Contents SLOW NATURE WALKING Introduction by Katrina Caldwell page 2-3 Section 1 - Woodlands Community Garden to Kelvinbridge page 4-6 Footbridge A circular nature walk from Woodlands to Dawsholm via Kelvin Walkway and Maryhill Locks Section 2 - Kelvinbridge Footbridge to North Woodside Flint Mill page 7-8 Branch Route 1 - North Woodside Flint Mill to Lacrosse Terrace page 9-11 This publication was produced by Katrina Caldwell has been woods/garden Woodlands Community involved with Woodlands Development Trust as part of our Community Development Trust Section 3 - North Woodside Flint Mill to Ha’penny Bridge House page 12-14 new Nature Recovery project that since 2011. She volunteers at the is helping people to recover from community cafe and grows fruit Branch Route 2 - Ha’penny Bridge House to the Children’s Wood page 15-16 the stress of the Covid-19 and veg in Woodlands garden. and North Kelvin Meadow pandemic through spending time She has a passion for wildlife and Section 4 - Ha’penny Bridge House to Garrioch Footbridge page 17 outdoors in nature. More conservation and is increasingly information about our work and interested in finding ways to Route Map page 18-19 how we are supporting people develop creative projects to through the pandemic is available combine this passion with her Section 5 - Garrioch Footbridge to Kelvindale Road page 20-21 on our website professional life in theatre and woodlandscommunity.org.uk dance. Section 6 - Kelvindale Road to Kelvin Aqueduct page 22-24 Section 7 - Kelvin Aqueduct to Dawsholm Park page 24-27 Section 8 - Maryhill Locks to Forth and Clyde Canal junction page 27-31 for Falkirk (Stockingfield Junction) Branch Route 3 - Fourth and Clyde Canal junction for Falkirk page 32-34 (Stockingfield Junction) to Lambhill Stables and Possil Marsh Section 9 - Junction for Falkirk (Stockingfield Junction) page 34-35 to Murano Foot bridge Section 10 - Murano Footbridge to Kelvin Walkway entrance at page 35 Queen Margaret Road Section 11 - Return to Woodlands Community Garden and page 36 the end of the walk 1 This circular nature walk is the Please note that the route is Introduction by Katrina Caldwell result of these discoveries and popular with runners, cyclists, dog covers a route starting and walkers and families, so be aware finishing at Woodlands of other people around you. We exist within the natural world, I was taking numerous Community Garden and follows are surrounded by it and rely on it photographs, googling questions the Kelvin Walkway to the entrance The route is not lit or monitored at in more ways than we imagine. that popped into my head and to Dawsholm Park before returning night so is not recommended after But often, beyond a fleeting making connections between via the Maryhill Canal. There are dark. glance to check the weather, we weather, season, species and several additional branch walks forget to look and really habitat. to Lacrosse Terrace Wood and The duration of each section of the experience it as we live our busy Gardens, the Children’s Wood and walk is given for a slow to medium lives and travel from A to B. My fascination grew and this new North Kelvin Meadow, Lambhill walking pace with time built in to concentration on the natural world Stables and Possil Marsh along the stop. You can of course walk faster In fact, we live our lives so helped me to breathe, accept the way. Although the route can be or slower. separately from nature that we situation we were all living under done as one walk, it is broken might even fail to recognise that and remind myself of not only the down into generously timed we are part of it too. beauty and diversity of nature sections with multiple entry points but the cycle of the seasons, the so you can dip in and out as your During the Covid 19 pandemic of ever-changing weather and the time and inclination allows. The 2020 I found myself living through geography and geology on my walk descriptions include my the year in a surprising new way. doorstep. The act of walking was personal reflections and cover Due to Covid quarantine of course good for my physical many of my recent experiences restrictions I was only able to health but I found real benefits for with nature; from the smell of spend short amounts of time my wellbeing and mental health earth after rain to whispering outside exercising for an hour in taking the time to slow down grasses in a gentle breeze, from home and hence had a and discover nature, through all dappled light dancing through tall limited area to explore. I noticed my senses, as the days became leaf-laden trees to goosander gs that I was walking more slowly, weeks and eventually months. klin ducklings swimming against the uc d taking time to look, to listen, to er flow of the river d . n smell and even occasionally to a s taste the nature I found o o there. I thought I knew this My intention now is to carry on G area well but I realise now regularly walking this route and for that I had only scratched this connection to keep growing. the surface of what is I hope you are inspired to join me there. My daily walks by the Kelvin or on the canal and became a real solace, invite you to make your as being isolated from own nature discoveries friends and family along the way. I found connection with other living creatures and habitats. 2 3 Leaving Woodlands Community Some of the gardens are cleared Section 1 Garden we turn left and walk down and planted with new flowers, West Princes Street. This is a plants and vegetables but my Woodlands Community Garden to Kelvinbridge Footbridge residential street of sandstone eyes are drawn to the golden tenements, tarmac roads and ragwort and pink thistles attracting Duration - 10-15 minutes. concrete pavements. Not where butterflies and bees and to the Accessibility - Pavements and road crossings. Flat and level. you might expect to find much established shrubs and trees. evidence of nature, but it’s here we oiseshe Tort ll on just need to look. We can watch ye The walk starts at Woodlands Sometimes it is hard to catch our llo the cloud movements in the sky w Community Gardens at the east breath, slow down and shed the ra above us, sense the humidity, feel g end of West Princes Street in the weight of our lives, but by focusing w the air on our skin, hear the call of o r west end of Glasgow. The Gardens on nature I find that those things gulls as they swoop through this t was a derelict gap site for many happen anyway. Focusing on urban canyon - all this before we years until the work of volunteers taking a few deep breaths before I have taken a step. As I walk this supported by Woodlands head off, taking a moment to close street I always see, something that Community Development Trust my eyes and identify what I can I haven’t noticed before. The apple (WCDT) created this garden as hear, or looking to find the furthest tree at No 233; the beautiful cherry a space where local people can away object helps to draw my blossom in spring; bees buzzing grow their own food. Over the last attention close, to focus on now, on lavender; magpies and black- G ten years it has become one part this moment, this detail. re birds staking territory or singing to e of an award-winning project where n attract a mate; the scent of roses. b o both plants and people are Let’s set off! t Green growth appears in the t l e nurtured and grow. cracks in the pavements - dandelions, hairy bitter cress, The gardeners grow by organic welsh poppies - all providing food methods, working with and for insects. alongside nature rather than just seeing it as something to be This spring I was nearly mobbed tamed or eradicated. by an anxious gull whose youngster I realised was fledged The garden is open at all times but still earthbound and I had and is a lovely space to be in, inadvertently just got too close. whatever the season or the The young bird reminded me of weather. It is a treasured green a hunched old man in a grubby oasis in the city. Take time to raincoat. I quickly crossed have a look around and If you the road to allow the would like to find out more, parent to relax. check out the website. woodlandscommunity.org.uk 4 5 The annual cycle plays out in the change and variety of leaf shape, Section 2 texture and colour. Young spring leaves just budded - perfect, fresh Kelvinbridge Footbridge to North Woodside Flint Mill and soft - transformed into the dying leaves of autumn in Duration - 10-12 minutes. shades of brown, orange, red Accessibility - Join the route at Great Western Road by the stairs or and gold - dried out and the escalator at Kelvinbridge Underground Station. The path is crackled, with holes and tarmac and is generally flat except for a short gentle rise on the discrepancies, evidence of north side of the bridge tunnel. disease or predation. The naked structures of Before us is Kelvin Bridge grasses create fragile carrying Great Western Road and skeletons of past life as the hustle and bustle of city life. I we reach the winter often stop here to look at the river.