FoPCP1 26/1/21 14:01 Page 1 FRIENDSmatters OF COUNTRY PARK Issue 3 • Winter 2021

Greetings to all supporters and members of the Friends of Pollok Country Park...

Looking forward to 2021! And an update on what the Friends did in 2020 since our last newsletter! Like many organisations after a while when it looked like Covid 19 wasn’t going anywhere any time soon we Zoomed our meetings courtesy of the Bellahouston Road Runners subscription service – thank you Bella RR! Our Annual General Meeting which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 17th February at 7.30pm will also be held online. During the pandemic Pollok Park has been so much more than a park – a meeting place for family and Work Parties friends – an exercise location – a dog As a result of the pandemic a Permit to Work paradise – a place to breathe and system was introduced by the Council and our work get some alone time. Whatever the parties were able to resume in August albeit on reason we went to the park in different basis due to Covid restrictions. This only unprecedented numbers – it was allows a restricted number of people however we obvious for all to see! hope to expand as soon as the pandemic rules allow. During the The park has never looked more autumn/winter the work parties have refurbished several memorial beautiful and our thanks are due to benches, cleaned many others and weeded underneath the river front ones the park’s staff who keep the park – we also have a list of benches to paint in the spring. The Hobbit Village looking so good. has been partly restored and dressed for Christmas with the prospect of more work when the weather allows. Hundreds of wild flower seeds and So what did the bulbs have been planted, Himalayan Balsam has been pulled and litter has been collected. There are also firm plans for a joint project with Friends do/discuss/ City Council on improvements to the Mountain Bike Trails. decide/pursue in the and access to it and were wild flower rainbows, walking latter part of 2020? subsequently invited along with labyrinths and similar however it is The Herald Memorial various representatives from national unclear as whether or not any of organisations such as the National these ideas will be adopted. It has Garden Trust for and Historic however been confirmed that The proposed memorial garden is to Scotland to a ‘conversation’ about architects have been instructed. be located in Rhododendron Avenue the project. This ‘conversation’ Further information can be found at: in Pollok Park. The Friends asked for discussed many exciting ideas such https://www.heraldscotland.com/ representation on the steering group as something like the Poppy project news/18554102.herald-memorial- due to concerns about the location to commemorate the first World War, garden-everything-need-know/ FoPCP1 26/1/21 14:01 Page 2

FoPCP Matters... Issue 3 • Winter 2021

Reopening of the Burrell The National Library of Gallery Scotland (NLS) Follow the Burrell’s progress at: The NLS contacted the Friends https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/mu regarding https://movingimage. seums/blog/introducing-the-burrell- nls.uk/film/4995 which is a vintage blog film about Pollok Country park which Transformation of Pollok you can enjoy from your armchair. Country Park – Active Traffic Management Plan Gallery and which are now being Council contact for queries Planning consent was granted on 6th used to help reduce the water levels re Pollok Park in the pond in the Wild Life Garden. November 2020 subject to various Several people have contacted the Thanks to the Keir Group. conditions – full details can be found Friends about issues in the park at: https://publicaccess.glasgow. Woodland Outdoor because they are unable to find any gov.uk/online-applications/ Kindergarten contact details on the Council applicationDetails.do?activeTab=do website. We have raised this matter The owners of the nursery who cuments&keyVal=QAZZ49EXIKO00 with the Council and have been operate in the park approached the advised that all queries should be Friends with a view to working directed to the Council website at: Litter Bins together on common issues and www.glasgow.gov.uk/ContactUs. Bins in the park are generally in a subsequently made a substantial dilapidated condition. It has been donation to our funds. We haven’t Respect Project confirmed that some new bins are decided finally how to use this Following complaints, initial to be installed as part of the donation but bird feeders (and bird discussions have taken place with ‘Transformation of Pollok Park – food) are being considered. Thanks the parks manager regarding a Active Management Plan’ however to the Woodland Outdoor possible joint project to emphasise it is not clear how many or where Kindergarten. the need for the many types of park they will be located. There is also Historic Walks users to respect each other and to an Officers’ group in Glasgow City safeguard wildlife. Historic walks had been planned in Council involved in planning new the park by the Southside Heritage 17th refuse storage and collection FoPCP AGM 2021 Trust (SET) and since these could not FEB systems in parks. We await further Our AGM wiil be held on go ahead Jen Anderson of SET has information. Wednesday 17th February at 7.30pm produced an audio tour which you on Zoom. A personal invitation will can take with you on your walk on be sent to all members so please Wee Green Grants your mobile phone – very interesting ensure that your membership is up There was a Covid related delay in it is too. It can be downloaded at: to date as it requires annual renewal. releasing the funding for the Wild https://anchor.fm/sghet/episodes/ You can renew at: https://member Life Garden and the new benches Pollok-Park-Heritage-Trail-egi0qg mojo.co.uk/friendsofpollok/ however plans have now been developed which have being Pollok Cottages submitted to Council Officials for The cottages at the Contact us at: approval. The Keir Group which is the Road entrance are giving cause for [email protected] project management group for the concern and contact has been made Follow us on: Burrell Gallery kindly recycled some with to facebook.com/friendsofpollok granite setts which had been establish their future plans for these Join us/donate at: removed from the site of the Burrell buildings. www.friendsofpollokpark.com Management Committee 2020 management of heritage projects. It Chair: Liz Corbett Stable Block Vice Chair: Patricia McCarthy The subcommittee has pursued the is understood that firm plans are Secretary: Catherine Todd being developed for a three stage Treasurer: Grace Lyon rescue of the stable block taking Assistant Treasurer: Richard Leyton time along the way to visit project and that a report to Glasgow Members: Alan Melville, Alex Osborne, Castlemilk Stables and Saughton City Council might be imminent with Bob Marshall, Gordon Blair, Martin McCartney, Peter Gore, Rachel Clark. Park in Edinburgh to gain a better a start on Phase 1 following soon afterwards. To contact Glasgow City Council for a complaint understanding of the successful or compliment www.glasgow.gov.uk/ContactUs