Snowy walk at Ardeer Quarry LNR
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:07 pm
When it snowed a few days ago, I went out for a walk around Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve. It wasn’t a heavy snowfall – in fact, it was barely a covering – but, it was still the deepest snow I’ve seen in Stevenston this winter! I post a few photos below.
The Dubbs Road entrance to Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
This wet flush near the entrance to the reserve is usually not frozen during cold weather, because the water is slowly moving over the saturated ground.
A Bulrush growing in the wet flush.
A few metres down the cycle path.
A few metres further still.
Snow on a dead umbellifer flowerhead beside the path to Gavin’s Wee Pond.
The path to Gavin’s Wee Pond running through some raspberry canes.
Gavin’s Wee Pond. It’s pretty overgrown with emergent wetland vegetation, but that makes it all the better for wildlife.
Some snowy branches by the pond.
Looking towards Moorpark Road East form the edge of the reserve.
The 18th century coal canal.
The Scottish Water access road that runs along the eastern boundary of the reserve. On the left of the picture is the embracement of the ‘ICI road’. 30 years ago it was covered in heather and gorse and was quite an interesting, heathy habitat. However, the Council planted it with trees a long time ago now. On the plus side, the trees do a good job of screening the reserve from the road.
The wood behind Gavin’s Wee Pond.
Looking up into the canopy of these Aspens, things look rather bleak.
The Dubbs Road entrance to Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve (LNR).
This wet flush near the entrance to the reserve is usually not frozen during cold weather, because the water is slowly moving over the saturated ground.
A Bulrush growing in the wet flush.
A few metres down the cycle path.
A few metres further still.
Snow on a dead umbellifer flowerhead beside the path to Gavin’s Wee Pond.
The path to Gavin’s Wee Pond running through some raspberry canes.
Gavin’s Wee Pond. It’s pretty overgrown with emergent wetland vegetation, but that makes it all the better for wildlife.
Some snowy branches by the pond.
Looking towards Moorpark Road East form the edge of the reserve.
The 18th century coal canal.
The Scottish Water access road that runs along the eastern boundary of the reserve. On the left of the picture is the embracement of the ‘ICI road’. 30 years ago it was covered in heather and gorse and was quite an interesting, heathy habitat. However, the Council planted it with trees a long time ago now. On the plus side, the trees do a good job of screening the reserve from the road.
The wood behind Gavin’s Wee Pond.
Looking up into the canopy of these Aspens, things look rather bleak.