Local neighbourhoods in Cambuslang are going to look more colourful with plants and flowers thanks to the ideas and initiative of community groups taking part in the Greening Cambuslang project. Eight community groups in Cambuslang have been successful in bidding for funding to improve the environment of local neighbourhoods. The groups have been awarded over £11,000 under the first round of awards from the Greening Cambuslang Fund.
The Greening Cambuslang Fund was set up in by Cambuslang Community Council in October 2016 with a £59,000 grant from the Scottish Government. John Bachtler, Treasurer of Cambuslang Community Council, who coordinated the bid said:
“Following the success of our project to improve the appearance of the Main Street through planters and baskets, we wanted to inspire the community to improve the local environment of their own neighbourhoods.
We created a fund that was used to finance ideas for neighbourhood environmental improvements (such as street planting, community gardens, street furniture, public art, environment-related events) from local community, resident or tenant groups, individual tenants or residents, schools or clubs.“
The Greening Cambuslang Fund was opened for applications in December 2016, and Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust provided support to engage actively with community groups at grassroots level to promote awareness and offer support for local people to develop their ideas.
Jan Taylor of Healthy n Happy CDT, who has worked closely with local groups said: “We have had a fantastic response from the community. We had applications from clubs, nurseries and schools, as well as from groups of residents who had never applied for funding before but wanted to do something to improve their neighbourhood. They put forward ideas for new gardens, hanging baskets, planters and outdoor seating, and gardening projects for young and old.”
Eight applications were eventually selected, but they had to prove public support through voting on Facebook. Thousands of people took part in voting for their favourite projects; some of the projects got hundreds of likes within a day!
The eight winning community projects are:
Caledonia Centre – Outdoor play space
Cambuslang Out of School Care – Outdoor learning area
Cambuslang Remembrance Garden Group – Landscaping and memorial wall
Friends of Holmhills Park Hilltop – park bench
Kirkhill Tennis Club – Outdoor Garden
Nuture Educational & Cultural Society – Planters and trees for Trinity Church gardens
St Bride’s Nursery – Children’s garden, waterfall and mud kitchen
Universal Connections – Garden and growing project for young people
The second stage of funding has been limited to the neighbourhoods of Whitlawburn, Eastfield, Silverbanks, Central Cambuslang and Caledonian Circuit. Jan Taylor said: “We have had another great batch of applications from these five neighbourhoods. We are again asking the public to vote online via Cambuslang Community Council’s Facebook page for local people to choose which projects they would like to see happen. The Healthy n Happy team are also out and about in the five neighbourhoods speaking with residents and recording votes.
The Greening Cambuslang project finishes on Monday 27th March with a celebration and presentation event Tollpitch Pavilion, Central Cambuslang from 5.30pm until 7pm. John Bachtler said: “The success of the Greening Cambuslang project is down to the all the local community and neighbourhood groups who have made a huge effort to develop imaginative projects. Cambuslang Community Council are inviting everyone to come along and see the successful applicants being presented with their cheques and enjoy some fun activities such as arts & crafts, glitter tattoos, refreshments for all the family. See Cambuslang Community Council FB page or website for details.”