FORK pitching for a new year

The Annual General Meeting of FORK (Friends of the River Kelvin) will be held on Saturday 1 December in their headquarters at Ha’penny Bridge House in the Botanic Gardens at 12.30. This will follow the regular Saturday clean-up of the riverside.

Nominations are invited from members for Convener, Treasurer and Secretary. Currently the position of Secretary is vacant. The present Convener, Sally Johnston and Treasurer, Allan Twigg are both willing to stand again.

FORK fun doesn’t stop when it rains.

Rain didn’t stop play at the FORK Gala day on Saturday 9 June 2012.  A line up of more than 11 groups performed despite heavy rain between the  sunny spells at the annual event run by Friends of the River Kelvin. While the music flowed from noon till 7pm, stalls provided information and things to buy as well as ‘handknitted hamburgers’ . Children had an arts programme painting a collage of the natural environment around the River Kelvin, and an amazing puppet show. Professionally guided canoe trips were ‘just amazing,’ said one happy voyager. All of the activities were centred on FORK headquarters – the Ha’penny Bridge House in the Botanic Gardens at the junction of the tracks leading to Wyndford and Kirklee.

Said new FORK Convener, Sally Johnston: ‘This has been another exceptionally good and very enjoyable event, despite the rain. We thank everyone who helped and who took part. We plan to hold social evenings in Ha’penny Bridge House in the autumn for members. Before then, we hope to launch, officially, the very colourful boards painted by local school children, which protect the windows of Ha’penny Bridge House.’  For more information on Friends Of the River Kelvin, including their next Saturday morning litter pick-up on 7 July, see their website: www.fork.org.uk

Cleaning up the River Kelvin is great way to socialise

The River Kelvin Angling Association (RKAA) are planning  a clean-up on Saturday 2 June alongside FORK – Friends of the River Kelvin – who are preparing for their Big Gala on Saturday 9 June at their headquarters – Ha’penny Bridge House in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens.

Volunteers to help with both groups’ cleaning up activities are invited to be at Ha’Penny Bridge House (HBH) at 10.30. Pickers-up and gloves are provided. Said Allan Twigg, FORK treasurer who organises the regular FORK clean-ups: ‘We’ll be preparing HBH for the Gala and also want to clear part of the foundations of the Flint Mill which has become overgrown. Should anyone have loppers they can bring, they would be useful to cut back rhododendrons too, though we hope to borrow some from the Botanic Gardens.’

The FORK GALA on Saturday 9 June is a highlight of the West End Festival. Last year the event, planned to finish at 4pm – was still going strong at 6pm because so many musicians were happy to play, the weather was warm and people were having a great time browsing and buying at the stalls and listening to the music.

Said Allan: ‘On the day of the Gala, we need all the help we can get from early in the morning as we start setting up around 8 am, throughout the day to help with the Gala and late in the afternoon to clear up.’

FORK is an organisation of people who are keen to keep the integrity and the beauty of nature around the River Kelvin in the city and are committed to its care and maintenance on a volunteer basis. Founded 20 years ago by Mark Eden-Bushell who is now Ambassador for the work, FORK has been a social and an environmental success story which continues today under a new Convenor – Sally Johnston – and an enthusiastic team.

The annual gala includes a chance to try canoeing, find out about local campaigns and charities and volunteer activities and buy things like books and crafted goods. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Glasgow Conjurers are just two of the many organisations who take part and help to make the event a great success.

 

FORK CLEAN UP SATURDAY

FORK INVITE

Friends of the River Kelvin (FORK)  invite anyone interested in the environment to help them clean up a stretch of the River Kelvin on Saturday 7 April.

Assemble at 10.30am on the bridge on Kelvin Way.

All necessary protective gear provided.

FORK members do a monthly clean-up among other things. See the website for other information – including the summer gala. www.fork.org.uk

 

 

River clean continues

Weekly River Kelvin Clean Up

Saturday 13 August

10.30am

Kelvindale Road/Kelvin WalkWay

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME

Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and boots for the anticipated weather conditions.

The Friends of the River Kelvin will provide safety advice, litter pickers, rubber gloves, yellow vests and bin bags.

The morning is an event that can be attended by all ages but children and young and vulnerable adults must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or carer.

Upper Kelvin explored

It will take several hours for about ten peoople to travel from Kirkintilloch to Torrance – because they will go by canoe. All under the trained eye of Wild by Nature, a canoe company based in Kirkintilloch. In groups of ten, the flotilla will see the Kelvin from a different angle, enjoy new sounds, see both plant and wildlife and stop to explore interesting places along the way.

Paddle -ing from Kirkintilloch Bridge in the East of the town, the intrepid explorers will finish in Torrance. A group of FORKS (Friends of the River Kelvin) recently did this route. They saw buzzards, mallard ducks, sand martins, swallows, brown trout, cows and many tree species, wild flowers and river plant life.

Said Wild by Nature boss,  Cliff Giddings, who has canoed professionally: ‘The trip was relaxing, very quiet and peaceful and provided gentle exercise,’ He said more strenuous routes were available for those who could take them. Charles Thompson, Secretary of FORK who was one of the participants said: ‘We got loads of fresh air and the day was excellently led by Wild By Nature.’ email:info@wildbynature.eu or tel: 0141 777 6211.

Weekly litter pick-ups are still being held by FORK members every Saturday from 10.30am. And on Saturday 6 August they will tidy up the riverbank at Kelvindale Road. Said Charles: ‘We intend to uproot a patch of Himalayan Balsam (one of the three major invasive plant species on the River Kelvin.’. The organisation invites anyone interested to join them. Contact the Secretary on email: friendsriverkelvin@live.co.uk or tel:0141 563 6498 and see website: www.fork.org.uk 

FORK members were given an especially big thank you from Keep Scotland Beautiful because they’d collected an amazing 120 bags of rubbish and other debris over four Saturdays in April during the National Spring Clean 2011.

 

 

 

 

Kelvin canoe convoy

Paddling up the Clyde has long been an urban myth. But the Friends of the River Kelvin have organised a couple of outings to paddle along the upper reaches of the River Kelvin. There are still places left for the trip on Friday 22 July and on  Wednesday 3 August. A maximum of ten can go on each outing.

Said canoe master and expedition leader Cliff Giddings: ‘This is a chance to be nudged along slowly by the current, learn some canoe skills and see this rarely paddled stretch of water. The upper and middle sections of the River Kelvin are classed as simple, moving, water. They do not pose any significant difficulties to negotiate.’  Except, perhaps an occasional redundant supermarket trolley! For more information contact Cliff direct: 0141 777 6211 or email: info@wildbynature.eu at his Kirkintilloch headquarters.

Musical FORKS charm the crowds

 

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful day at the FORK Gala on 4 June in the Botanic Gardens at Ha’penny Bridge House. Formally opened by MSP Sandra White, many hundreds of people sat in the sun to be entertained by the musicians – who were still playing at 6pm when the Gala, technically, finished at 4pm. Then there were the stalls to browse, the dog show to challenge, useful things to buy, interesting things to learn and plenty of fun, food and cool drinks too. Canoe rides gave experience on the water.

The whole event is a great West End gathering where people mix and chat, meet and eat, sing and sort out the rest of the world. FORKS are Friends of the River Kelvin and the gala is a showcase for their work and philosophy – to care for the environment around the River Kelvin and to carry that care into other aspects of living.

Welcomed by the Big Fork himself, founder Mark Eden-Bushell, the day was well organised by the FORK Gala committee with FORK Secretary Charles Thompson busy in the background making sure everything fell into place.

Volunteers are welcome to join the FORK’s next river clean-up on Saturday 2 July at 10.30pm at Ha’penny Bridge House which is the organisation’s headquarters.

FORK GALA FUN IN THE SUN

There is no doubt it will be a good day on Saturday 4 June because that is FORK Gala day and traditionally it has been favoured with the warmth and brightness of the sun.

From 11am till 4pm, centred  in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow near Ha’Penny Bridge House, Friends of the River Kelvin (FORKs) will offer food and entertainment, stalls and canoe rides, friendship and environment awareness strategies.

Throughout the day, live music is played by many wandering minstrels. People meet and chat, children have fun and entertainment. Books and tee shirts and other items can be bought. The beekeepers have honey in stock and welcome interest in their important, voluntary, work.

Don’t miss it!