Majestic
falls  |
New Lanark was founded in the late 18th Century by mill owner and social
pioneer Robert Owen as a model village. One of the most impressive
attractions at New Lanark is the Falls of Clyde, a stunning waterfall 85 feet
high. | Stunning
natural beauty.
Photo - Stacy Shumacher. |
The
waterfall was immortalised by William Wordsworth who called it the Clyde's "most
majestic daughter".
Fast flyers  Clyde
Falls is also the nesting site for a pair of Peregrine Falcons, birds capable
of reaching speeds of 240 mph as they dive and catch woodland birds.
The
birds have been resident at New Lanark for almost 10 years and have raised more
than 20 young. There are 1,200 Peregrines in the UK, two thirds of which
are in Scotland. The steep wooded valley at New Lanark provides the perfect
habitat for Peregrines to nest in with its craggy cliff faces and plentiful supply
of food including a healthy diet of Starlings, Pigeons and Blackbirds. The
size of these animals means they're not afraid to take on most other birds, fending
off Herons and Buzzards from their nest site as well as eating smaller raptors
like Short Eared Owls, Kestrels and Merlin. Bird
boost  Peregrines
were once in serious decline after years of persecution by gamekeepers and pigeon
fanciers, pesticides, and even a government attempt to wipe them out.
In
1940 the government issued the Destruction of Peregrine Falcon Order because it
considered the birds to be a threat to carrier pigeons from downed bomber crews. Six
hundred were killed and hundreds of nests and eggs were destroyed. Despite
this the birds have managed to re-establish themselves and numbers are slowly
improving. Flower spectacle  Just
a stone's throw away from the Clyde Falls, the scenery and the vegetation changes.
There
are wild flowers in abundance with almost 500 species of plants which can be seen
at their best in spring when carpets of Wood Anemones, Marsh Marigolds and Bluebells
cover the ground. One specimen worth searching out is Purple Saxifrage,
usually associated with Alpine landscapes, rocky mountain streams and high altitude. It
is unusual to find this plant in a relatively lowland location, but it grows at
the Falls of Clyde because its seeds have been swept into the river system - and
this is a wet location with lots of splash backs from the waterfalls (just like
its mountain home). Badger watching  One
of the reserve's star wildlife attractions is the Badger.
The reserve runs
public badger watching evenings throughout the spring. This is a not-to-be-missed
and highly memorable opportunity to see these animals in their natural environment.
Wildlife watchers are almost guaranteed an audience with these elusive
creatures. Also look out for Foxes, Otters and Roe Deer as well as birds
such as Dippers, Herons and Kingfishers. Photo
credits Photographs courtesy and copyright
of Scottish Wildlife Trust. Plants and falls
images by Stacy Shumacher, Peregrine Falcons by Stephen Kane. | 
