The nine week programme of vegetation
clearance on the Colzium Burn, which feeds the Garrell
Burn at Townhead Reservoir, will be carried out by a group of
16 year old volunteer students on Cumbernauld College's 'Get
Ready for Work' programme and local volunteers as part
of The Waterway Trust Scotland's Green Action programme. The
Green Action programme includes skills and confidence building
projects in and around the Lowland canals.
This Green Action programme in North Lanarkshire has been
made possible by additional funding from the Forestry Commission
Scotland. Following earlier work around the 'shrine' at
Auchinstarry and Nethercroy Woods, the group will now carry
out a range of vegetation management tasks on the Colzium Burn
including 'brashing' which involves cutting off the low
branches of trees.
Alan Forrester, Volunteer Co-ordinator for The
Waterways Trust Scotland, says:
"The Green Action North Lanarkshire project has been hugely
successful so far. We are only five weeks in and the students
have worked really hard and made some great improvements to the
local environment. Most importantly, they seem to be enjoying the
project and feel a sense of satisfaction in doing something so
positive for the community."
Linton McBurnie, Volunteer Co-ordinator for British
Waterways Scotland, adds:
"Clearing out the vegetation in and around Colzium
Burn proactively will really help us manage a location
which has historically been vulnerable to flooding.
"We are very grateful to the efforts of the students, the
Forestry Commission Scotland and everyone else involved in helping
with this. It's terrific to see the students enjoying the
work and seeing the fruits of their labour as the environment
improves."
The work at Colzium Burn will continue every Friday
for a further seven weeks.
-ends-