We are delighted to announce that the Green Action Trust, working together with the Leven Partnership, has successfully secured an award of almost £250,000 to develop plans for the Leven River Park project, ahead of a total proposed funding package of over £3m.
The Leven River Park project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will enable the development of two river park “gardens” at neglected sites along the River Leven, enhancing the environment around new active travel routes and creating a safe and welcoming space for the community. The project will also provide multi-functional spaces for recreation, play and sport, outdoor community learning and growing, and a green skills academy.
The Leven Programme is run by a wide range of partner organisations, with the Green Action Trust administering the funding as lead partner for the River Park project.
The timing of the award announcement coincides with Scotland’s Climate Week, which aims to engage individuals, communities and organisations in taking climate action across the country. Appropriately, during this phase of the project, communities will be consulted to inform the development of the Leven River Park, which will not only contribute to Net Zero, but crucially aims to become a space for people and nature, enabling communities to reconnect, and delivering myriad benefits for health, wellbeing, community resilience and skills development.
The award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will enable the delivery of better access to the river using boardwalks, platforms and walkways at the river edge through the creation of the ‘Burn Mill Garden’ and ‘Creosote Garden’.
With a further four gardens in the pipeline, the Leven River Park aims to provide opportunities for the whole community to benefit from these valuable green spaces and to share in outdoor learning opportunities.
A full list of garden sites, along with more information about the project is available at https://www.theleven.org/projects/river-leven-park
The Green Action Trust’s Operations Director, Emilie Wadsworth, said:
“The Green Action Trust and Leven Partnership are delighted to be awarded this grant for the River Leven Parks project. It will complement active travel improvements and river restoration work being delivered in the area by creating multi-functional greenspaces for the community that explore and celebrate the local heritage, reconnect people with the river, and create high quality green infrastructure for people and wildlife.
“This is the first part of a wide Leven Programme Masterplan to be delivered over the course of the next 10-15 years. We are excited to get started and provide local people and visitors with a fantastic new means of exploring, learning and playing in the outdoors.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“I’m delighted that we are providing such significant support to projects which recognise the vital role of rivers and lakes as the lifeblood and heartland of communities. These projects, as well as a raft of others focused on our woodlands, parks and gardens, will help to ensure our natural heritage is preserved and enhanced for the benefit of all, thanks to National Lottery players.”
Jenny Gilruth, MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, welcomed the funding:
“The Leven River Park Project is a great example of an ambitious, community-focused project which will make a big difference to my constituents and the environment around the River Leven. I am delighted that this has been recognised by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Green Action Trust and the Leven Partnership have worked hard to create an inclusive, accessible and exciting plan for the land. I am looking forward to seeing how the project progresses and will do everything I can to help as the local MSP for Levenmouth.”
For more information about the Leven River Park project, please visit:
https://www.theleven.org/projects/river-leven-park
