A NEW section of pathway has been created to provide safe access to an East Renfrewshire wildlife reserve.

The 70-metre walkway connects the small parking area at the side of busy Lochlibo Road, between Shillford and Caldwell, to a gate which leads across the railway line to Loch Libo.

Previous access to the site involved a precarious walk from the lay-by along the grassy verge, with cars hurtling past at speeds of up to 60mph.

The work was carried out with the help of a group of volunteers from the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWF), who assisted staff as they carried out a range of tasks each Wednesday.

Gill Smart, SWF’s reserves manager for south-west Scotland, is full of praise for all of those who gave up their time to lend a hand.

She told the Barrhead News: “We’re really grateful to our volunteers for helping us create a safer access route for visitors to the reserve.”

The wildlife reserve includes a long, shallow freshwater loch which has aspen growing in the shallow waters and a hillside cloaked in mature sycamore and ash woodland.

It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and rare plants such as cowbane, water parsnip and greater tussock-sedge grow along the shore.

Gill added: “Loch Libo is well worth a visit at this time of year.

“The reserve is springing into life, with buds bursting, woodpeckers drumming in the trees and summer migrants such as chiff chaffs starting to arrive.”

For more information about the attractions on offer at Loch Libo, visit https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/loch-libo.