{"id":255155,"date":"2025-07-11T03:29:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T03:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/255155\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T03:29:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T03:29:22","slug":"carbuncle-town-set-for-3m-urban-greenspace-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/255155\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Carbuncle’ town set for \u00a33m urban greenspace transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The National Lottery Heritage<\/a> Fund has now confirmed \u00a32.6million support for the project.\n<\/p>\n

\n Local volunteers will be “at the heart” of Nurturing Natural Connections, giving the Cumbernauld community a key role in helping protect and restore the town\u2019s urban greenspaces.\n<\/p>\n

\n Planned works include managing over 330 hectares of woodland, enhancing over 20 hectares of wildflower meadows and removing invasive non-native species and garden escapees that threaten Cumbernauld\u2019s native wildlife.\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n Tracy Lambert, Cumbernauld Living Landscape Project Manager, Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: \u201cFrom the bluebell displays of Cumbernauld Glen to the river woodlands of Luggiebank, Cumbernauld is home to so much incredible wildlife. Sadly however, much of it is in poor condition and needs a helping hand. For over 10 years, we\u2019ve proudly worked alongside local communities to restore the town\u2019s green spaces, and we\u2019re excited to begin our next chapter with Nurturing Natural Connections.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n As well as delivering practical conservation work, the project also aims to upskill local people through advanced skill training and the delivery of citizen science projects that will support North Lanarkshire<\/a> Council\u2019s Local Biodiversity Action Plan. It will also create six full-time jobs, and a further six trainee opportunities over the life of the project.\n<\/p>\n

\n The work will support the town\u2019s infrastructure by advocating for green infrastructure in Community Growth Areas and in the planned redevelopment of the town centre. It will also deliver nature-based solutions to tackle issues around flooding, drought and wildfires.\n<\/p>\n

\n Ms Lambert added:<\/strong> \u201cWe\u2019ve seen the devastation caused by the nature and climate crises first-hand here in Cumbernauld, particularly with the recent storms and wildfires. However, we\u2019ve also seen how powerful nature can be in helping us recover. By implementing nature-based solutions to some of today\u2019s biggest challenges, we can build a town that thrives in tandem with the natural environment.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n \"CumbernauldCumbernauld Glen (Image: Jamie McDermaid) Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: \u201cThis is a game changing project for Cumbernauld. With nearly \u00a33 million funding thanks to National Lottery players, the Nurturing Natural Connections project is set to transform the town\u2019s vital green spaces and places \u2014 connecting the community to nature and natural heritage on the doorstep.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, this powerful partnership is restoring wildlife, planting thousands of trees and wildflowers, and unlocking the health and wellbeing benefits of nature for the whole community. It\u2019s about creating a thriving, greener Cumbernauld \u2014now and for generations to come.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Nurturing Natural Connections is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers and Sanctuary Scotland. The \u00a32.62 million funding follows successful delivery of a comprehensive development programme which included \u00a3181,200 Heritage Fund support thanks to National Lottery players. Delivery will begin this month and is due for completion in June 2030.\n<\/p>\n

\n Cllr Helen Loughran, Convenor of Environment<\/a> & Climate Change Committee for North Lanarkshire Council, said: \u201cThis is an exciting project for Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire, and we are delighted the National Lottery Heritage Funding will enable us to build on the excellent work done through the Cumbernauld Living Landscapes Partnership.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"Cumbernauld\"Cumbernauld “Some of the work we\u2019ll be carrying out with our partners involves planting 2,000 new trees, improving access at Westfield & Cumbernauld Community Park, enhancing grasslands and managing woodland at Abronhill and Palacerigg Country Park. As a result, we\u2019ll see improvements to local biodiversity, habitats for wildlife and sustainable development of woodland.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Sandra Lyon, Operations Leader for The Conservation Volunteers, said: “We are thrilled that Nurturing Natural Connections has received this backing to go ahead, creating new opportunities for individuals and community groups in Cumbernauld to get involved in coordinated practical actions designed to protect and enhance natural heritage in the area, at a time when this has never been needed more. The transformation that this programme brings will benefit not only the existing community, but also generations to come.”\n<\/p>\n

\n Patricia Cahill, Director of Sanctuary Scotland, said: “Sanctuary is absolutely delighted the amazing work already achieved will continue and deliver even more for the local community and visitors. This is a truly inclusive project, and we are excited to help deliver it.”\n<\/p>\n

\n For more information visit the Cumbernauld Living Landscape website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The National Lottery Heritage Fund has now confirmed \u00a32.6million support for the project. Local volunteers will be “at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":255156,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3843],"tags":[728,70,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-255155","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-environment","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114832484881466045","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}