The idea is to help turn communities into places where the environment adds value to the economy
Environmental projects have benefitted from a green funding boost of more than £355,000.
The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund supports trees, woodlands and eco-friendly infrastructure, encourages community growing and promotes active travel to help transform the quality of life for people living and working in the area.
It is Europe's largest greenspace initiative and it has funded projects stretching across East Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The idea is to help turn communities into places where the environment adds value to the economy and where people's lives are enriched by its quality.
Keith Geddes, chair of CSGNT, added: "The fund was created to make a real difference to initiatives across Central Scotland and support the invaluable work they carry out.
"We are proud to be awarding over £355,000 in 2018 to a host of exciting projects which range from local community garden initiatives to transforming derelict space into woodland.
“They all share one thing in common and that is that they support the environment from trees, woodlands and green infrastructure through to encouraging community growing and promoting active travel to help transform the quality of life for people living and working in the area."
Cabinet secretary for the environment, Roseanna Cunningham, added: "Since 2010 this investment has provided more than £7 million and helped more than 210 projects improve green spaces in their local areas.
"These new projects will continue to build Europe's largest greenspace project and benefit communities across central Scotland.
"The diverse range of projects to receive funding highlights the many different ways improving green infrastructure can benefit communities and our environment.
"From community growing, woodland planting and improving cycle and walking routes, each of these community projects is playing a role in our ambitions to create a cleaner and greener Scotland."
The projects that were awarded funding
EAST AYRSHIRE
Eadha Enterprises - awarded £7,000 to aid the Coalfields to Wildwood project which will work with local groups, organisations and schools to create pioneer woodlands on reinstated opencast sites.
EDINBURGH
New Caledonian Woodlands Ltd - awarded £11,190 to continue to develop Fruitful Futures, a social enterprise involving local people in the management of Burdiehouse Community Woodland in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust - awarded £15,000 to work on a feasibility study that will establish a route running from the base of the Pentland Hills to Portobello on the coast in Edinburgh.
GLASGOW
North Glasgow Community Food Initiative - awarded £12,099 to help develop the well-established growing site located in Milton. The money will be used to upgrade and expand the community growing facilities and towards signage to help communicate activities with locals.
The Concrete Garden - awarded £13,253 to help develop the community growing enterprise in the heart of one of Scotland's most deprived areas. The funds will be used to help redevelop its site and improve a learning, therapy and wildlife space as well as covering staffing costs and a programme of seasonal workshops and cookery sessions.
Springburn Winter Gardens Trust - awarded £62,357 to fund a project, which will deliver up to 1,500m of pathway improvements that will help local residents of a disadvantaged area of Glasgow access Spingfield Park.
INVERCLYDE
Inverclydebuzz - awarded £18,197 for a project which aims to improve and regenerate an area of the National Cycling Network through Inverclyde.
MIDLOTHIAN
Gorebridge Community Development Trust - awarded £10,560 to improve the landscape around a new multi-purpose community facility called The Beacon.
NORTH AYRSHIRE
North Ayrshire Council - awarded £80,000 for a project which will help regenerate Lochshore, a major brownfield site in Kilbirnie.
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
East Kilbride Community Trust - awarded £40,776 for a project which will assess a range of interventions that will improve local biodiversity and East Kilbride's Woodlands.
Lesmahagow Development Trust - awarded £19,713 to upgrade a successful community growing site, following increased local demand for more growing space.
STIRLING
The Conservation Volunteers - awarded £17,875 for a project that will see the creation of two new community growing sites in disadvantaged areas of Stirling
WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE
The Leamy Foundation - awarded £33,830 for a project which will establish a social gardening network across Alexandria.
WEST LOTHIAN
Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust - awarded £13,525 to carry out a feasibility study of a proposed shale trail in West Lothian. The trail will highlight key heritage sites linked to the history of shale extraction and processing in the area.
