Provost Tom Curley joined the children and project partners to
officially open the sensory trail and garden at Auchinstarry Basin
near Kilsyth.
The £441,202, three-year long environmental improvement project
received invaluable funding support from North Lanarkshire Council,
CEMEX Community Fund, HBOS Foundation, Kelvin Valley Leader
Programme, WREN through WRG and the landfill communities fund,
Forestry Commission Scotland, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust,
North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund, The Big Lottery, The
Agnes Hunters Trust, James & John Napier's Trust, Selwood, The
Tubney Charitable Trust and Central Scotland Forest Trust.
Children from schools in the area, volunteers from the local
community and apprentices from Twechar Environmental Training
Project worked together to transform the once uninviting site into
a welcoming destination to be enjoyed by local residents and
visitors alike.
Karen Moore, Development Director for The Waterways Trust
Scotland, the charity behind the project, explained: "Working local
schools and the community, we have created a nature trail and
sensory garden and trail at the basin, installed willow tunnels,
secret dells and new pathways around the site, making it a fabulous
place for families to explore.
"Children from the area have also worked with professional
artists to create ceramic interpretation panels and a time totem
and local people made colourful artwork to tell the story of the
wildlife and heritage of the site. Two sculptures, one created by
Barry Grove the other by Robert Coia, provide stunning focal points
at the basin.
"The project has been a great way of bringing the local
community together. A thriving Friends of Auchinstarry group now
exists to help ensure the garden and sensory trail continue to be
looked after. Young people have learned new skills and developed
their creative talents through the art projects and three Modern
Apprentices used the project to gain valuable practical
work-experience as part of an employability project run in
partnership with Twechar Environmental Training Project."
A new safe walking route has also been created between Croy and
the canal basin as part of the project. This new path replaces a
narrow pathway alongside a busy road and links the town with the
canal, local woodland and the historic Antoine Wall.
North Lanarkshire Provost Tom Curley said: "North Lanarkshire
Council has been delighted to have been involved in the
regeneration of this site over the past few years, something very
special has been created. This a great project which has involved a
huge amount of work by a lot people, The Waterways Trust Scotland
in pulling together the funding package, the Community Artists
working with our school children and the local volunteers working
on site. This project would not have been realised without their
effort. Congratulations to all who have been involved."
For more information about the Scents & Sensitivities
project visit www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/in-your-area/scotland
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Justine Lee, Communications Manager, The
Waterways Trust
Tel: 07917
804550
Email: justine.lee@thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
Web: www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
The Waterways Trust Scotland is part of The Waterways Trust, a
natioal charity which works with its partners to enrich people's
lives through waterways.