South Seeds was set up 10 years ago to support local residents to lead more sustainable lives and in April 2021 we launched Glasgow’s Southside Tree Trail…
The trail is a circular route starting and finishing at the gates to Queen’s Park and leads trail followers through three Southside parks. The route introduces walkers and cyclists to 12 Southside trees, which are also common across Scotland. We suggest you set aside a good hour or two to enjoy the route.
To embark on the tree trail, pick a leaflet up from South Seeds at 514 Victoria Road or check out and download the leaflet online.
The tree trail leaflet is packed full of information explaining how to identify the trees. There’s a clear map to follow and the locations of the trees are marked. It also features descriptions of the trees and an illustration of the leaf shape.
During the winter, when some trees lose their leaves, tree identification can be a bit tricky. For this reason, we’ve included ‘What three words’ for each tree. Using the three unique words and the What Three Words app you will be able to easily locate each tree.
Spotting & identifying historic and everyday trees
The route introduces walkers to some outstanding southside tree planting. This includes the tree-lined Queen’s Drive, the ancient yew trees in Queen’s Park, the cheerful Rowan trees of East Pollokshields and the magnificent Ash trees In Govanhill Park.
Once you have walked the trail and located the tress you can keep an eye on those trees throughout the year and notice how they change throughout the seasons.
Learning how to identify trees at any point in the year is a valuable skill. The next time you’re out and about in town or the countryside, you’ll be able to tell the different between a Beech and a Birch tree.
South Seeds’ urban croft for the community
The tree trail route takes walkers past the entrance to the Croft on Queen’s Park recreation ground. Through the chain link fence passers-by can see the community garden where residents are invited to adopt-a-raised bed each March. There are 24 raised beds to be adopted and they are allocated to those that apply in March each year.
There’s a programme of support for the growers delivered by South Seeds’ expert gardener Eric. Growers adopt the beds until November, when they will have harvested all their produce. South Seeds looks after the beds over the winter to nourish the soil and conduct any maintenance in time for the next round of adoptions.
Southside Tool Library & home energy advice
South Seeds has an office on Victoria Road, open 9am–5pm on week days and 10am–2pm on Saturdays. From it South Seeds also runs the Southside Tool Library where you can borrow tools. In turn, we have energy officers who can help people reduce their energy bills.
If you’re interested in any of our projects or services, mitigating climate change, saving the environment or becoming more sustainable drop in to our Victoria Road unit!
Share ideas Sat 21st Aug at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground Croft!
South Seeds is holding its open AGM at the Croft, our beautiful community garden on Queen’s Park recreation ground. We’re keen for locals to help us shape the next 10 years, so please do come along and share your ideas. The AGM is on Saturday 21 August 2021, it starts at 10.30am and will finish by 11.30am.
Guest blog post by Lucy Gillie, South Seeds
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For more information about South Seeds visit www.southseeds.org and find them on Twitter and Facebook and at their premises at 514 Victoria Road, Glasgow, G42 8BG.
If you spot any trees around the Southside and have identified or guessed the species, share your images and tell us on Twitter or Facebook.
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