The Friends of Burngreen Park is a community group established in 2004 with the aim of improving, promoting and protecting a public park in Kilsyth.
Since formation, Friends of Burngreen Park have applied to the Community Project Fund to support bio-diversity projects and a programme of community events to raise awareness of the park and encourage volunteer participation.
In 2005, the group received £250 from the Community Project Fund to improve the bio-diversity and amenity value of the park and to promote community planting events. The project involved the:
- creation of summer wildflower meadow
- planting hundreds of spring flowering plants such as daffodils, snowdrop and primrose
- production of posters and interpretative material to promote 3 community planting events
All community events received good promotion and photographic coverage from the local press and highlighted CSFT's contribution to the events.
Following the success of precious project, the group received a further £200 from the fund to create a sunshine and butterfly border using perennial plants to give colour and attract insects throughout the year. Since the establishment of the border, the group has taken part in a national butterfly survey and the events have encouraged 40 people to become members of the group.
Fiona Murdoch, secretary of the Friends group, believes that CSFT's Community Project Fund has made a real difference to the project.
She says ‘Thanks to CSFT, our group has been able to carry out bio-diversity projects and hold events throughout the year to encourage local folk to get involved with improving their park for people and wildlife. The grants we have received over the past 3 years have given the project momentum and made sure that our enthusiasm has not fizzled out. Our park is now a brighter, safer and nicer place to be!'
