After the strong winds and sudden heavy downpours of rain over the last week, the forecast is for warmer, calmer weather ahead.

Falling Trees
It was alarming to find that even with raging winds and the air filled with swirling leaves and twigs, some members of the public were still attempting to walk through the woodland at the Falls of Clyde. Huge, heavy branches, thick with summer foliage were crashing to the ground and a massive tree fell across the access road near the power station. Despite this clear and present danger, Falls of Clyde Ranger had to place warning signs on the fallen tree – yet people still tried to find a way around the mass of broken branches to head into dense woodland. This is extremely dangerous! In stormy weather, it is best to keep clear of woodland.

Blue tits
High on a tree beside the Falls of Clyde Peregrine Hide, the bird box occupied by the blue tits is now full of chicks.  The camera inside this bird box clearly shows nine chicks… and there could be more!  On the other side of the gorge, the two peregrine falcon chicks are growing in leaps and bounds. The parent birds are now leaving them alone on the eyrie for long periods of time, but are never far away, and one of them can usually be seen preening on a nearby tree.

Yellow Pimpernel
Pretty, delicate pale yellow, Yellow Pimpernel, is now blooming on the wildlife reserve. It is an astringent herb, part of the lysimachia family, and is used to staunch bleeding and accelerate healing. Another lovely yellow early summer flowering plant is Wood Avens, also called the Blessed Herb. There have been many favourable comments regarding the informative signs SWT rangers place beside the wild flowers along the boardwalk. Take a walk and see them for yourselves – many a familiar flower will introduce itself to you properly, by name, and let you know of its hidden qualities!

Sightings
Great Spotted Woodpecker, jay, (close beside the peregrine hide), tree creeper, robin, blackbird, skylarks, thrush, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, peregrine falcon, (male, female and 2 male eyasses) badger, fox, roe deer and (unfortunately) grey squirrel.

For more information on all wildlife issues, please contact the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Falls of Clyde visitor centre, New Lanark 01555 665262 or email fallsofclyde@swt.org.uk.

Cherry – Visitor Centre Assistant