Cumbernauld's Bloomin' Wild

This year Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s Natural Connections Project is coordinating the town’s Beautiful Scotland entry in the national competition organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

One aspect of the competition is the preparation of a portfolio of photographs of the town looking at its best – bright, colourful and bursting with natural beauty. This seemed like a perfect job for the Wild Ways Well wellbeing group, so last Friday we equipped ourselves with cameras and headed out.

Photography fits really well into the ethos of the Wild Ways Well. By going out looking for photo opportunities we start to take notice of the world around us in a new way. The walk obviously encourages us to be active but it also takes us to new places that we maybe wouldn’t normally visit, allowing us to keep learning about Cumbernauld and some of its hidden secrets.

It also provides opportunities to connect; while walking and admiring the flowers we got talking to some of Cumbernauld’s gardeners, learned their motivations and inspirations – and even managed to be gifted some beautiful plant cuttings.

Finally we get to give back. The photographs we took will be used in the competition portfolio and we’ll be able to share with the rest of the nation just how full of nature, flowers, life and beauty Cumbernauld really is.

If you’d like to take part in Wild Ways Well you can find more information on the Cumbernauld Living Landscape website or email me at pbarclay@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk