| Awarded from the Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) Challenge Fund, managed by the Forestry Commission Scotland, the £501,276 for Dundee is one of the biggest grants in the country.
It will be used to improve paths and signage and provide woodland furniture at 20 wooded areas, including Balgay Hill, Camperdown Country Park and the Law.
A total of six miles of paths will be upgraded and almost a mile of new trails built. The improvements also involve provision of new car parks at Middleton and Templeton Woods, along with picnic benches and better signage.
In partnership with a number of other organisations, the council is taking forward the development of green space and woodlands in the city.
The Forestry Commission is contributing £15,000 towards the creation of a green space woodlands officer post, with another £14,000 coming from Greenspace Scotland.
Councillors Charles Farquhar and George Regan, respectively conveners of the leisure and arts services and Dundee Contract Services committees, met with Forestry Commission conservator Syd House and Deryck Irving, of Greenspace Scotland, at Baxter Park today.
“Dundee is in the enviable position of having many green spaces that make it such an attractive place to live and visit,” Mr Farquhar said.
“The funding will mean that we will be able to make our woods and green spaces even more pleasant for people to enjoy.”
Councillor Regan said, “Dundee Contracts has an integral role to play in maintaining many of the green spaces and will continue to work with other council departments and organisations to ensure they are well looked after.”
Mr House said, “We are delighted that Dundee City Council is taking forward the woods in green spaces initiative and are pleased to have awarded the council over £500,000 from WIAT, which we are sure will bring great benefit to the people of Dundee by giving them better places to visit.
“Woods are great places to walk, jog or cycle and, you never know, you might be lucky enough to catch sight of a red squirrel.”
He said the commission was keen to extend its focus on rural areas to take in urban woodlands as well.
Mr Irving said Greenspace Scotland wanted to get local communities involved and find out what they would like to see achieved. |
