Nestled between Barrhead, Newton Mearns and Nitshill lies Scotland's newest country park. Dams to Darnley Country Park stretches from the reservoirs behind Auchenback in Barrhead right down to Nitshill Road and as far across as Patterton Station in Newton Mearns. It's an area of over 550 hectares and both East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City Councils have plans that it becomes a major leisure resource. An outline country park masterplan was agreed several years ago and both councils are working closely to make sure that steady progress is made in making improvements that will encourage existing and new visitors to use the area. However, before the Park can be developed for the future, it's important to build a picture of its past.
In order to achieve this, Park managers are organising open session at The Ashoka at the Mill for local people to come forward with their own bits of history. They're looking for information about the park itself and its surrounding areas. The drop-in sessions are on Wednesday 23 January the Ashoka at the Mill, 500 Corselet Road (off Nitshill Road), Darnley with one in the afternoon between 1-4pm and again between 6-8pm.
Councillor Tony Buchanan, chair of the joint committee in charge of Scotland's newest country park explained: "Before we can develop the park we need to build a picture of its history. We want to hear from local people from all over Mearns, Barrhead, Nitshill, Darnley or anywhere else. They'll get the chance to find out about our study of the heritage of the park and we want to hear from them if they have stories, memories, photographs, bits of history or even interesting bits of gossip. Since the Ashoka sits right at the entrance to the park, there'll be some delicious snacks to spice things up," he added.
For more information on the park or the heritage project call Stephen McHenry, the park project officer on 0141 577 3140.