Building a Green Nation: Green Infrastructure in Scotland

Scottish Natural Heritage’s Green Infrastructure Fund aims to tackle socio economic problems including poor health and high unemployment as well as mitigate the impacts of climate change through creating and improving green spaces in urban communities.

The orginal projects include;

'St Eunan's Community Greenspace' - which aims to redevelop a former school site by capping contaminated land and then creating a functional community green space. Work began in August 2019 after community consultation.

'Foresterhill Health Campus' - this projects aims to create a destination green space for staff, patients and students from Foresterhill hospital. Reversing years of poor planning which prioritised cars and creating accessible green spaces.

'Canal and North Gateway' - also known as the Clay Pits Local Nature Reserve project aims to create a Local Nature Reserve along the canal between Firhill and Port Dundas. Plans include a barrier free path and boardwalk network, mountain bike trail, disabled access fishing pegs, re-designed gateway entrances, viewpoints, and a feature canal pedestrian bridge linking different communites.

The canal will become a 'smart canal', it is explained below.

In August, a second wave of funding amounting to £8 million was announced. The latest projects aim to improve habitats and biodiversity, transform derelict land, tackle flood risk and more in Glasgow, Bishopbriggs, Fife and Edinburgh.

This will be used to support seven major projects in town and cities across the central belt. The projects include;

‘Climate Ready Bishopbriggs’ - which aims to combine two existing parks in order to create a more attractive and functional space and improve stormwater management to reduce flood risk to home

Credit: East Dumbartonshire Council

‘Edinburgh Shoreline Project’ - is an ongoing project to connect people with nature along the city’s 27km coastline as part of the Edinburgh Living Landscapes Project. The project collaborates with community group to rediscover the fascinating natural wonders around the shoreline and inspire them to take responsibility for its future health.

‘GUARD Argyle Street’ - this project is a large scale, ambitious streetscape project which will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, provide habitat for biodiversity and improve climate resilience in the city centre. This in turn will make it easier to re-develop the vacant and derelict sites between Argyle Street and the Clyde.