Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund projects update
January 2023
The Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund (GICEF) was designed to fund projects which contribute towards 'Involving Communities, and Increasing Participation'. Projects were bespoke and specific to the communities they engaged with. Delivery of the fund supported community engagement projects which were designed by communities, were locally relevant and innovative to their area. The Projects booklet below takes the reader through the range of projects and their outcomes.
30 September 2020
Our Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund supports urban community engagement projects which involve groups working in the local area, who both know, and are invested in, the communities which their projects benefit. Amongst the many improvements these projects deliver are better greenspaces, community growing opportunities, habitat creation, and support to improve health and wellbeing in deprived areas. Nature based solutions lie at the very heart of these dynamic projects. To find out more about these exciting projects take a look through our recently updated leaflets no. 1 and no. 2.
Green Action Trust – 10,000 Raingardens for Scotland
This ambitious and exciting project aims to establish raingardens as a standard method of dealing with surface water management, flood alleviation and greenspace creation within Scotland. GICEF funding has been used for a pilot raingarden in Queensland Court and Gardens, a Southside Housing Association property in the south of Glasgow
The Broomhouse Centre – Broomhouse Market Garden
Edinburgh’s Broomhouse Market Garden is an impressive community project by any standards. It offers volunteering, training and work experience opportunities for retired and unemployed people, whilst establishing a vibrant market garden farm which supports a local ‘food hub’ and helps nearby good causes. The garden is a fabulous resource for the whole community. There have been visits by the local dementia lunch club. The garden offers a safe space for people with issues such as mental health problems and learning difficulties and tackles social isolation.
The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention is part of Scotland’s 2014-2020 ERDF programme. The Green Infrastructure Fund and Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund provide up to 40% of project costs. For more information about the funds and our projects go to Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Edinburgh’s Shoreline
The shoreline around Edinburgh has held a fascination for years. It’s supported nature, housed industry, provided fishing opportunities and, alas, even been a dumping zone. Today the natural value of Edinburgh’s shoreline is widely recognised and an amazing community driven project is righting the wrongs of recent times. Given that the shoreline around Edinburgh is 27km long it is little surprise that it includes variety. Coastal neighbourhoods come in all shapes and sizes, their history reflecting change.
RSPB – Garnock Connections
Something very special is happening around the River Garnock. Garnock Connections is a suite of 25 projects that will restore a network of wildlife habitats and historic sites across the landscape, as well as encourage local people to become involved through a range of handson opportunities. Garnock Connections is a partnership between RSPB, Historic Environment Scotland, SEPA, NatureScot, Scottish Wildlife Trust and North Ayrshire Council, based around the catchment of the River Garnock. The Garnock Connections area is lively are dealing with all the challenges that come with declining industry and reduced opportunity.
Urban Roots – Growing Connections
The saying ‘Mighty oaks from little acorns grow’ could easily capture the growing ambitions of Urban Roots. It was back in 2004 that Toryglen Gardening Club was founded by three local residents. Soon they were working with community groups and schools on popular gardening projects; by 2009 an application to the Climate Challenge Fund was successful, and by then Urban Roots was born. They haven’t looked back since. Now Urban Roots is flourishing. Their Growing Connections Project takes them on their latest vibrant and energetic journey and is delivering welcome green spaces in Toryglen.
Newbattle Abbey College - Newbattle Community Forest
This site enjoys a rich and colourful history stretching back over 900 years. Today, education is to the fore, and the site is recognised as the home of Scotland’s premier Adult Education Residential College. Since a successful bid to the Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund the Forest College has been leading the way in providing lifelong learning outdoors. A success story with the emphasis on adult education, and making the most of second chances, a unique learning opportunity has been polished and perfected. Now, with the establishment of a Forest College, a new and exciting element thrives.
Cyrenians – Recovery through Green Infrastructure
This project explores the idea of engaging with a wide range of people and improving green infrastructure to support recovery and improve health and wellbeing. The idea stems from extensive consultation and engagement with a range of NHS Lothian patients, staff and visitors at Royal
Edinburgh, Astley Ainslie and Midlothian Community Hospitals, as well as with volunteers and visitors to their community gardens and local community organisations. Project participants are excited at extending the number and type of people taking part in new activities and new locations, resulting in improved green infrastructure.
The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention is part of Scotland’s 2014-2020 ERDF programme. The Green Infrastructure Fund and Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund provide up to 40% of project costs. For more information about the funds and our projects go to Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention
Froglife – Renfrewshire Living Water Project
Froglife is a national nature conservation organisation with a mission to help reptile and amphibian species and their habitats. In Renfrewshire they worked under the Community Engagement banner on three sites — Barshaw Park, Gleniffer Braes and Jenny’s Well — to create and restore habitats which will benefit these species whilst engaging local people in a range of activities. The sites deliver for species that have been subject to alarming declines. What’s more they provide communities with pleasant surroundings where people can reflect, relax and connect more easily with nature.
The Hidden Gardens
The enticing name alone conjures up an air of something special. One of Glasgow’s Southside gems, The Hidden Gardens offer a welcome refuge from hectic city life and a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with nature. The Hidden Gardens is a friendly spot where the local community can brush up against nature, relax in a thriving garden and learn a little about horticulture. Make no mistake The Hidden Gardens is a marvellous public greenspace. It not only connects people with nature, it connects people with each other.
TCV - Wild Ways Well
WWW. Three initials which together enjoy near universal understanding. Yet the World Wide Web isn’t the only thing laying claim to those initials. WWW might equally well stand for Wild Ways Well, which is a project that looked to help people who are at risk of developing a mental health condition. The Conservation Volunteers joined forces with Cumbernauld Living Landscape in an urban restoration project which looks to reinforce and reconnect the town’s green spaces for the benefit of people and wildlife.
TCV - Community Rewilding
A dazzling urban initiative which invigorates communities, bringing them together by giving people the skills, and opportunities, to rebuild their own neighbourhoods. It’s with an incredible mixture of skill and boundless energy that their projects connect communities with greenspaces to deliver lasting outcomes for both people and places. The Conservation Volunteers made tremendous strides in improving quality of life in areas around Greenock, Yoker and Clydebank by encouraging and helping communities to enjoy their own local spaces.
The two Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund Leaflets are available to download next.
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