West Dunbartonshire Council’s Countryside Ranger, Gillian Neil said: "Already some pond critters have moved in and we now have pond skaters and water boatmen in residence.
“We are also hoping that the pond will help increase the numbers of damsel flies and dragonflies on the site and if we are really lucky, it may even attract some nesting wading birds. The Saltings is a Local Nature Reserve which is of particular interest due to the butterflies, bees and wildflowers that it hosts.
“Additionally it is a fantastic site for amphibians and you can easily spot frogs toads and newts which use the wet grassland area for feeding and taking shelter.”
Among the volunteers attending were staff from Life Technologies in Inchinnan, who were given the opportunity to attend as part of their ‘Giving back at LIFE’ programme. The Royal Sun Alliance also contributed by giving work time to two of their local employees to join in the fun.
The Butterfly Action Project, who volunteer at The Saltings on a regular basis to carry out a variety of practical conservation tasks, also joined in to get muddy, along with a group of 16 and 17 year olds from the West Dunbartonshire area who are currently taking part in the Prince’s Trust “Get Started in the Environment” programme.
Gillian Neil added: “With additional help from BTCV and East Dunbartonshire Ranger Service, the project was an absolute success and we are very optimistic about the future life of this pond.”
The Council would like to encourage more volunteers to help look after our wildlife sites and improve local biodiversity. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Gillian Neil on 07909 595283 or email gillian.neil@west-dunbarton.gov.uk .
