I thought I had wandered every path within a couple of miles of my house but on my daily lockdown Socially Distanced Saunter (SDS), I found areas I had never explored before. My neighbour sent a message to say the Bluebells were out, gave me some directions and this became my walk every day before work.
The Bluebell Dell is part of the Garnkirk Estate. The estate was originally owned by the church and was bought by John Stirling in 1587. Since 1587 only two other families have owned the land. The Dunlops purchased the estate in 1634 and sold it to the family of Mark Sprot in in 1811. The Sprots were among the sponsors of the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway which opened in 1831. In the same year the Garnkirk Fireclay Works opened on the Estate lands. The village of Stepps was built on the Estate 1900 - 1914. The Estate consisting of Garnkirk House, Mount Harriet House and 13 farms amounting to 1600 acres, was put up for sale in 1922. Parts of the Estate were sold and parts still remain in the possession of the Sprot family.
The Glen itself is a tiny remnant of ancient Atlantic Oak woodland. This temperate rainforest once stretched from the west coast into the central belt. The Glen is home to trees such as Sessile Oak, Hazel, Rowan, Ash, Birch, Bird Cherry, Wych Elm and Willows. Supporting a diverse range of plants, invertebrates, fungi, lichens, mosses and liverworts. The Glen is one of only a few ancient woodland sites remaining locally, so protecting this crucial piece of habitat is a priority. The amazing display of bluebells every spring is truly beautiful and has enticed visitors to the area for over 100 years.
The cache is micro-sized, please be careful not to drop it as you will never find it again