Looking to make some small-scale environmental improvements within Whitburn, Whitburn Community Development Trust has undertook two projects to enhance the natural environment for the benefit of the local residents and school pupils.
Market Place
The Market Place project will landscape an area on the North West side of Whitburn Cross identified by local residents and businesses as an eyesore. The plans for the space feature a mixture of hard and soft landscaping and acknowledgement of the town’s heritage with a unique artistic feature for the centre of the town. The Heartlands Development has donated an iron arch which was an entrance to a mine within the Polkemmet Pit area.
Whitburn Community Development Trust was successful in attracting funds to support this project from West Lothian Development Trust Fund Black Law Windfarm, West Lothian Council Community Chest programme, West Lothian Council and Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Green Gym at Blaeberryhill Park
Inspired by the success of Whitburn Academy pupils’ Green Gym Pilot Project in Blaeberryhill Park, Whitburn Community Development Trust wanted to offer a similar experience to the next wave of pupils at Whitburn Academy as well as expanding the project to St. Kentigern’s Academy and Burnhouse School. Blaeberryhill Park is a fantastic community resource, surrounded by houses and yet offering varied habitat for wildlife and diverse areas for relaxation, play, exercise and learning. The park is the largest greenspace in Whitburn.
Between October 2010 and June 2011, 10 Green Gym sessions for each school covered how to warm up for exercise and how to cool down, practical conservation skills training such as vegetation management, pruning and planting, tool handling and team working skills. The young people were also supported to achieve their John Muir Discovery Award through their 10 week involvement. The project offered Green Gym leader training for teachers and key workers to develop skills to lead practical outdoor learning experiences so that more young people will benefit from the project in the future.
Whitburn Community Development Trust was successful in attracting funds to support this project from West Lothian Development Trust Black Law Windfarm and West Lothian Council Community Chest programme.
To return to the Projects page and have a closer look at the other projects click here.