New information displays are open in the Visitor Centre at Drumpellier Country Park, giving an insight into the local wildlife and heritage.
The interactive displays include quizzes and games for children, audio stories, maps, bird song and videos of bird and animal sightings around the park. Window displays also identify the birds and insects which can be seen on the water and floating islands on the loch.
Visitors can learn about the lives of the Iron Age people who lived in the area and their crannog houses, which were built on wooden stilts above the loch, as well as the industrial heritage of Coatbridge, with a model of Scotland’s first iron boat, The Vulcan.
This history is reflected in the adventure play area at Drumpellier, which features a 6.5m high wooden crannog and soaring eagle at its centre.
“As well as the play areas and path network at Drumpellier Country Park, visitors can now learn more about the native birds, animals and plants as well as the history of the surrounding area,” said Councillor Helen Loughran, Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.
“The council continues to develop Drumpellier Country Park, with a new gateway entrance at Blair Road recently completed offering improved access and parking.”
The visitor centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with the café opening at 10.30am.
Drumpellier Country Park is one of the gateways to the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, and the displays provide information on this unique area which spans 16 sq km of lochs, parks, nature reserves and woodlands between Glasgow, Coatbridge and Stepps.
The council has just agreed its ongoing commitment to the Seven Lochs project for another 20 years.
“With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the council, the Seven Lochs project has brought improvements to Drumpellier Country Park, Frankfield Loch, Gartcosh Nature Reserve and Glenboig Village Park over the last seven years,” said Councillor Michael McPake, Member of the Seven Lochs Board.
“We have seen improvements to the biodiversity and habitats at each location, the creation of a trail across the park from Hogganfield to Drumpellier, and employability training and volunteering initiatives for local people. Our new agreement means this valuable work will continue and develop, giving more opportunities for enhancing wildlife and the local environment and giving residents and visitors improved access to greenspaces and local heritage.”
At Gartcosh Local Nature Reserve, new amphibian ponds have been created and hedgerow and woodland management work carried out. Improvements to habitats for water voles were made at Frankfield Loch as well as woodland habitat improvements and installation of bird and bat boxes. In partnership with Glenboig Development Trust, improved interpretation and sculptural seating have been installed at the village park to interpret the brickworks history of the local area.