Stone forest

This weekend is 'Open Doors' in Glasgow so as time was tight we visited Mrs M's old school at Jordanhill, which was most interesting.

Later on we revisited the Fossil Grove in Victoria Park. We hadn't been there in more years than I can remember. When the park was being created a number of fossil trees were discovered and carefully excavated and a building erected over the top to preserve them. A unique sight, but unfortunately very low priority in the Council's eyes.

The Victorian building is in need of urgent restoration - they haven't even bothered to put new light bulbs in! The surrounding garden, which is in reality an old quarry, is in a state of total neglect! Tree saplings growing everywhere, willowherb seeding everywhere, brambles cascading down the rock faces - in short, a total disaster! I imagine that nothing has been done in terms of maintenance in years! Even the pond is almost empty of water and it's obvious that the local yobs use the place as a playground. Action required here! The British Pteridological Society, of which I'm a member, has been approached with a view to establishing a collection of ferns on the steep beds around the building but until the council can guarantee that it won't be destroyed in the first week I think we should turn down the offer!!

Such a shame - it could be a very special place.