Nurturing Natural Connections

Cumbernauld Living Landscape’s vision is to improve Cumbernauld’s green and blue spaces, help people connect to nature and each other, and take positive action for nature. The twin crises of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss are at the forefront of this vision to make Cumbernauld’s greenspaces resilient for people and wildlife now and in the years to come.

The Nurturing Natural Connections Development phase was a partnership between Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers, Sanctuary Scotland and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network. Stage 2 Application was submitted at the end of February 2025, a decision on funding is pending.

A resilient Future for Cumbernauld

In February 2024, Cumbernauld Living Landscape was awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for a one-year development programme to create the evidence of need for a new project. During this development phase, the Cumbernauld Living Landscape project team worked with partners, local communities, groups and organisations to develop Nurturing Natural Connections a 5-year project that will create transformational change for our green and blue spaces, while continuing to connecting people with nature. 

Our greenspaces face an unknown future with the increase in storm activity and persistent rainfall. Our natural habitats are at risk from climate change, flooding, wildfires, habitat loss, biodiversity decline, pests and disease. We have created a suite of mitigations for our green and blue spaces to mitigate against these risks and included our communities in those decisions and actions.

Timescale:

Collaboration and engagement conducted March to October, analysis and reporting November to December. Final review and collation of Stage 2 (January), submission for reporting 28th February 2025.