Coastal summer programme highlights park potential

An exciting programme of free events organised to help promote plans for a Coastal Park is taking place this summer.

Working in partnership with North Ayrshire Council the Irvine Bay activities are being managed by the Coastal Ranger at Eglinton Country Park for the summer.

A full list of the events is available online at www.irvinebay.co.uk:

• Sunday 26th June; Gailes Marsh Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve, 10am – 12noon
  Enjoy a walk round the wild flowers and meet the colourful insect life. Meet at reserve entrance opposite Glasgow Gailes Golf Course access road.

• Saturday 2nd July; Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve, 10am – 12noon
  Roe Deer are regularly at this site. We will look for tracks and make plaster casts of hoof prints – maybe even see the deer! Lots of other wildlife too at this leafy reserve. Meet at the pumphouse car park at the end of Moorpark Road East, Stevenston.

• Wednesday 6th July; Ardrossan South Beach, 10am – 12noon
  Rock pool hunt. Search for crabs and starfish amongst the seaweed. Meet at the north end of Ardrossan South Beach by Bath Villas.

• Saturday 16th July; Stevenston Beach Local Nature Reserve, 10am – 12noon
  Have a go at catching colourful butterflies at this dune reserve.  Meet at the car park – turn right and then 2nd right from Shore Road, Stevenston.

• Wednesday 20th July; Stevenston Beach Local Nature Reserve, 10am – 12noon
  Catching butterflies. Meet at the car park – turn right and then 2nd right from Shore Road, Stevenston.

• Saturday 23rd July; Shewalton Sandpits Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve, 2pm – 4pm
  Meet the inhabitants of this sandy reserve – butterflies, bees, dragonflies and damselflies. Park on Shewalton Road off the A737 Ayr Road, Irvine.

• Saturday 20th August; Ardrossan South Beach, 10am – 12noon
  Rock pool hunt. Meet at the north end of Ardrossan South Beach by Bath Villas.

• Wednesday 24th August; Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve, 10am – 12noon
  Roe and other wildlife too. Meet at the pumphouse car park at the end of Moorpark Road East, Stevenston.

• Saturday 27th August; Lawthorn Wood Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve, 8pm – late
  Use a bat detector to identify these fascinating flying mammals. Meet at Lawthorn Wood, near Lawthorn Primary School, Irvine.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said: “A coastal park along the length of Irvine Bay would make the most of our amazing natural resources. The idea behind the park is to encourage the regeneration of Irvine Bay by promoting recreation and attracting more visitors to the area.

“The 14 miles of Irvine Bay’s coastline is incredibly attractive, with stunning views over to Arran and the Ailsa Craig. It is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. The vision for the coastal park is to provide better facilities for walking, cycling, wildlife tourism, horse riding and watersports, so Irvine Bay becomes a great coastal destination.

“This series of summer events highlights our stunning coastline, and brings home to people its potential in a way that is fun.”

In 2008 Land Use Consultants carried out a scoping study to assess the potential of a coastal park. This includes lessons from elsewhere, looking at other successful coastal parks across northern Europe that we can learn from.

For further information, call North Ayrshire Ranger Service on 01294 551776.