Details
East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City councils are developing a new country park called Dams to Darnley.
The country park covers over 1350 acres of greenspace around the East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City boundary, encompassing the green belt separating Barrhead, Darnley and Newton Mearns. The country park aims to provide recreational activities for local residents and visitors through a network of paths for walking, cycling and horse riding. Possibly opportunities for non-motorised watersports, including angling, will also be looked at in the future.
The country park landscape
The country park is made up of a patchwork of different landscape features, including open water, wetland and burn, woodland, grassland and scrub. The area is important for its wildlife, whilst it also has a rich history.
Water
The Barrhead dams are the most striking feature within the country park, dominating its southern half and covering over 220 acres. The dams are made up of a series of interconnected reservoirs, Balgray, Coalhill, Ryat Linn, Littleton and Waulkmill Glen, owned and managed by Scottish Water.
The Brock Burn flows northwards through the middle of the country park, bisecting Waulkmill Glen and Darnley Mill, whilst the Aurs Burn heads east from Barrhead, before joining the Brock Burn.
Grassland
Large areas of grassland can be found throughout the country park, collectively making up one of the most important habitats within it. The grassland around the Darnley area is particularly rich in wildflowers.
Woodland
There are pockets of woodland across the country park. The ribbon of woodland which runs through its heart, from Waulkmill Glen in the south to Darnley Mill in the north, is the most important. Waulkmill Glen, the largest woodland within the country park, is an important ancient semi-natural site. Other woodland includes Patterton Wood and the pocket next to the Mearns Grove estate, off Stewarton Road.
Wildlife
The country park is especially important for its wildlife. The reservoirs, all of which are Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), are home to a range of different wild birds all year round, whilst the country park also attracts many winter visitors. Across the changing seasons there is always something new to look out for.
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