Cumbernauld Living Landscape is a partnership led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and The Conservation Volunteers
A project has been launched to help improve a Lanarkshire town.
Cumbernauld Living Landscape has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop its Creating Natural Connections project.
The four-year initiative aims to make the town's woods, parks and open spaces better for wildlife and residents.
The project hopes to work with young people and community groups to build a network of people who care about, and have the skills to care for, the town's greenspaces. The natural environment will be improved through measures including increasing native woodland cover, removing non-native invasive species and creating new wildflower meadows.
Greater connections between local people and the nature in their neighbourhood will be forged through activities and events, imaginative artworks and new interpretation, and practical volunteering.
Creating Natural Connections is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers, Sanctuary Scotland and the James Hutton Institute.
It builds on work carried out in the town Cumbernauld Living Landscape was launched in 2013.
Ian MacKenzie, project manager, Cumbernauld Living Landscape, said: "Cumbernauld is one of Scotland's greenest towns. It's criss-crossed with woodlands, meadows and ponds that are rich in wildlife, but we have a lot of work to do to ensure that local people benefit from what's on their doorstep.
"The volunteers and school students we've worked with so far have gained practical skills and confidence that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and Cumbernauld now has several better places for wildlife as a result of the thousands of hours that has been spent improving them.
"We're delighted to have received support for our Creating Natural Connections project thanks to the support of National Lottery players. This will build upon what has already been achieved to date and help to create a network of people in the town who are committed to the long-term future of its green spaces."
