Livingston South Blue Green Network Press Release
Bellsquarry Woodland Work Group, Dedridge Environment Ecology Project and Murieston Environment Group, Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT), West Lothian Council (WLC) and Woodland Trust Scotland are pleased to announce that work has started on an exciting and ambitious new community project to improve open space in Livingston South for local people and wildlife.
The above community groups and organisations pooled their energy and enthusiasm to develop the ‘Livingston South Blue Green Network’ (LSBGN) project, which will deliver a wide range of environmental and path improvements in the Livingston South area.
The project includes the Dedridge Burn Greenway which stretches from Bellsquarry, through Bankton Mains Playing Fields to the River Almond; and the Murieston Water Greenway, an attractive wooded corridor stretching from the Campbridge Park to the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park.
The LSBGN aims to address issues such as path condition, flooding, water and environmental quality along two river corridors in the Livingston South area. The project will take 20 weeks to deliver starting with improvements to the path network on the Murieston Trail, followed by Bankton Playing Fields and Bellsquarry Wood.
Executive councillor for the environment Tom Conn commented: “This is an ambitious community-led project which will provide significant benefits to local communities and the environment. The Livingston South Blue Green Network Project demonstrates what can be achieved through communities working in partnership and pulling resources for the greater good. It is a fantastic project and I wish everyone involved every success in the future.”
A spokesperson for Murieston Environment Group (MEG) said: ““MEG’s committee can’t wait for the works to be undertaken by the LSBGN project. We have been involved planning this project since 2012 and it’s great to finally see all the hard work MEG and the rest of the community groups have put in finally coming to fruition. None of this could be possible without Central Scotland Green Network Trust and West Lothian Council. We would like to thank them for all their hard work and hope the communities within, and surrounding the project area enjoy the improvement works.”
Dedridge Environment Ecology Project (DEEP) said: “DEEP is delighted to have received this funding and to be involved in these promising projects. We have always hoped to link our woodland with others (by new planting) to form a wildlife corridor. This will allow for genetic and food chain advantages by the spreading of biodiversity over a wider area. We are of course always concerned about pollution in Dedridge burn from the industrial site at Brucefield! The new wetland at Bellsquarry will be very helpful in reducing pollution risk. We are grateful to CSGNT and to West Lothian Council for their continued support of DEEP.”
CSGNT has invested a substantial amount of in-kind time developing and securing funding of £250,000 for the project and it will manage the delivery of the project on behalf of West Lothian Council and the LSBGN Steering Group.
The work is funded by the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund, West Lothian Council, Avondale Environmental and West Lothian Council through the Landfill Communities Fund administered by LandTrust.
Improvements to the Murieston Trail include installing new drains and culverts and cleaning out existing drains to deal with poor drainage along the route, cutting back encroaching vegetation and improving path surfaces. The work includes the removal and replacement of degraded steps opposite the band stand. Litter bins and benches will also be replaced. Work on the Trail has already commenced and the steps will be replaced at the beginning of January.
Improvements to the Dedgridge Greenway include a new wetland along the Dedridge Burn in Bellsquarry which is designed to reduce the impact of flooding and pollution downstream. The path network in Bellsquarry Wood will also be upgraded with new, surfaced paths replacing the boardwalk through the wood. This work is due to begin in February 2015.
Improvements will be made to Bankton Playing Fields to improve the area for people and wildlife. Starting in November, the woodland shelterbelts surrounding the park will be thinned to remove 50% of the tall poplar and willow trees which are now nearing the end of their lives. The shelterbelts will then be under-planted with native trees to replace those removed. In 2015, stands of woodland will also be planted around the edges of the existing shelterbelts to provide future shelter and structure as well as creating a more attractive habitat for wildlife. Litter bins and benches will also be replaced.
It will be necessary to close affected paths throughout the area while work is taking place but route diversions will be in place.
April 13th 2014: BIG Planting Day
After several weeks of planning, the day started very early for MEG committee members with tool shifting, plant shifting, putting up banners and the fateful gazebo before volunteers arrived to do the planting. We initially split in to three groups, each taking a prepared set of plants and a marginal bed to plant up, with the hardiest volunteers taking on the biggest and softest muddiest bed. The planting proceeded apace and was completed amazingly soon, so we quickly moved on to other tasks: Flattening out the deep ruts at the field entrance, caused by machinery used for last years tree removal. Repairing the paths yet again, including recent damage unfortunately caused by the equipment used for pumping down of the pond. Litter picking around the pond and Camp bridge itself. Preparing compressed ground around the main boardwalk ready for seed planting. And then some very significant Rhododendron bashing along Murieston Trail. But we did manage to squeeze in lunch. Not in a gazebo. A windy disaster had felled our trusty gazebo and it rendered it a write-off, but as the weather had mostly managed to remain at a drizzle at most, the barbecues were fired up and we enjoyed burgers, cakes, cup cakes and various drinks. Enormous thanks to all those who came, and to name just a few groups who helped – Lothians Conservation Volunteers, Livingston Round Table, West Lothian Scout group, Thanks to Joyce, Shari and Jen for preparing and serving up the food.
March 22nd 2014: Tree Planting
MEG were donated 420 trees by the Woodland Trust. The group planted a new hedge along one of the park boundaries and added some more trees to the area that was left when the old boardwalk was removed next to Murieston water. This will create great habitat for the animals that use the greenway. Thanks to 9th West Lothian Scouts (Saturday troop) for all your help. We could not have done it without you !!! Thanks to everyone else that turned up too and thanks to Joyce for the drinks and lovely cakes!
March 19th 2014: Toad Watch
MEG were out rescuing the toads from being squished by cars and falling down the drains. Keep an eye out for them as they are on the move — they get stuck on the kerbs and end up falling down the drains. Video below (not great — was really dark!)
March 11th 2014: Bankton Mains & Campbridge Park, Murieston Water from 400ft
Noon on Tuesday saw MEG members conducting a flight (!) around Bankton Mains Park and Campbridge Park / Murieston Water! Credit to Jonathan and River Forth Fisheries Trust for the quadcopter. Check out the video below and see the local area from a whole new angle.
February 15th 2014: Path repair, step repair and litter pick
Snow on the ground greeted MEG members and volunteers as we gathered for the first event of 2014, but despite this, and the continuing drizzle, work got underway at 10am as planned. The superb carved bench that was created and donated by Lanarkshire Hardwoods last year had become surrounded by mud, so we decided to dig out the mud and fill in with donated path material, to create tidy and easy access to the bench. Huge thanks to those that shovelled and barrowed a large amount in to this area – how much better it looks now! Whilst this was being completed, others completed a litter pick around the pond area. Some puddles along the paths were also filled in, and extra material added in to the steps down to the boardwalk. Tired, cold and soggy, we tidied up and headed off for drinks and Joyce’s legendary cakes! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter feed for more photos and details of our next events!