A torched boardwalk at an East Kilbride beauty spot will be open once again in the coming months thanks to a £25,000 cash boost.
Work to restore the walkway at Langlands Moss Nature Reserve is due to be completed by March next year – four years after the second blaze in two years left it in ashes.
Dedicated volunteers and nature lovers were devastated when firebugs targeted the reserve once again in 2017.
And to make matters worse, Friends of Langlands Moss (FOLM) – who operate the beauty spot on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council – were just days away from repairing damage caused by a fire in 2016 having secured funds and materials.
But now they say they are absolutely delighted that the Land Trust have upped a grant to £25,000, which along with more than £5000 raised by FOLM themselves and other donations from various bodies will see the boardwalk in full use once again.
Convenor of FOLM, Maureen Potter, told the News : “We will all be absolutely delighted to see the boardwalk up and running again – it’s been five years since the second fire which was absolutely devastating.
“We have been in negotiations with the Land Trust and previously told we would receive a grant of £15,000 but this was upped to £25,000 and we are so grateful for that.
“It means by the end of March 2021 visitors will be able to use the board walk - which was completely destroyed – once again.
“This time we are installing fire breaks which means it may not look quite as pretty but after two fires in two years we have to try and make it as secure as possible.”
Work has being going on elsewhere over the last few years with woodland walks and bridges to help circumvent the boardwalk, new signage along with lots of other activities.
And even lockdown and restrictions haven’t stopped volunteers.
“We have had to find ways to keep socially distanced but have had households coming up separately to work on various project including a wildflower meadow which was planted a couple of weeks ago thanks to a grant from Action Earth Volunteering Matters.” Maureen went on.
“We also have a calendar on sale with proceeds also going towards the boardwalk, with scenic pictures and wildlife, all of which were taken by local photographers.”
She added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported us in getting the boardwalk restored, whether locals donating or official bodies providing us with grants as well as the photographers who submitted the pictures for our calendar.”
The calendar will be on sale from the end of next week priced £5. It can be ordered through Friends of Langlands Moss FB Page, telephone 07765363822 or email through the website www.friendsoflanglandsmoss.org
Work is also ongoing separately to restore peat bogs at the Moss which had been lost due to trees and other vegitation.
