CSGN Annual Review 2018/19 Contents

Chair’s Foreword 01

An Initiative of National Importance 02

Scottish Government Commitment 03

CSGN Parliamentary Event 04

Green Infrastructure Policies in the CSGN 05

Not So Pretty Vacant Campaign 06

Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land 07

Importance of Greenspace for Young People - CSGN Forum 08

Delivery at Scale 10

The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative 11

Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership 12

EcoCo LIFE 13

The Leven Catchment Project 14

The John Muir Way 15

Creating Local Assets and Benefits 16

CSGN Development Fund 17

Creating Natural Connections Initiative 18

Busby Primary Edible Vertical Garden 19

Local Authority Projects 20

Cover — The John Muir Way, Photo: scotlandbigpicture.com Chair’s Foreword 1

Concern over the environment is high The CSGN continues to make great progress 2018/19 Review Annual within communities, something we showcased at on the public’s conscience, and the our parliamentary event. Guests were able to meet political agenda is shifting with the some of the many partners who have delivered Scottish Government acknowledging ground-breaking projects over the past year, as well as local participants who are benefiting from a climate crisis, joined by many of our these projects, such as pupils from Larbert High local authority partners. School whose work at Carron Dams Nature Park was recognised at the Scottish Awards for Quality In this review we look back at how much we have in Planning. collectively achieved over the past year, and we I am also pleased that we are able to report on can see the ways in which the CSGN will continue the success of initiatives for a CSGN flagship to form part of Scotland’s climate challenge project, the John Muir Way. Funding was secured response. However, it is also quite apparent how to continue the innovative planting for pollinators’ much more we must do if we are to make the project, and we have seen the launch of a new CSGN vision a reality and ensure its contribution

John Muir Way passport which seeks to bolster Network Green Central Scotland to meeting the climate challenges is as substantial and engage businesses based along the long as it can be. distance walking and cycling route. Evidence from The heightened interest comes as work is hotels indicates that the passport is bringing an underway to produce the Scottish Government’s increase in visitors into their premises, especially fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). visitors from the USA. The CSGN is prioritised as one of 14 National I hope you enjoy this CSGN annual review and Developments in NPF3, which has been we look forward to our continued work together, instrumental to embedding the CSGN’s delivery in delivering a better future for central Scotland. policy and practice across central Scotland. We look forward to continuing conversations with our partners in the development of the new framework Keith Geddes and the CSGN’s stake in making central Scotland Chair a better place to live, work, visit and do business Central Scotland Green Network Trust in. Through the actions of a committed, skilled and diverse network of partners, we are delivering the largest greenspace initiative of its kind in Europe. Their valuable support and exemplar approach to working in partnership is delivering positive changes and enhancements to central Scotland’s landscape at scale. This year saw the EcoCo LIFE, Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and Inner Forth Landscape Initiative programmes draw to a close. Their achievements are impressive and we have highlighted these in this review. It has been very encouraging to see action continue beyond the original scope of the initiatives as they transition into new ventures, carrying forward the legacies of the projects. An Initiative of National Importance

The CSGN is transforming places for the better, actively supporting the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government. It is a real opportunity through policy, investment and shared action to create a legacy for the future, as well as seeing real change in our lifetime.

It is much more than a ‘green’ initiative, the CSGN is helping to improve the social, economic, physical, cultural and environmental wellbeing.

By targeting and prioritising areas where access to quality greenspace is limited, the CSGN is tackling inequality, making central Scotland a fairer, healthier and happier place to live.

The CSGN makes central Scotland a more attractive place to do business in, promoting a stronger, sustainable economy. It also has the ability to strengthen communities, and seeks to engage them with Scotland’s natural environment and the many benefits it brings.

All while contributing significantly to Scotland’s response to the climate emergency, helping to meet the climate change challenges we face.

1 — 2018 CSGN Forum, Roseanna Cunningham MSP Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform

1 Scottish Government 3 Commitment

The CSGN is the largest environmental The CSGN featured in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Review Annual 2018/19 Programmes for Government. This project of its kind in Europe, document is published every year at the beginning transforming places for the better, of September and sets out the actions the Scottish actively supporting the Scottish Government will take in the coming year and beyond. It includes the legislative programme Government’s Programme for for the next parliamentary year to drive forward Government. change across all levels of society. These actions have continued the government’s It is prioritised in the Scottish support for the CSGN through: the CSGN Government’s third National Planning Development Fund which reached its tenth year having distributed nearly £7m to over 160 projects, Framework (NPF3) as one of 14 commitments to increasing area available for national developments, helping to community growing, targeting greenspace improvements in the most disadvantaged areas, make this area more attractive to

and supporting pollinator planting, including Network Green Central Scotland investors and residents. projects along the John Muir Way to create Scotland’s first pollinator-friendly urban corridor. NPF3 is a long term spatial plan for Scotland that sets out where development and infrastructure 2 — Pollinator planting is needed to support sustainable and inclusive along the John Muir Way growth. NPF3 was launched in 2014 – a report Photo: Becky Duncan, monitoring progress of its 30 key actions and 14 Open Aye cic national developments was published this year – and work is currently underway to develop the fourth framework that will lead to 2050.

2 4 CSGN Parliamentary Event Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual The Central Scotland Green Network In addition to displays covering the many themes Trust (CSGNT) held a parliamentary of the CSGN, eight partners exhibited the work they are doing with young people. Amongst reception with Alex Neil MSP at these were projects from greenspace scotland, Holyrood. Scottish Natural Heritage, the John Muir Trust, Cumbernauld Living Landscapes, Beechbrae, The event, Investing in Young People; Scottish Wildlife Trust and CSGNT. Young participants from these projects were also present Investing in our Environment, focused to share their experiences with guests.

on the Year of Young People 2018, Mairi Gougeon MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and highlighting the contribution our young Natural Environment, made a speech at the event people are making to greening the and, along with the event sponsor Alex Neil MSP, had the opportunity to present John Muir Awards to central belt through local and strategic six young people from the North based action, and the benefits they enjoy New Stevenston Senior Youth Group. Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland from the CSGN. Recipients of the CSGN Young Persons Travel Grant also attended the event to present an overview of the projects they visited after receiving 1 — John Muir Award their awards at the CSGN Forum. Their travels recipients with Alex Neil MSP took them to see innovative greenspace and green and Mairi Gougeon MSP, infrastructure projects in the UK, Europe and the Minister for Rural Affairs and US. Natural Environment

1 Green Infrastructure 5 Policies in the CSGN

Glasgow Clyde Valley Green Network The quality of GI-relevant policies were assessed 2018/19 Review Annual against a suite of 23 GI policy assessment criteria Partnership published a study that based on a GI benchmark developed by the establishes the quality and coverage Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments of Green Infrastructure (GI) policies in at the University of the West of England in Bristol, and the Integrated Green Infrastructure local authorities’ Local Development Approach developed by the GCV Green Network Plans and Supplementary Guidance Partnership. within the CSGN area. The study found that when the best individual GI policies from the 19 CSGN local authorities are collated there is almost complete coverage of GI policy tools - although no single local authority has all aspects of policy in place. The study proves that it is possible to have strong comprehensive GI policies in statutory planning documents.and

provides the prospect of collating the best policies Network Green Central Scotland as a suite of ‘model’ GI policies. The study’s results provide a useful starting point for constructive discussion about how 2— Greening in a comprehensive and robust GI policy can be new residential areas achieved with those who have an interest in visualisation seeing good, well maintained multi-functional green infrastructure integrated into new housing developments as significant contribution to the delivery of the CSGN.

12 6 Not So Pretty Vacant Campaign

Scottish Land Commission SEPA Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual The Scottish Land Commission The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey was first set up 30 years ago, yet the amount of and SEPA launched their innovative registered land has remained virtually static. There partnership and taskforce to transform are currently around 11,600 hectares, twice the Scotland’s approach to vacant and size of the City of Dundee, of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland. derelict land, finding ways to bring The new taskforce, chaired by Steve Dunlop, thousands of acres of unused and Chief Executive Scottish Enterprise, brings underused space back into productive together leaders from the public, private and social enterprise sectors, including CSGNT. The use. taskforce will challenge and reshape the approach It sees the two organisations: to bringing sites back into use which will have both economic and social benefits for all of Scotland. —— go beyond regulatory and planning The taskforce has the ambitious goal of halving compliance, to develop innovative the amount of Scotland’s derelict land by 2025. approaches that will drive transformative Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland – not piecemeal – change Among its first tasks was to better understand the nature of the challenge to reforming vacant —— challenge and change the way that and derelict land in Scotland and identify what Scotland deals with the issue of vacant changes will need to be made to existing policy and derelict land and practice. —— work with local authorities, other public With over 9,000 hectares of the CSGN area agencies and organisations in the private classified as vacant and derelict, accounting for and social enterprise sectors to identify 78% of Scotland’s total, it is an area of work that the causes and consequences of long- has been prioritised in NPF3. term land vacancy and dereliction Through temporary or permanent greening it holds —— develop a 10 year strategy for eradicating huge potential to make better places that support the problem, setting ambitious targets health and wellbeing, help boost the economy and supported at a local and national level. mitigate against the challenges of climate change. In addition, by rejuvenating these areas communities stand to benefit from increased engagement and empowerment, tackling social 1 inequalities while increasing local pride and ownership. Recent examples of transforming vacant or derelict land for productive use include:

—— the Shettleston Growing Project in which has created a thriving community garden on land previously used for storing building materials

—— the Clyde Gateway has brought a number of large scale vacant derelict land sites back in to productive use, with the most recent being Magenta

—— regeneration of a 28-acre site, formerly the home of Johnnie Walker, generating inward investment and stimulating jobs at HALO Kilmarnock. Scottish Forestry and 7 Forestry and Land Scotland

Following the completion of the Forest Enterprise Scotland also focussed on the 2018/19 Review Annual consistent provision of timber supply, bolstering Forestry and Land Management the rural economy. (Scotland) Act 2018, ministers The contribution that Scotland’s forestry sector is established two Scottish Government making to mitigate the effects of climate change agencies on 1 April 2019 to deliver is set to rise further as the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan 2018-32 commits to an forestry responsibilities; Forest and increased 15k hectare woodland creation target Land Scotland, and Scottish Forestry. from 2024-25. New woodlands will also provide additional benefits to climate change adaption, 2019 also marked 100 years of public forestry including attracting inward investment and jobs, leadership in Scotland that has seen woodland environmental enhancements, biodiversity and area increase five-fold since the Forestry improving health and wellbeing. Commission was established. And for the first To meet these targets, Forestry Commission time this century Scotland has exceeded its 10k Scotland launched a new application process

hectare woodland creation target, a period that Network Green Central Scotland and actively promoted the opportunities for also saw the CSGN target surpassed. woodland creation to farmers and landowners Work in the area has focused on facilitating an through events, case studies and promotional increase in woodland creation rates through a media. There was also a £6m increase to £46m number of mechanisms, including developing from Scottish Government to funding available the Forestry Grants Scheme and simplifying through the Forestry Grants Scheme. The results the woodland creation application and approval were a significant increase in woodland creation, processes. exceeding the 10k hectares target by 12.1%. Recognising the additional costs of planting and Excellence in projects delivered on the ground establishing new woodlands within the CSGN has also been recognised, such as the Cuningar area where they will provide environmental, Loop, a woodland park created on an area of economic and social benefit, an additional CSGN vacant and derelict land on the banks of the River Contribution grant is available. Clyde, which won the Partnership category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning.

2 1 — Not So Pretty Vacant campaign 2 — Photo: Becky Duncan, Open Aye cic 8 Importance of Greenspace for Young People - CSGN Forum

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual With research highlighting that 75% of At the event, Hanna Johansson, an associate architect with Bjarke Ingels Group, provided an UK children spend less time outside insight into the Billund City Vision. The 30-year than prison inmates, the 2018 CSGN plan is focused on transforming Billund, which is forum emphasised the importance of the birthplace of LEGO®, into Denmark’s Capital of Children where children can grow up to flourish greenspace for young people. as creative citizens of the world.

The annual event focused on Johansson highlighted that ‘if it’s good for children then it’s good for everyone’ and the initiative is ‘Children, Young People + focused on creating a town ‘on children’s terms’ Greenspace = A Healthy Equation’ where playfulness is at the heart of the city’s design and management. as world-renowned experts shared This approach will see Billund become a national their insights on the ways that central and international centre for new experiences, Scotland could work to improve knowledge and research that support learning Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland children’s health, mental well-being through play, for the benefit of children all over the world and educational outcomes. Green infrastructure is a major part of this approach with the river running through the city being opened up for greater public use and the design of offices and the city’s two main tourist attractions being visually connected to the 1 — Davies White surrounding greenspace. The vision is now being Landscape Architects delivered through a range of projects including the new LEGO® House, as well as a series of events and activities on the ground. Adam White, who played a key role in the £5.7 1 million regeneration of Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, highlighted the importance of designing areas focused on reconnecting people, places and nature. Cuningar Loop was part of the legacy which saw the formerly derelict land transformed with an extensive path network, adventure play facility, bike skills area, Scotland’s first outdoor bouldering park, a woodland workout and outdoor classroom. Adam underlined the need to create more accessible and inclusive nature play spaces that help reconnect children of all abilities with nature by increasing the diversity of play and learning opportunities, encouraging more creative and co-operative play, as well as offering sensory stimulation through sounds, fragrances, textures, tactile interaction and visual complexity. 2 — Hanna Johansson, 2018 CSGN Forum Photo: Becky Duncan, Open Aye cic The keynote presentations from the forum are available to watch online at: centralscotlandgreennetwork.org Delivery at Scale

Stretching across 10,000km2 from Ayrshire and in the west to Fife and Lothians in the east, the CSGN is restoring and transforming the landscape of central Scotland at a significant scale.

We are delivering the biggest greenspace project of its kind in Europe, making central Scotland a more attractive and distinctive place to live, to visit and to do business in.

With relatively modest investment, the CSGN’s benefits are considerable, bringing real quality of life improvements to the 3.8 million people living in the area - that’s over two thirds of Scotland’s population.

1 The Inner Forth 11 Landscape Initiative Fife Council RSPB Central Scotland Green Network Trust Scottish Natural Heritage Historic Environment Scotland Falkirk Council Stirling Council Clackmanninshire Council Sustrans Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative —— 54 projects delivering a £4.1 million investment in the Inner Forth landscape (IFLI) was a landscape partnership area scheme funded by the Heritage —— 127 ha of biodiversity and landscape Lottery Fund delivered over a 4½- areas enhanced and maintained year period between March 2014 and —— 7km of landscape features maintained September 2018 to enhance, restore —— 15½ km of footpaths, trails and routes and celebrate the landscape of the developed with 105 way markers, fingerposts and bridges improving the Inner Forth in Scotland. access to the area From the project planning phase, —— 10 built heritage and industrial features recorded and interpreted the IFLI partnership set a number of —— 13,000+ records of biodiversity and challenging output targets and all of heritage features created with 2,000+ Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland these were achieved or in many cases records uploaded to national databases exceeded. —— 5,000+ participants involved in 400+ learning and participation activities

—— 850+ local school pupils engaged —— 1,000+ volunteers delivering £225K worth of volunteer time

—— 155 training courses for 631 participants —— Being the catalyst for 54+ jobs with 233 individual training accreditations and qualifications achieved 2 —— 121 different pieces of interpretation and communication to help promote the area

—— Nominated, shortlisted or highly commended for work conducted by the partnership by six national awards schemes

—— An additional £207K worth of activity including £100K additional funding that was not anticipated at the scheme outset. Inner Forth Futures has now been formed to take forward the legacy of the IFLI, and work with local people to build on those achievements in the future.

1 — IFLI workshop at Kinneil Lagoons 2.— Inner Forth Landscape Initiative, Lapwing at Grangemouth Photo: David Palmar 12 Clyde and Avon Valley

Landscape Partnership New World Heritage Site CAVLP Heritage managed by Northlight Heritage Council The Rural Development Trust Council RSPB Clydesdfale Community Initiatives Scottish Natural Heritage Central Scotland Green Network Trust Scottish Wildlife Trust

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual The Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Programme highlights include: Partnership (CAVLP) scheme was an —— 300 volunteers carrying out 17,000 hours ambitious £4.7 million programme of work with an extensive range of projects —— 7,600 young people engaged through arts, heritage, outdoor play activities and designed to deliver outcomes for active travel

landscape, heritage, people and —— 15,000 native trees planted in new communities. woodlands at Carbarns (North Lanarkshire), Carluke Golf Club and the The CAVLP programme was delivered through four Nethan Gorge. programmes, set out in a Landscape Conservation —— 20km paths improved and 22 new trails Action Plan: described along with 89 local places, —— Conserving the built and natural heritage sites and other resources all environment featured on www.clydeandavonvalley.com Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland —— Increasing community participation —— 25 hectares of woodland improved by removing conifers, particularly at —— Enabling access to, and learning about, Chatelherault Country Park where the the landscape of the Clyde and Avon work also revealed the gorge landscape Valley again. —— Providing new training opportunities —— 1,800 fruit trees planted across 21 school, After the programme drew to a close in 2018, community and private orchards the Community Action Lanarkshire project —— Thousands of local people enjoyed formed to continue its work. It offers support for community workshops, festivals and rural communities across rural north and south events Lanarkshire to develop community-led action plans, and to build and grow projects. —— Two new local community interest companies and one orchard co-operative.

1 EcoCo LIFE 13

Scottish Natural Heritage Buglife Scotland RSPB Butterfly Conservation Scotland SEPA East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative Scottish Wildlife Trust

EcoCo LIFE was a £2.3 million Key achievements of the project include: 2018/19 Review Annual project funded by the Life+ —— Participation of almost 2,000 school financial instrument of the European children in outdoor learning activities across the project. Community for habitat restoration —— Production of over 1000 maps on and creation to improve ecological connectivity and ecosystem services to coherence within the CSGN area. refine the Ecological Coherence Protocol and target management.

The project did this by improving —— More than £0.6m contributed to the biodiversity at key sites through local economy through 79 suppliers and contractors for goods and services. habitat creation and restoration to —— 38 staff members have been either fully improve habitat connectivity and or part employed (approx. seven full time coherence. equivalents) over the project lifetime. Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland —— Volunteers contributed 1,096 days in Running from 2014 to 2019, the 178 sessions, which is the monetary project aimed to improve habitat equivalent of at least £32,000 to the project. and species resilience, contribute to —— Innovative conservation work occurred on wider ecosystem services (such as four broad habitats within 12 management improved natural flood management zones, comprising 43 individual sites. and reducing diffuse pollution) whilst —— Purchase of a low-ground pressure also contributing to the CSGN’s socio- Softrak machine allowing the management of 88ha of very wet, sensitive economic impacts. and previously inaccessible areas at 8 project sites, and 12 sites outwith the project, with 14 operators trained

—— Approx. 1,000ha peatland managed with 2,900m of ditch blocking, nearly 4,000 dams created and 10,200m2 pool habitat created; 75ha of wetland management; 443m2 green roofs created.

2

1 — Chatelherault Country Park 2 — Skinflats 14 The Leven Catchment Project Sustrans Scottish Water Fife College SEPA Forth Rivers Trust Scottish Enterprise Central Scotland Green Network Trust Scottish Natural Heritage Diageo Fife Council Keep Scotland Beautiful

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual The River Leven is a river in Fife local communities working closely together to help deliver environmental improvements in and which starts at Loch Leven and flows around the river, while maximising the social and through a number of communities economic opportunities that these improvements before entering the Firth of Forth at can bring. Levenmouth 26km downstream. One of the first initiatives of The Leven Catchment Project has been awarded £250,000 through The river’s industrial past has left Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links scheme and £65,000 from the Scottish Environment behind pockets of vacant and derelict Protection Agency’s Water Environment Fund. land, and communities with high The funding from Sustrans and SEPA will finance unemployment rates, poor health feasibility and scoping work for the ‘Connectivity Project’. This is one of a series of initiatives and well-being and other pressures designed to help deliver the wider vision for the associated with areas in the top region and focuses on a 5km stretch of the river Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland percentiles of those most deprived in Leven at Levenmouth. Scotland. Plans include developing a series of paths to connect the isolated communities to, and along From being something that once brought the river, and unlocking opportunities on vacant communities together and provided their and derelict land in the area. livelihood, the river has now become a barrier, disconnecting people and towns from each other. 1 — River Leven The Leven Programme is a regeneration initiative 2 — John Muir involving key government agencies, non- Pollinator Way government organisations, private sector and 3 — John Muir Way passport benefiting local businesses

1 The John Muir Way 15

Buglife Scotland Central Scotland Green Network Trust Falkirk Community Trust Forestry Commission Scotland

John Muir Pollinator Way John Muir Way LEADER Business 2018/19 Review Annual

Thanks to funding from Scottish Government and Project The Greggs Foundation, The Central Scotland As one of Scotland’s Great Trails running 134 Green Network Trust has been supporting Buglife miles coast to coast across central Scotland, The to create 25 pollinator ‘hubs’ at various points John Muir Way presents both a unique outdoor along the John Muir Way. This funding allowed experience and a fantastic growth opportunity for Buglife Scotland the opportunity to expand and local businesses and attractions along the route. bolster the work already being undertaken to create the first urban B-line in Scotland, The John CSGNT has secured funding from LEADER and Muir Pollinator Way. local authorities for a two-year project to increase awareness and use of The John Muir Way and to Buglife Scotland has been searching for sites that engage with businesses to work collaboratively to can be transformed or enhanced for the benefit realise the economic benefits to central Scotland. of pollinators. The team have been working The project runs from May 2018 to May 2020. closely with land owners and managers in East Dunbartonshire, The City of Edinburgh and The chief aim of the project is to promote The Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland Falkirk, and hope to create at least one ‘hub’ in John Muir Way as a key tourism asset linked each of the council areas that the John Muir Way to the area’s natural and cultural heritage, in runs through. Starting the project, Buglife initially order to achieve a greater share of the large and worked with the Falkirk Community Trust at Kinneil growing market for walking and cycling tourism Estate and Callendar Park, as well as with the and recreation – and the associated economic Forestry Commission Scotland at Callendar Park, benefits. eventually completing enhancement and habitat More footfall on the route will create opportunities creation works at 32 sites along the John Muir for business growth and development, which Way. in turn, will contribute to stronger and more Through creating these pollinator hotspots sustainable local economies, and improved the project will be giving our wild pollinators a facilities for visitors and communities alike. much needed helping hand and creating new The market knowledge and business engagement habitats for other wildlife. Local communities and that this project will deliver will lay the groundwork schools also have the opportunity to connect for an integrated approach to promoting The with their local natural environment by getting John Muir Way – where the business offering is involved, where possible, with the creation and developed and promoted in tandem with the route. enhancement of these sites and being able to explore and look for the wildlife that takes up residence in these areas.

2 3 Creating Local Assets and Benefits

As well as supporting and developing the green network at scale, our partners are delivering significant, innovative projects at a local level, helping to achieve the CSGN aim for every home in central Scotland to have access to attractive, safe and well maintained greenspace.

The CSGN provides opportunities to engage communities in the development, management and use of locally important assets, both old and new, creating a place to feel good in an environment which supports healthy lifestyles and well-being.

1 — Rural Affairs and Natural Environment Minister Mairi Gougeon, 1 with Gorebridge Community Development Trust CSGN Development Fund 17

Central Scotland Green Network Trust Scottish Natural Heritage Transport Scotland The Scottish Government Food and Drink Division Forestry Commission Scotland Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual In 2019, projects promoting —— A community growing and healthy eating project bringing Forth Valley Sensory green living through active travel, Centre users and volunteers together habitat restoration and community with Camelon residents and local school growing benefited from £264,000 of pupils. development funding. —— A series of planting and community engagement events to intentionally The CSGN funding was announced by Rural integrate parts of the John Muir Way with Affairs and Natural Environment Minister Mairi ecosystems, greenspaces and/or water to Gougeon, as she visited one of the 11 successful deliver multiple environmental and quality recipients. Gorebridge Community Development of life benefits. Trust was awarded £13,571 to develop a —— ‘The Back Garden’ urban food growing community garden that includes an outdoor play project by The Concrete Garden in the area and therapeutic space to promote physical heart of Possilpark, one of Scotland’s and mental well-being. most disadvantaged areas. Ms Gougeon said: “It is great to see such a diverse Network Green Central Scotland —— Baltic Street Adventure Playground range of community projects benefit from the located in the area of Central Scotland Green Network development Glasgow improved gardening tools and fund. It is by far the largest green infrastructure facilities in a new community garden and project in Europe and I was delighted to see it launched a Friendly Meals programme. recently highlighted by the European Commission as a good example of implementing environmental —— A vacant site in front of the Civic House policy. building in North Glasgow known as ‘Phoenix Nursery’ into vibrant and “There is a growing awareness of the benefits dynamic greenspaces with community that healthy, sustainable living can bring to both growing areas, a tool library, enhanced society and the economy and projects like this green public space and an active travel are a great way of local communities using and hub. benefitting from the greenspaces around them.” —— A community garden developed by Funded projects Gorebridge Community Development Trust with an outdoor play area and —— Regeneration of a former steelworks, a therapeutic space to promote both including a community woodland and physical and mental well-being, whilst active travel routes, in Glengarnock and aiming to also increase partnership the surrounding area in North Ayrshire. working. —— A community growing initiative located — A programme of community engagement in the grounds of Clydesmill Community — events and the establishment of new Fire Station, in South community growing sites in Bonhill, Lanarkshire. delivering the aims of the Good Food —— Half a hectare of under used land in Nation ethos and promoting the the disadvantaged area of Muirhouse importance of physical activity and social converted by North Edinburgh Arts into connections to individual well-being. a vibrant and productive community — Support for the development, including growing space. — detailed designs and costings, of a landscape-scale, multiple benefit river restoration project along the Back Burn in North Glenrothes, working with key partners such as SEPA. 18 Creating Natural Connections Initiative

Scottish Wildlife Trust Sanctuary Scotland North Lanarkshire Council Scottish Natural Heritage The Conservation Volunteers The James Hutton Institute

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s This allowed the team to make a successful grant bid of £1,375,000. The National Lottery Heritage Creating Natural Connections project funding means nearly 3,000 primary school pupils is a four-year initiative that aims to will be given opportunities to explore nature. make Cumbernauld’s woods, parks Groups including people at risk of poor mental health and young people at risk of disengaging and open spaces better for wildlife and from education will be given specialist support people. to improve their well-being, and community organisations across the town will be helped to Supported by National Lottery players, the project deliver environmental improvements in their local aims to: neighbourhood.

—— Create a community network that A total area of urban woodland equivalent to 230 connects more people to nature and gives football pitches (230 hectares) will be sustainably a wider range of people the capacity to managed, and more than 12,000 native trees benefit from and improve Cumbernauld’s will be planted. Three peat bogs surrounded by

Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland greenspaces houses will be restored, and six new community rain gardens will help reduce the impacts of —— Improve the quality of Cumbernauld’s flooding. Across the network better managed greenspaces for people and wildlife urban wildflower meadows will boost pollinators Cumbernauld Living Landscape received initial and increase local biodiversity. support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop People will be able to explore and enjoy the nature its four year Creating Natural Connections project. on their doorstep thanks to 3 km of new paths Working with the community the team nurtured linking existing routes, and 5 km of existing routes ideas and strategies to improve habitat and access will be upgraded to more accessible for everyone. connections within and between greenspaces, whilst working with local young people, hard-to- reach groups and community groups to build a sustainable network of people who care about, and have the skills to care for, the town’s natural heritage in years to come.

1 Busby Primary Edible 19 Vertical Garden

Pupils from Busby Primary School in Vertical gardens are a great way to liven up school 2018/19 Review Annual grounds in urban areas with limited green space East took gardening to and they help provide much-needed opportunities a new level with the creation of their for pupils to connect with nature, which has own edible vertical garden which they been shown to be beneficial for student learning, and health and wellbeing. The importance of built with the help of a world-renowned environmental education in schools is increasingly landscape artist. recognised, and this project aims to combine outdoor learning with messages on healthy eating. Catalan Marc Grañén, who has gained Urban greening research scientist and enthusiast international recognition for his work with schools Dr Lynette Robertson was instrumental in bringing in Barcelona, joined pupils from Busby Primary on the initiative to Busby Primary, and the installation the project, which also marks his first installation was made possible with funding provided by the in Scotland, working in collaboration with Nineveh Charitable Trust, Ernest Cook Trust, Tesco Bristol-based landscape architect, Alex Patience Bags of Help, and Timberplay Scotland. Initial (Livegraft).

development of the project was funded through Network Green Central Scotland Pupils were involved in the designing and planting the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Ideas of the wall, using an assortment of plants including Fund, which was created to inspire innovative edible species like strawberries and herbs, as environmental projects, with Dr Robertson winning well as wildflowers to help support rare local the £5,000 prize at the CSGN Forum in 2016. butterflies, selected with the help of Butterfly Conservation (BC) Scotland. Located in the school grounds, the pupils will also be involved in looking 1 — National Lottery after the garden as it continues to grow and Heritage fund success flourish, which will include biodiversity monitoring Photo: Warren Media with the help of BC Scotland. 2 — Marc Grañén with Busby Primary School pupils

2 20 Local Authority Projects

Annual Review 2018/19 Review Annual West Lothian Council area of greenspace that offers places for leisure, Beecraigs play and community events, as well as areas for woodland, wildflower meadows and biodiversity. Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow has Such has been the success of this scheme, a benefited from ongoing works and enhancements similar development is now nearing completion in as the park is seeing increasing visitor numbers at nearby Bellshill. an estimated 1m visitors per year. Activity has included a new 100 space car park Council and event field completed in early summer 2018 Levengrove Park with wildflower seeded areas, tree and hedge A successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid secured planting, the completion of the first five year a £3.7m total upgrade Levengrove Park in programme for the restructuring of the 270ha . The works included: Beecraigs Forest, improvements in floral diversity beginning to show after a second season of —— Repairing the drainage system conservation grazing on Balvormie Meadow, path —— Resurfacing paths throughout the park improvement works and new interpretation. Central Scotland Green Network Green Central Scotland —— Replacing the play area North Lanarkshire Council Viewpark Gardens Community Allotments —— The creation of wildflower meadows and planting new park trees The high value placed on allotments has been —— Installing a gazebo in the style of the old reflected in recent government legislation which bandstand which stood in the park recognises the contribution they can make to health, well-being, carbon reduction and ecology. —— Restoring several heritage features In helping to reverse the traditional concept of how A dilapidated 1930’s pavilion was also demolished allotments should ‘work’, funding was invested and replaced with a new pavilion which includes a through the Scottish Government to allow North café, toilets and a rangers’ office. The café is run Lanarkshire Council to work with communities by the West Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care in Viewpark to remediate a derelict land site and Partnership and provides training opportunities design and develop a cohesive outdoor facility for members of the local community with special which not only offers ‘growing space’ but also an needs.

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Glasgow City Council Renfrewshire Council 2018/19 Review Annual The Park on the Hill Growing Grounds Forum

An area of vacant and derelict land has been The Renfrewshire Growing Grounds Forum, acquired by Copperworks Housing Association managed jointly by Renfrewshire Council and to help breathe life back in to the ‘triangle site’ in Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Royston. supports and guides local residents, groups and organisations to maintain and increase the With support from Glasgow City Council, funding quantity and quality of growing opportunities for was secured from The Scottish Land Fund, people across Renfrewshire. Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and The Rosemount Development Trust, The forum has supported a number of activities, allowing the transfer to community ownership including: and begin necessary remediation works including —— The relocation of temporary allotments levelling, seeding and turfing. to a new and improved, permanent Consultation exercises across the local community community garden showed overwhelming support to purchase and Network Green Central Scotland —— Working alongside a community council develop the site as a greenspace and play area, to develop proposals for a new community and formed part of a more detailed feasibility growing space, emerging as a first project study. Outline proposals were presented to more from the area’s local place plan than 500 local people, where it was also decided to rename the Triangle Site ‘The Park on the Hill’. —— Developing a food growing strategy in Ongoing efforts have now turned to securing line with duties under the Community funding for the next improvements that the local Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. community want to see. The work of the Forum has received strong South Lanarkshire Council recognition, receiving awards at the Scottish Fernbrae Urban Park Awards for Quality in Planning and Renfrewshire Council Staff Recognition awards. was an area of derelict land, formerly a private golf course, blighted by flytipping and antisocial behaviour. The 20 hectare site was also surrounded by areas with a high amount of greenspace deprivation. The £871,000 project was a recipient of £348,000 from the European Regional Development Fund supported Scottish Natural Heritage Green Infrastructure Fund. The new urban park provides a much needed semi-natural, managed greenspace with features including a series of paths and cycle-ways, seating, trails, community growing areas, visits for schools and volunteering opportunities. The creation of wildflower meadows and maintenance of woodland corridors will also benefit biodiversity in the area.

1 — Levengrove Park project 2 2 — Growing Grounds Forum project We would like to extend our thanks to all our partners who are contributing towards the delivery of the CSGN, including: —— Ayrshire Green Network Partnership —— Central Scotland Green Network Trust —— East Ayrshire Woodlands —— Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust —— Fife Coast and Countryside Trust —— GCV Green Network Partnership —— Lothians & Fife Green Network Partnership —— Scottish Environmental Protection Agency —— Scottish Forestry —— Scottish Natural Heritage —— The City of Edinburgh Council —— Clackmannanshire Council —— East Ayrshire Council —— East Dunbartonshire Council —— East Lothian Council —— East Renfrewshire Council —— Falkirk Council —— Fife Council —— Glasgow City Council —— Inverclyde Council —— Midlothian Council —— North Ayrshire Council —— North Lanarkshire Council —— Renfrewshire Council —— South Ayrshire Council —— South Lanarkshire Council —— Stirling Council —— West Dunbartonshire Council —— West Lothian Council

Central Scotland Green Network Trust Hillhouseridge Shottskirk Road, Shotts North Lanarkshire ML7 4JS 01501 822015 [email protected] www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org

Central Scotland Green Network Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, No. SC093544. Registered office Hillhouseridge, Shottskirk Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire ML7 4JS. Central Scotland Green Network Trust has charitable status, No. SC015341, and is regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).