Form 7 visit Glenlude
On Monday 27th April 2026, Form 7 visited the John Muir Trust property of Glenlude. This piece of land of 149 hectares on the edge of the Southern Uplands had been a grazing site for sheep and part of a forestry plantation until bought by a passionate environmentalist, one Sheila Bell. She set about systematically removing the Sitka spruce and replacing it with broad-leafed native woodland, as well introducing ponds and removing heavy animal grazing to allow for some natural regeneration.
When the JMT was gifted the site in 2003, they continued Shiela’s wonderful project and are proud
custodians of Glenlude, continuing the habitat restoration that meant so much to her. With Ellie Oakley (the conservation officer) as our guide and assisted by the lovely Liv, Form 7 learned about the animals to be found there, including red squirrels, the green hairstreak butterfly, owls, songbirds, black grouse, pine martens, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. We saw that often we are looking for signs of animals rather than the animal itself – owl pellets, nibbled cones and antlers, nests, scat and footprints.
In the morning, we explored the site, spending time enjoying looking carefully around us, creating sound and sight maps as well as hunting for red squirrels. After a sunny lunch break, we played a bird call game before heading up into the hills to remove Sitka saplings that were self-seeding in the areas set aside for the regeneration of native forest. We saw three lizards (I was especially excited about this!), some small rodents, a potential adder sighting and lots of ladybirds.
It was a tremendous day out and Form 7 were able to see in action all that they have been learning about in environmental science, as they work towards a John Muir ‘Wild Places Guardian’ Award. Thanks to Ellie, Liv, Rosie and the generous, important work of all those at JMT.
Mwara Stuart.
MS/jb