On this project, Green Action Trust worked in partnership with a group of stakeholders, led by Community Green Initiative, a local community group that has a long standing involvement in the care, maintenance and enhancement of Herbertshire Castle Park (otherwise known as The Gala). Following a previous successful LEADER funding application, they led on the development of an initial Master Plan and Feasibility Study.
Catalysed by this preparatory work, the stakeholder partnership came together with the aim of delivering the park improvements proposed in the masterplan. Following a successful funding bid to Kelvin Valley & Falkirk LEADER in 2020, Green Action Trust designed and delivered a first phase of park enhancements.
The aim of the enhancements was to:
- Create a more welcoming and attractive park
- Make the park more accessible to all users
- Celebrate the park’s natural and cultural heritage
The enhancements included the following:
- Regrading and widening of sections of path to improve accessibility
- Creation of three viewing platforms/picnic areas (two of which are adjacent to the river)
- Car park modifications to create four accessible parking bays
- Installation of solar studs along riverside path between Stirling Street entrance and Wallace Crescent bridge
- Planting 14 large (4.5m – 6m) cherry trees along Stirling Street boundary wall
- Planting two 6-metre-high ‘Legacy’ Sweet Chestnut Trees
- A range of tree works for tree safety and amenity reasons
- Installation of several picnic and park benches
This project has been part financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Kelvin Valley & Falkirk LEADER 2014-2020 Programme.
