August 27, 2008
Community group bid to save its oldest inhabitant
Langlands Moss is estimated to be 10,000 years old and residents of East Kilbride are rallying to the call to roll up their sleeves to help preserve this vital local resource and protect the wildlife that inhabit the area. Friends of Langlands Moss hope to carry out important repair work to the boardwalk and will begin by installing dams to keep water in the Moss
A local environmental group is encouraging East Kilbride people to spring into action this month to help preserve a 10,000-year-old resident. The Friends of Langlands Moss are inviting people and businesses to enjoy the outdoors and help improve the local environment.
The group is launching a series of community action days starting on April 27 to protect the 10,000-year-old moss and ensure its long term future.
Last year the group secured funding worth up to £24,000 to enable them to carry out improvements to the moss in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
They were awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to which the council and SNH both promised to add between three and seven thousand pounds each.
Chairman of the group Richard Naismith said: “Now we have some funding in place, we can’t wait to get started on work that will improve our local nature reserve for all to enjoy.
“We look forward to welcoming more volunteers and visitors to take part in making this special place even better.
“Areas such as Langlands Moss host a wealth of wildlife and provide a breath of fresh air from our busy lives.
“The moss was also part of a recent Glasgow University study to look at the carbon it stores, which is vital in the fight against climate change.”
The community action days will see volunteers help install dams to keep water in the moss and help to protect the wildlife that inhabits the area.
Repairs will also be carried out on the boardwalk, making it safer for people to walk on, and damaged information signs will be replaced with newer ones to tell visitors all about the moss.
The improvements to the boardwalk have already been started by the Phoenix Futures Rehabilitation Group along with SLC.
The first action day at the moss is scheduled for Sunday, April 27 between 11am and 4pm. For more information or for the opportunity to sponsor one of the dams please contact emailfolmek@hotmail.co.uk