Broomage After

Broomage After

Broomage Greenspace After

Broomage Greenspace Before

Falkirk Council, the site’s owner, wished to improve this overgrown and neglected area of greenspace.

There were very defined ‘informal’ paths running across the site, indicating that it was well used by local people for dog walking and accessing shops and services and, with high levels of house-building in the Larbert area, they were keen to see it improved and maintained for public use.

A community consultation made it clear that the site was also valued for its wildlife and “natural feel” and that this should be maintained and enhanced. However, anti-social behaviour was a big concern, and there were fears that by improving the paths and creating an attractive area of greenspace, more anti-social behaviour would be encouraged.

Project achievements:

• 508m of new paths to enable local people to access homes and services and to provide a route for recreational activities, such as dog walking and cycling
• 1.6 hectares of greenspace treated
• 0.28 hectares of a wetland area created by sowing with wetland wildflower species, including 400 wildflower plants dug in by members of the community, which, along with other environmental works, improved the wetland area for biodiversity and wildlife
  
• 660 native trees planted to create 0.2 hectares of new woodland along the boundary fence with the railway to provide additional screening
• The two main access points to the site cleared and improved
• 2 new entry signs, 2 benches and 2 dog bins installed to encourage both greater awareness of the site and appropriate user behaviour

Local young people were involved in carrying out elements of the project with 20 pupils from Larbert Village Primary School’s Eco-Committee planting wildflowers in the new woodland and 20 youngsters from Larbert Pentecostal Church clearing litter and planting wildflowers around the wetland area.

Total cost £52,000 funded by:

Falkirk Council

Falkirk Environment Trust

Scottish Natural Heritage