Multi-million pound funding secured to put community at the heart of new town conservation initiative - Scottish Wildlife Trust
A five-year wildlife restoration project that will see thousands of trees planted and tens of thousands of wildflowers sown across Cumbernauld has been given the green light, with almost £3million of funding announced.
Nurturing Natural Connections will be delivered through the Cumbernauld Living Landscape initiative, a partnership led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and builds upon the success of the programme’s previous project, Creating Natural Connections.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has now confirmed £2.6million support for the project.
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’s urban greenspaces. 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’s native wildlife.
The project will also champion the health benefits of nature, such as through trauma-informed practice, which demonstrates how nature can aid recovery and support mental and physical wellbeing.
Tracy Lambert, Cumbernauld Living Landscape Project Manager, Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “From 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 ten years, we’ve proudly worked alongside local communities to restore the town’s green spaces, and we’re excited to begin our next chapter with Nurturing Natural Connections.”
Posted On: 11/07/2025
More on: