A Cumbernauld-based volunteer group has been recognised with a prestigious award for its efforts to protect and restore the town’s greenspaces.
The Nature Ninjas, who operate as part of the Cumbernauld Living Landscape (CLL) initiative, were the winners of the Group Award at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s annual Trustees’ Awards for Volunteering.
Following the announcement, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Cumbernauld Living Landscape Project Manager, Tracy Lambert, said: “We are so pleased that the Nature Ninjas have won the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Trustees’ Award. It is fantastic recognition for the work they have done and continue to do with the Cumbernauld Living Landscape.
“They are a group of passionate, dedicated and gifted people who donate their time, share their love of nature with others and get stuck into conservation works in our town. Our volunteers are crucial to our projects, and we are very blessed to have each and every one of them.”
Running since 2013, CLL works to improve Cumbernauld’s green spaces for both people and wildlife, helping everyone in the community to connect with the nature on their doorstep. The initiative is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Nature Ninjas were set up in 2019 and have undertaken a wide range of conservation work across sites such as Cumbernauld Glen, St Maurice’s Pond and Seafar Woods. They have planted over 4,000 trees, cleared almost 1,000 bags of litter and removed over a hectare of invasive non-native species.
David Meechan, Senior Project Officer at The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), said: “I started working with the Nature Ninjas earlier this year and I was instantly amazed by their dedication, work ethic and passion for nature and conservation within Cumbernauld. Some members of the group have participated in over 200 days of practical conservation, surveying and more.
“They genuinely care about the work of Cumbernauld Living Landscape and have given so much back to their local environment over the years. Further to this, they are some of the kindest and most generous people I have had the pleasure to work with.”
Anne McClure, volunteer with the Nature Ninjas said of her time with the group: “Through volunteering with Nature Ninjas, I feel more custodianship of Cumbernauld’s green spaces. I’m incredibly proud of the beautiful and diverse places in Cumbernauld and love that I’m part of preserving and improving them.”
Another volunteer, Lesley, added: “I always come home tired, muddy and happy.”
The most recent phase of CLL was Creating Natural Connections, a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, Sanctuary Scotland, the James Hutton Institute and TCV.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is now supporting CLL in the development of a new phase, Nurturing Natural Connections. This is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glasgow Clyde Valley Green Network, North Lanarkshire Council, Sanctuary Scotland and TCV. The development phase forms part of a six-year project to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change across the town’s green spaces and watercourses.
To find out more, visit the Cumbernauld Living Landscape website.