WOODS ON YOUR DOORSTEP

CASE STUDY CUNINGAR LOOP

An ambitious project providing valuable LOCATION Situated at a distinctive bend green infrastructure in a regeneration area. in the river, Cuningar Loop sits within South close to the ancient burgh of and directly across the Clyde from the historical communities of Parkhead and in the East End of

SITE DESCRIPTION The 30 hectare site is made up of vacant and scrub land, owned by Council.

WOODS IN AND AROUND TOWNS (WIAT) is Forestry Commission ’s main programme to improve the quality of life for people living and working in urban Scotland. CASE STUDY CUNINGAR LOOP www.forestry.gov.uk/wiat CASE STUDY CUNINGAR LOOP

The site has been derelict for more than half a century and was covered in naturally regenerated trees and scrub, colonised by wildlife, and occasionally used by local people. The site is located on the opposite bank of the Clyde from the Athletes’ Village and the new National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and Velodrome. It is at the heart of the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration area established to deliver a physical, social and economic transformation of communities surrounding Cuningar Loop in South Lanarkshire and the East End of Glasgow.

BEFORE WIAT WIAT ACHIEVEMENTS WIAT WORKS ON-GOING COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

The site has had several industrial uses over Glasgow City Council owns the areas to the north and west The aim is that the site will become a mosaic • Cuningar Loop forms part of the 2014 legacy project from the last 200 years, including water works, of the Clyde, where the Games Village and sporting complexes of native riparian woodland, open grassland the Commonwealth Games. Once the facilities are more will be located. South Lanarkshire Council owns an area to the established (c. 2015), a Community Ranger will be appointed quarrying, mining and as a landfill. south of the river where a new business park will be built and and meadow habitat, and be accessible to all, to liaise and engage with the community to determine what the new junction two of the M74 is close by. Cuningar Loop will encouraging families to use it for play, and also future activities will take place. Although the site is close to the communities of Parkhead, be the main urban greenspace for the surrounding communities providing quiet places to relax. Dalmarnock and Rutherglen, it currently gets very little public and visitors to the Commonwealth Games, and will be linked use because of difficult access. As a result, there is little litter or I’m delighted that the Forestry by a new bridge. A proposed new pedestrian bridge over the Clyde would connect anti-social behaviour. “ Cuningar Loop to the new houses on the site of the 2014 Athletes’ Commission is so committed to Funding will help to: Village and the NISA/Velodrome which will be the home of major The woodland on site is low quality with no active management. working in partnership with us on • Improve the quality of the Cuningar Loop woodland; sporting events in the years ahead. The site is covered with domestic rubbish and a scrub cover of • Develop facilities on the site to grow visitor and community delivering something truly special. willow and hawthorn, interspersed with fruit trees. use of the site from less than 1,000 per annum to over 350,000 The Community Ranger will engage with locals through an active The proposals to open up Cuningar per annum by 2021; volunteer group and link up with schools encouraging them to Without decisive intervention the site would likely have remained • Promote, enhance and develop appropriate infrastructure use the woodlands for Forest School activities. Loop will not only make a difference derelict for many years. meeting the economic and community needs of both Glasgow in how the area looks but also help City and South Lanarkshire Councils; People will be encouraged to keep on visiting, by promoting us immensely with our efforts to • Complement and enhance the sporting arena developments a variety of natural play facilities, and features such as a calorie in the Clyde Gateway, driving greater economic activity in the trail, picnic areas and informal walking and wildlife watching. attract jobs and investment to the area; and communities across the Clyde • Ensure that long term management of the site will be The park will be used actively for skills development with environmentally and economically sustainable. a woodland apprenticeship scheme and will facilitate ‘back Gateway area. to work’ schemes run by other organisations. Ian Manson , Chief Executive of C”lyde Gateway

TIMELINE 2006 2009 2011 Looking ahead Forestry Commission and Forestry Commission staff Preliminary site visits and Initial project phase with Currently in the feasibility Council staff began to look became actively involved in meetings to determine the funding of £400,000. phase. Work on site is at the greening potential of the proposal. scope of the greening project planned to start in late the site. and initiate feasibility studies. 2011/12 with completion in time for summer 2014. Cuningar Loop forms part of the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The vision for Cuningar Loop is that the site KEY ACTIONS INCLUDE: will be valued by communities in South Lanarkshire and the City of Glasgow for • Signage and interpretation – on the ground and on the web – its landscape, easy access to the outdoors will make planning a journey to the site by public transport, and the opportunity for healthy pursuits. on foot, bike or car easy; • Access will be available to the banks of the Clyde, with a jetty allowing access to water based activities, hiring of boats It will help drive positive economic change in the East End of and sports such as fishing; and Glasgow and make a valuable contribution to the Clyde Gateway • Developments such as a café and toilets and the potential regeneration area. Cuningar Loop will be nationally recognised for woodland park holiday lodges will be explored. as an Active Living destination with the site being used by professional sports people for outdoor and river based training, with links to the National Indoor Sports Arena and the National This is an ambitious and exciting Velodrome. The site will attract visitors to the area to try out a “ project which will provide an active range of outdoor challenges. The park will be managed by Forestry Commission Scotland to a management plan and and green heart in this important partners will play key roles in providing complementary services. urban regeneration area, as well as a valuable legacy to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. Stuart Chalmers , District Forester, Forestry Commissio”n Scotland

If you would like to find out more about forestry in Scotland, please call 0131 334 0303 or email [email protected]

www.forestry.gov.uk/wiat