Impact Arts

Free,
fun, family-friendly exhibition and activities on Saturday 18^th and
Saturday 25^th of June, 10am-4pm.

An amazing 50% of
Cumbernauld is greenspace, making it one of the greenest towns in Scotland.
Natural Connections is a project run by Cumbernauld Living Landscape that aims
to improve these natural places and reconnect people to nature. ‘Living
Windows’ is an exciting partnership project between Cumbernauld Living
Landscape and Impact Arts.

Supported thanks to
National Lottery players, through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire
Council and NHS Lanarkshire, the project’s aim was to enhance, restore and
reconnect people with the green areas of the town.

Impact Arts worked
with secondary pupils from Greenfaulds, Cumbernauld Academy and St Maurice’s
High Schools and Westfield, Condorrat, Eastfields, Ravenswood and St Helens
Primary Schools. The pupils explored their ideas for ‘Living Windows’ to be
installed at three sites across Cumbernauld: Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve,
Cumbernauld Glen Wildlife Reserve and St Maurice’s Pond. Each of these sites
neighbours a high school.

Natalie
McFadyen White, Programme Manager for Impact Arts said:

“The pupils discussed
public art and their likes and dislikes such as the Kelpies, murals and street
art, and yarn bombing. They came up with original ideas to attract visitors to
the three sites before a steering group of pupils worked with members of the
local community to finalise the designs.

“The pupils have
designed three wonderful, unique benches for the public to enjoy and these will
be in place by the 18^th of June. Members of the public can pick up a
free map at the exhibition so that they can visit the new benches!”

Tracy
Lambert, Community Engagement Officer with Cumbernauld Living Landscape said:

“Our
Natural Connections project is about helping young people to work to improve
local greenspaces for people and wildlife. Young people get the opportunity and
skills to make their environment better and they gain confidence and skills. At
the same time we are celebrating Cumbernauld’s beautiful wild places and
connecting local communities to the environment.”

You can find out more
about the project and pick up a free map at a fun, family-friendly exhibition
on Saturday 18th and Saturday 25th of June, 10am-4pm at the Cumbernauld
Shopping Centre.

Watch a video about the project.

-Ends-

Contacts/Details

· Saturday
18th and Saturday 25th of June, 10am-4pm

· Cumbernauld
Shopping Centre, 7 Tay Walk (next to the Clydesdale Bank) G67 1NE

· With
thanks to funders: Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Wildlife Trust, North
Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire.

· For
more information, please contact Nicola Wood on 0141 575 3001 or [email protected]

Cumbernauld Living
Landscape

Cumbernauld Living
Landscape is a long term vision to bring a transformational change to the
town’s environment. The project will reinforce and expand existing green networks
and reconnect the people of Cumbernauld to their natural environment. By
engaging a wide range of community groups, the Living Landscape will work to
benefit local people and wildlife and support the evolving regional economy.

cumbernauldlivinglandscape.org.uk/

Scottish Wildlife Trust

The Scottish Wildlife
Trust is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland,
representing well over 36,000 active members who care for wildlife and the
environment. The Scottish Wildlife Trust seeks to raise public awareness of
threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
The Trust receives financial assistance and support from a range of
organisations, funders and individuals including Scottish Natural Heritage and
the players of People’s Postcode Lottery

www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

About Heritage Lottery Fund

Using money raised through the National Lottery,
the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage,
people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage
economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural
environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse
heritage. HLF has supported almost 36,000 projects with more than £5.9bn across
the UK.

www.hlf.org.uk