one of nature's most beautiful experiences as the woods wake up around you. There will also be coffee and croissants for breakfast – what more could you want?
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather (you will be standing for periods of time, so please wrap up well). Bring binoculars if you have them.
Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Wednesday 21 June
Summer Solstice Otter Walk
19:00 – 21:00
Join our reserve warden for a gentle stroll around RSPB Scotland Baron’s Haugh on the longest day of the year. Surround yourself with the beautiful sights, sounds and smells of all the different habitats and wildlife that call this special place home. From ducks to deer, there’s a chance we will see them all. If we’re really lucky, we might even see an otter!
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather (you will be standing for periods of time, so please wrap up well). Bring binoculars if you have them.
Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Wednesday 25 July
Pollinator patrol
13:00 – 15:00
Bumblebees and butterflies are just some of the many amazing insects that pollinate the flowers around us. Enjoy a sunny afternoon getting to know some of them and finding out about their fascinating lives.
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather (you will be standing for periods of time, so please wrap up well). Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Wednesday 8 August
Stream Guddling
10:30 – 12:30
In the summertime our streams are bursting with wildlife, so join us to find out what creatures are lurking in some of the pools and burns at Baron’s Haugh. Learn how to tell if larvae is from a mayfly or caddisfly, and keep your eyes peeled for frogs! Wellies are essential.
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather and the activity that we are undertaking. Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Friday 10 August
Bat walk
20:30 – 22:30
Join us for a twilight walk to track down the bats around Baron’s Haugh, and find out all about these nocturnal creatures. We will bring along some bat detectors to show you how to search for the amazing bats that live and feed on the reserve.
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather and the activity that we are undertaking. Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Saturday 10 November
Marvellous migrants at Baron’s Haugh
10:30 – 12:30
Winter is on its way, and Baron’s Haugh is becoming home to plenty of visitors from far and wide. Come along and learn about the birds that make it their own during the winter months after flying thousands of miles to spend the winter in Scotland.
Suitable for families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather and the activity that we are undertaking. Some of this event will involve standing for periods of time so remember to wrap up well. Bring binoculars if you have them. Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Saturday 8 December
Festive wreath making at Baron’s Haugh
10:30 – 12:30
Join us to enjoy a seasonal wander around Baron’s Haugh to gather all kinds of natural craft materials. We will then be weaving willow into festive wreaths to take home in time for Christmas.
Suitable for adults and families. £4 for adults, £2 for children, free to RSPB members. Booking essential. Contact: The RSPB warden on 07872 814911 or 0141 331 0993, or by email at baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Please ensure that your footwear and clothing is appropriate for Scotland’s weather and the activity that we are undertaking. Some of this event will involve standing for periods of time so remember to wrap up well. Events begin at the reserve car park at the end of Manse Road, Motherwell (postcode ML1 2PZ).
Dalzell Estate Restoration
One of North Lanarkshire’s best-kept secrets is set for major improvements after securing a funding boost of over £1.5million.
Dalzell Estate, in Motherwell, is a uniquely designed landscape of remarkable quality and maturity and will undergo significant restoration work following the cash injection.
The Heritage Lottery Fund are contributing £879,000 with the remainder of the £1,559,013 being made up by North Lanarkshire Council, Scottish National Heritage, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Funds are also being sought from Historic Scotland to repair the buildings and features in the landscape.
The project is set to breathe life back into the historic estate, with work already underway to improve footpaths around the area. Councillor Bill Martin, Vice-Convener of Community Services, is confident it will prove to be a huge success.
He said: “Dalzell Estate really is deserving of this project, it is an area we should be proud of and I hope the people of Motherwell lend their support by visiting the site.
“Places of natural beauty are few and far between these days and to have one on our doorstep is fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing the project take shape and hope that local people will share my enthusiasm.
The estate includes built, industrial, cultural and natural features. Originally a royal hunting forest, it provides the setting for the only category A listed house in North Lanarkshire.
After being founded by the Dalzell family in 843 it was sold in 1647 to James Hamilton. Within the grounds there are also two B listed and three C listed structures.
The project area includes landscaped parkland, mature woodland, wetlands, long distance and local path networks.
It includes a nature reserve of national importance to wintering whooper swan and gadwall, and regional importance to both breeding and wintering waterfowl and waders. ing the fabric of the
One man delighted to see the project getting underway is Joe Duffy of Dalzell Estate Residents Association. He said: “I have lived in this area for 37 years and it is great that it is finally getting the investment it needs.
“The project is important for the future of the area and I am confident that it will help people to take advantage of the picturesque landscape on their doorstep.”
estate, restoring historic features and re-est
The project will:
• Restore and revive the ‘green lung’ provided by the picturesque designed landscape of the Dalzell Estate and its historic meadows and woodlands, including restoration of the built heritage within the gardens such as Lord Gavin’s Temple, the many historic bridges and the historic Dalzell family mausoleum;
• Revert the Barons Haugh meadows to a more traditional wet meadow habitat as it was in the 18th century. Such habitat is vital for wading birds and wetland flowers –;
• Dramatically increase accessibility and link local communities to this natural and cultural heritage using the Clyde Valley path network, encouraging use by local people and visitors;
• Provide high quality interpretation and signage, enabling visitors to learn about and enjoy the varied heritage of the site;
• fulfil community aspirations for a safer more enjoyable environment;
• establish a dedicated information officer to provide a point of contact for local people and to run historical and educational walks and events.
Geoff Atkins of Scottish National Heritage, commented: “We are trying to encourage people to use the area and we hope that the improvements will have a significant impact.
“It has been our ambition over many decades to get this project off the ground and I hope that this will be the boost it needs to help us get the network back into use.”
Nick Chambers of the RSPB, added: “We are really pleased with the investment which will undoubtedly enable major improvements to enhance the visitor experience and the wildlife.
“We are hoping for new breeding birds, positive improvements for existing birds and a significant impact towards biodiversity improvements.”
John Beaton, Media Liaison Officer, Creative Services
Tel: 0141 304 1858
Fax: 0141 304 1839
Email: BeatonJ@northlan.gov.uk