Glasgow Walking Lunch

27/09/2024

This wooden quaich will be on display in the reimagined Paisley Museum. The inscription reads: ‘Made from the last of the bonnie woods o’ Cragielea.’ It was carved in 1874 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth weaver and poet Robert Tannahill. He wrote passionately about social issues – and nature. His found peace and comfort walking in the Craigielea woods. The woodland was cleared to build the gas works. Now the space is used an airport car park. This simple object tells many climate stories.

Image: A two-handled wooden quaich with a carved metal plaque inside reading: ‘Made from the last of the bonnie woods o’ Cragielea.’

26/09/2024

Ladies by the Loch by George Henry is one of the paintings being restored for display in the reimagined Paisley Museum. Humans are part of the natural world, and time outdoors can help us feel happier or relaxed. What’s your favourite way of connecting with nature?

Image: The oil painting shows two women, one wearing a long dress and one slightly hidden by shrubs. They seem to be enjoying time in nature.

26/09/2024

We are reimagining Paisley Museum for the future. We are planting a garden, where you can relax in nature, away from shops and traffic. It’ll be a brand new green space for the town centre.

Image: External view of Oakshaw building at Paisley Museum showing new layout for accessible path through gardens

25/09/2024

Have you ever seen one of these? It’s a passenger pigeon. You won’t see them in the wild because they’re now extinct. Stuffed specimens are all we have left. Paisley-born ornithologist Alexander Wilson found a way to count them. There were billions of them! He recorded his pioneering ‘timed count’ method. And bird conservationists today still use the same method. That’s just one reason why he’s remembered as the ‘Father of American Ornithology’.

Image: Taxidermied passenger pigeon

24/09/2024

24/09/2024

Reminder - the launch of Renfrewshire Climate Action Network is tomorrow, Tuesday 24th September, from 9:30am - 2pm in the Jacquard Suite, Paisley Town Hall!

Hosted by LEAP - Local Energy Action Plan, with contributions from Sniffer, Propagate, Eadha Enterprises, Pachedu "Amongst Ourselves", Darkwood Crew, Inchinnan Development Trust and Becky Duncan (Open Aye). You'll also hear what our new logo is all about.

There are a few tickets left - networking lunch included*: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/renfrewshireclimatehub/1382433



*Please note that we may not be able to accommodate last minute dietary requirements.

24/09/2024

These beautiful freshwater pearls were harvested from the River Cart in 1755. They were stored carefully in a jewellery box from James Duncan, a Paisley watchmaker and goldsmith based at Paisley Cross. The freshwater pearl mussels that made them are long gone after years of fishing and industrial pollution of the river. But in another Scottish river, conservationists are working to preserve them and support Scotland’s biodiversity.

Image: Three freshwater pearls in jewellery box inscribed James Duncan, watchmaker and goldsmith, The Cross, Paisley

31/03/2022

Glasgow's statues have connections to the Atlantic slave trade

Eight statues in Glasgow have been identified as representing people connected to the Atlantic slave trade.

08/06/2020

For obvious reasons there are no walking lunches just now which means no tours highlighting role of the city in slavery and abolition. In the meantime ... you could help here:

I am the sister of Sheku Bayoh. I ask you remember his name and feel the same outrage over his death in police custody as you do over the killing of George Floyd in the United States.

06/06/2020

Would like to see McCune Smith commemorated but still good effort ... and all done (hopefully) at safe social distance

Anti-racism campaigners in Glasgow have placed plaques with alternative street names on buildings in the city to protest roads currently named after…