A recovery plan for nature
Cumbernauld Living Landscape aims to enhance, restore and reconnect green areas of the town.
Cumbernauld is an extremely green town, with many people living within ten minutes of greenspaces such as parks, woodlands and reserves. However, these areas are often disconnected from one another and many are not as good for people – or wildlife – as they should be.
Without good quality and healthy greenspaces, people and wildlife cannot flourish. Working closely with the local community, we need to ensure that healthy places are at the heart of the town’s future. The Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s long-term vision is for a green network in the town, providing clean air, water and retreats from the busyness of everyday life.
What does the programme involve?
The programme consists of a range of projects to bring physical improvements to the greenspaces and connect more people to their natural environment. By working with communities in an area of over 55,000 people, the programme is:
- Connecting, managing and enhancing woodlands
- Supporting community activities and improving access
- Restoring and managing peatlands
- Protecting the town’s green network
- Influencing the design of new development
- Improving water quality
Watch our project video for an overview of activity during the Creating Natural Connections phase of the initiative:
Who are the partners of Creating Natural Connections?
The programme was led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers, Sanctuary Scotland and The James Hutton Institute. These partners work with a wide range of local groups and volunteers and helped to develop skills and capacity in community organisations.