Lennoxtown conservation project work completed

Visitors can now enjoy an improved experience, thanks to great partnership working between East Dunbartonshire Council and the Whitefield Pond Group.

The area is noted for its wide variety of wildlife, including the elusive Snipe and the equally shy Roe Deer.

The council worked with Whitefield Pond Group to secure £23,281 conservation management money from WREN - a funding body for Landfill tax grants.

In addition to the funding the council’s Streetscene Technical Support Team provided additional value by creating a raised path linking Geelong Gardens to the Crow Road Right of Way as well as installing a large sandstone monolith information point and boundary site marker stones.

Local school pupils also created a wildflower meadow at Geelong Gardens while small shallow pools suitable for amphibians and dragonflies will be created in the near future. Tree thinning will be carried out to keep the marsh a suitable habitat for the plants and animals found there.

Councillor John Dempsey, vice convener of Neighbourhood Services, said: “This has been a great example of partnership working. I wish to thank the volunteers, which included local school children and residents, for all their hard work to make sure Balgrochan Marsh is improved for visitors and wildlife.

“Council officers provided assistance and advice to Whitefield Pond Group and oversaw the work of the contractors and are also responsible for the improvements carried out elsewhere at Whitefield Pond, which were carried out in partnership with the Group.

“The end result is fantastic and it’s something that will benefit the whole community.”

Veronica Stewart, Secretary of the Whitefield Pond Group, said: “This has been an extremely rewarding project. It is great for local wildlife and fantastic for the community.

We were delighted to take the opportunity to work in partnership with the council to take steps to enhance Balgrochan Marsh. It will be a great gift to hand it on to future generations.”