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2 weeks ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
With clear skies and rising temperatures, now is the time to start looking out for swallows in Inverclyde, says David Carnduff (Image: David Carnduff/Pixabay) Many moons ago, in my high school art class, I painted what I thought was a perfect landscape with trees, grass, hills and a deep blue sky. However, my teacher - Miss Currie - pointed out that my sky had no clouds. "In Scotland" she advised, "there is hardly ever an occasion when the sky is cloudless." Oh really?
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3 weeks ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
The stretch of coast off Ashton is a good place for spotting gannets hunting for food in the spring, says David Carnduff. (Image: David Carnduff/Pixabay) THE transition from Greenwich Mean Time to British Summer Time was a stormy affair. A westerly wind last Saturday gradually gained strength until a proper hooley was blowing up the Clyde when we put our clocks forward. Earlier in the day I took a walk along the coast but misjudged the weather.
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1 month ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
David Carnduff (Image: David Carnduff) PEOPLE wishing to attract wildlife to their gardens are often advised to leave a corner untended to let nature do its own thing. The emerging wild plants might then attract birds, bees and butterflies. If people had a look at my garden they would think I had taken this advice to the extreme, given the jungle at one side of my "dear green place." It was the effects of Storm Éowyn back in January that focused my attention on this wild patch.
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1 month ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
Reflections on the Clyde looking east from the Port Glasgow coastal path. (Image: David Carnduff) There are days, I'm sure, when many of us thank our lucky stars that we live beside the Clyde. Our renowned firth, covering 1,240 square miles of seaway from Glasgow to Ailsa Craig, is world famous for many reasons. Foremost among them is its shipbuilding and engineering achievements which saw Clyde-built vessels plying their trade around the globe.
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1 month ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
The chiffchaff is a summer visitor to Inverclyde. (Image: Pixabay.com) IF there's one sound that typifies spring it's the song of the blackbird. In gardens and woodland throughout Inverclyde, their loud, fluted notes are announcing that the new season is here. Male birds sing to attract females and to warn rivals to stay off their home patch.
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1 month ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
A walk along Greenock Cut provides fresh air and great scenery (Image: David Carnduff ) THE old saying about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb was turned on its head this year when high pressure produced calm weather at the start of the month. On the official last day of winter - February 28 - I took advantage of fine, sunny weather to drive to Loch Thom to see if Inverclyde's uplands were showing signs of the changing season.
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1 month ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
David Carnduff's latest column looks at some of the umbellifers that grow in the wild in Inverclyde - including these wild garlic flowers in Kelly Glen. (Image: David Carnduff/George Munro) The days are longer and brighter now that March is here and there are welcome signs that spring is on its way. In woodland and along hedgerows, plants are already sprouting shoots that will grow rapidly in the coming weeks, bringing a remarkable green transformation through the power of nature.
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2 months ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
Many Inverclyders are enthusiastic about feeding birds in their gardens. A well-stocked bird table brings a colourful variety of visitors eager to dine on seeds and peanuts. Watching their antics can add interest to a gloomy winter day as blue and great tits, chaffinches, robins and a host of others happily nibble the food on offer. But, be warned, there are trouble-makers in town. Strangers are turning up and spoiling the party by angrily chasing away the regulars.
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2 months ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
The upgraded path at Lunderston Bay (Image: David Carnduff) WITH bands of rain sweeping across Cowal I knew I risked a drenching by going out along the coastal track at Lunderston Bay. Other walkers, cyclists and runners were out as well that mid-week afternoon - proof that the path to Inverkip is one of Inverclyde's best used outdoor facilities, even when the weather is testing our resolve.
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2 months ago | 
greenocktelegraph.co.uk | David Carnduff
Volunteers from the Inverclyde Bothy on a walk leaders' team building day in Dunoon. (Image: David Carnduff) When I started writing this column back in December I said that one aim would be to encourage more people to experience for themselves the benefits of fresh air and exercise. Just 20 minutes spent out of doors is said to be enough to lift our moods and help our minds rest, especially if we enjoy the nature that is all around.
