Grant for trails for families

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has been granted nearly £30,000 by North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund, which fund projects through the Landfill Communities Fund, to create a linked network of walking and cycling trails at its Northside Wood wildlife reserve in Seafar.

Three distinct family friend routes will be created, making the woodland more accessible to walkers, runners and cyclists.

Previous work to make the woods a more enjoyable place to visit was well received by neighbouring residents and visitors.

As part of the Cumbernauld Living Landscape, this project builds on the work already delivered last year and gives even more people the opportunity to get out and enjoy woodland within a short walk of Seafar and Cumbernauld Village.

The improved routes will be safer for visitors and will increase the number of people using the reserve.

It will also help wildlife by encouraging people to stick to certain paths and avoid disturbing ground nesting birds.

Visitors to the reserve may catch a glimpse of sparrowhawk, buzzard, red fox and roe deer.

North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund’s grant will enable Scottish Wildlife Trust to upgrade nearly 1Km of helix trail and link into the existing spine track to improve access for people to travel from the town centre to Cumbernauld Village and Cumbernauld Glen Wildlife Reserve without ever having to cross any major roads.

This length of woodland path is very rarely seen in towns across the central belt and the Scottish Wildlife Trust is very proud to be working with North Lanarkshire Council to enhance the Core Path Network.

Duncan Clark, who is the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves manager for Cumbernauld greenspaces, welcomed the funding, saying “This funding announcement is great news for the Cumbernauld Living Landscape and the people of Cumbernauld.

“It will increase the connectivity with greenspaces and allow people to get out and enjoy the beautiful woodlands that Cumbernauld has to offer.”

He added: “The Cumbernauld Living Landscape wants to thank the North Lanarkshire Environmental Key Fund for giving the Scottish Wildlife Trust the means to upgrade the Core Path Network at Northside Wood Wildlife Reserve.”