Newmilns Nature Site
Newmilns
Nature Site lies in the valley of the River Irvine to the west of Newmilns,
approximately 6 miles (9.6km)
east of Kilmarnock. It lies on the A71 Kilmarnock to Edinburgh road and is
situated directly behind Newmilns Primary
School and Newmilns Fire Station.
Grid reference: NS520372
Parking: No parking directly available at the site.
Access:
Formal access throughout the site with level, surfaced paths, suitable for
wheelchair use.
Can be reached on foot from the Gilfoot housing estate on the western side
of Newmilns and from an
unclassified road off the A71, before entering Newmilns from Kilmarnock.
Within short walking distance: Big Wood
Bulb Planting with Newmilns
Primary
Description:
Newmilns Nature Site was planted in 1998 to create
new mixed broad-leaved woodland.
It contains a wide variety of native and shrub species, but has not been designed
on new native woodland
principles since diversity of species for amenity purposes has been adopted
as an overriding design criteria.
The main tree species include birch, alder, willow and rowan with some oak,
hazel and hawthorn. Bird cherry
has been added to provide colour along the edge of the site.
Selected
Bird Species:
Newmilns Nature Site provides excellent habitat for a range of resident
and migrant
species, particularly in the broad area of hedge and scrub along the north
boundary. It is probably one of the best sites we
are involved in for Summer migrant warblers and is a wonderful site for nature
study, particularly for birdsong.
Recorded species include;
Blackbird Goldfinch Blue
tit Bullfinch
Greenfinch Robin Song
thrush Wren
Sedge warbler Common
whitethroat Blackcap Willow
warbler
Nature Site Improvements, October 2010
In conjunction
with Newmilns and Greenholm Community Council and with support from Awards
for All,
East Ayrshire Woodlands started major improvements to the nature site in October
2010.
The much
needed path improvements were carried out by a local contractor, with new
sections of path providing
access from the new garden by the A71 and from the rear of the primary school.
Motorbike inhibitors were installed at the main access points and one of the small bridges by the western access was upgraded.
An improved, limited car parking area was also created at the western entrance.
By the playing
field, a motorbike inhibitor was installed near to an existing desire line
and a length of new chestnut
paling was also installed to define and improve the site boundary.
Ongoing
work will see the installation of a wildlife interpretation panel, new benches,
a feature totem pole and a new fence
following the removal of the hedge which caused visibility problems turning
out on to the A71.
Unfortunately, another spate of vandalism has affected the site, with one of the motorbike inhibitors damaged and trees cut down