This is a former animal park that was partly demolished last year. There are still a few intriguing parts left that I set out to document before mother nature reclaimed any more of the park. Although there was not much left, what was there turned out to be very interesting in more ways than one. Here is some background and history on the site:
Set in the hills the Animal Park is well signposted from the town centre road network. It is less than half an hour's drive from Glasgow, Motherwell, Stirling or Falkirk. Established in the early 1970s, the Animal Park was been developed around the objectives of conservation, environmental education and countryside recreation.
More than 40 hectares of what was once a bleak upland farm have been planted with hundreds of thousands of native trees and shrubs. This new, sheltered environment provided a sanctuary for wildlife including thriving populations of roe deer, badger, fox and hare as well as sparrowhawk, kestrel, long-eared and short-eared owl.
The animal collection was unique in Central Scotland and provides an opportunity to see many rare breeds in addition to other friendly farm animals. Rare breeds include Eriskay ponies, North Ronaldsay and Boreray sheep, Shetland and white park cattle, Bagot and Guernsey goats, Tamworth pigs and Scots grey and Scots dumpy poultry. Many of these animals were registered with the appropriate breed society enabling us to make a positive contribution to the breed's survival. The animal keepers were on duty every day of the year and every effort was taken to keep livestock in a manner promoting natural behaviour and quality of life.
The Animal Park included displays, interpretative panels, exhibition area, lecture theatre, and longhouses, as well as nature trails and places of historic interest, including evidence of coal mining and peat cutting. It was possible to climb to the heights of the treetop walkway and enjoy the bird's-eye view of buds, branches and leaves. 300 hectares of grassland, moorland, woodland and ponds ensured a haven for wildlife, providing breeding sites and places of refuge.
The countryside ranger service based in the park specialised in tailoring environmental education in the countryside to meet the demands of the national 5-14 curriculum, youth groups and adult groups. The Badger Set, Animal Parks nature club, met regularly to enjoy a range of outdoor activities in a safe and stimulating environment. Families could also join the fun through our annual programme of informal guided walks and special events. Visitors could walk the 10km network of nature trails and footpaths and see the rare breeds and wildlife collection. Nearby on a Moor rare bean geese were known to feed.
On to the pictures:
A warning of security cameras as we approached the site
Beware, quad bikes
Part of a wire fence enclosure with a horse in the background
You can see part of another enclosure
The advice for visitors
Possibly a fuel tank for a tractor?
A very interesting find - a map of the location
An old weight bench. Did they train animals on it?
Burnt sleepers. One theory that the park closed down is that it was a victim of an arson attempt
Freshly cut branches
Now we're talking
Guess what was lurking inside...
A big pile of coal. I suspect there is illegal mining going on nearby
More remains, possibly mixed in with asbestos roofing
We look towards freshly cut coal and old mining spoil in the background
I don't think this sign belonged here
It is hard to tell if this is remains from the park, or more evidence of illegal mining going on
Yes, definitely illegal mining
A side on view of fresh waste that has been dumped on an animal enclosure
A pile of coal. I have been reliably informed that it is anthracite
An overview of the site
One of the signs that littered the site
The Castlemilk Moorkit, indigenous to the Castlemilk area of Glasgow
That concludes our tour of the Old Animal Park
Set in the hills the Animal Park is well signposted from the town centre road network. It is less than half an hour's drive from Glasgow, Motherwell, Stirling or Falkirk. Established in the early 1970s, the Animal Park was been developed around the objectives of conservation, environmental education and countryside recreation.
More than 40 hectares of what was once a bleak upland farm have been planted with hundreds of thousands of native trees and shrubs. This new, sheltered environment provided a sanctuary for wildlife including thriving populations of roe deer, badger, fox and hare as well as sparrowhawk, kestrel, long-eared and short-eared owl.
The animal collection was unique in Central Scotland and provides an opportunity to see many rare breeds in addition to other friendly farm animals. Rare breeds include Eriskay ponies, North Ronaldsay and Boreray sheep, Shetland and white park cattle, Bagot and Guernsey goats, Tamworth pigs and Scots grey and Scots dumpy poultry. Many of these animals were registered with the appropriate breed society enabling us to make a positive contribution to the breed's survival. The animal keepers were on duty every day of the year and every effort was taken to keep livestock in a manner promoting natural behaviour and quality of life.
The Animal Park included displays, interpretative panels, exhibition area, lecture theatre, and longhouses, as well as nature trails and places of historic interest, including evidence of coal mining and peat cutting. It was possible to climb to the heights of the treetop walkway and enjoy the bird's-eye view of buds, branches and leaves. 300 hectares of grassland, moorland, woodland and ponds ensured a haven for wildlife, providing breeding sites and places of refuge.
The countryside ranger service based in the park specialised in tailoring environmental education in the countryside to meet the demands of the national 5-14 curriculum, youth groups and adult groups. The Badger Set, Animal Parks nature club, met regularly to enjoy a range of outdoor activities in a safe and stimulating environment. Families could also join the fun through our annual programme of informal guided walks and special events. Visitors could walk the 10km network of nature trails and footpaths and see the rare breeds and wildlife collection. Nearby on a Moor rare bean geese were known to feed.
On to the pictures:
A warning of security cameras as we approached the site
Beware, quad bikes
Part of a wire fence enclosure with a horse in the background
You can see part of another enclosure
The advice for visitors
Possibly a fuel tank for a tractor?
A very interesting find - a map of the location
An old weight bench. Did they train animals on it?
Burnt sleepers. One theory that the park closed down is that it was a victim of an arson attempt
Freshly cut branches
Now we're talking
Guess what was lurking inside...
A big pile of coal. I suspect there is illegal mining going on nearby
More remains, possibly mixed in with asbestos roofing
We look towards freshly cut coal and old mining spoil in the background
I don't think this sign belonged here
It is hard to tell if this is remains from the park, or more evidence of illegal mining going on
Yes, definitely illegal mining
A side on view of fresh waste that has been dumped on an animal enclosure
A pile of coal. I have been reliably informed that it is anthracite
An overview of the site
One of the signs that littered the site
The Castlemilk Moorkit, indigenous to the Castlemilk area of Glasgow
That concludes our tour of the Old Animal Park
