Collective Architecture are delighted that Glasgow and Clyde...

Collective Architecture are delighted that Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership have been awarded a Heritage Lottery grant of £4.5m, to take forward proposals to create The Seven Lochs Wetland Park, a wetland area of national significance in the central belt, which protects and enhances biodiversity, while promoting health and wellbeing and economic regeneration.

The Seven Lochs Wetland Park covers lochs, parks, nature reserves and woods between Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, and covers and area of 19 sq km between Riddire in Glasgow and Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire. It includes two sites of Special Scientific Interest, five local nature reserves, Drumpellier Country Park, archaeological sites and is surrounded by various historic buildings such as Provan Hall in Easterhouse.

Glasgow councillor Maureen Burke, chair of the Seven Lochs Partnership, said the lottery funding would allow the project to move forward.

“It offers people a fantastic opportunity to engage with important natural heritage first hand and increase their understanding of why particular local habitats are internationally important, and how these need to be protected.”

The park project, which will initially cost £6.8m, aims to create gateways to the park at Hogganfield Loch, Provan Hall, Drumpellier Country Park and Glenboig Life Centre.

The project also includes the development of walking and cycling routes linking the gateway sites and improvements to paths, signage, interpretation and management across the whole park.

Collective Architecture were appointed to carry out a detail masterplanning and visioning exercise by GCVGNP in late 2010, which resulted in the completion of final study document in March 2013.

In addition, the practice were commissioned to carry out a further body of work related to Green Network and Green Infrastructure Planning.

Collective Architecture are also delighted to have been included in the new publication ‘Growing Awareness - How green consciousness can change perceptions and places’ by edited by Brian Evans and Sue Evans. The book documents 5 years of research by the Central Scotland Green Network, and contains 15 essays by leading thinkers and practitioners.