Young People to Create New Landscaped Park at Calders, Edinburgh
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Donald Wilson, and Edinburgh
Canal Champion, Councillor Gordon Munro, joined young people at the
trailblazing canal college today (Thursday 20th
March) to celebrate the start of a major project to create a new
landscaped 'gateway' onto the Union Canal at Calders near Wester
Hailes.
The Lord Provost and Councillor Munro signalled the start of the
project as the young canal college participants, aged between 16 -
25 years, began work with public realm improvement specialists,
Land Engineering, which has generously donated manpower and
equipment for the project.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Union Interreg
IVB North West Europe project 'Green & Blue Futures', Scottish
Natural Heritage and Scottish Canals, canal college has been
created by the Scottish Waterways Trust to help tackle youth
unemployment in Edinburgh and Falkirk.
Through the pioneering initiative, young people between 16 and
25 years of age, who have not been able to secure a job or place in
further education or training, have the opportunity to gain
heritage and environment skills through a wide range of practical
projects outdoors on the Forth & Clyde and Union canals.
The project at Calders, which is the 'signature' project for
canal college in Edinburgh, will create an improved entrance to the
32 mile long Union Canal off Calders Crescent,
Designed by landscape architects Harrison Stevens, the new
gateway at Calders reflects the heritage of the two hundred year
old waterway and centres on a striking arc of timber sleepers. The
new waterside space, which will be clearly visible from the A71,
will also feature native woodland planting, timber walling and
reclaimed granite paving.
Marking the start of the work, Lord Provost Donald
Wilson said:
"The canal college project is fantastic news for the local
community around Calders. It will not only embrace local young
workers and provide them with lifelong skills but provide residents
and passersby with a vastly improved landscape. Investing in our
communities through our young people and environment is invaluable
and this project should be celebrated."
Councillor Gordon Munro, Canal Champion for Edinburgh,
added:
"This is a win-win deal. It's a win for the young people gaining
valuable skills to help in their search for work. It's also a win
for the canal and for the community around Calders who will see
this part of the canal looking even more attractive for residents
and visitors alike. Canals connect and this connection between
young people, work skills and environmental improvements show what
creative partnerships can achieve."
Land Engineering's Managing Director, Stuart Dillett,
said:
"Land Engineering is delighted to support the canal college in
this new feature gateway at Calders, by providing accredited
resources to support the activities being carried out by the
students. By overcoming the technical challenges facing them, the
students' efforts will see improved local access and the wider
canal community will gain a new gateway to be proud of. As well as
the physical improvements, the most important facets are the
heritage and employability skills each student will take away from
this phase and from future training courses planned after
this. Land Engineering appreciates the learning to be gained
from such an initiative and is committed to supporting the training
delivered to the young students."
Danielle Moore, Project Co-ordinator for canal college
concluded:
"canal college is a unique outdoors heritage and environment
skills training programme which gets participants involved in
practical projects from start to finish so that they understand and
appreciate everything that is involved. The creation of the new
gateway will be an amazing experience for participants from now
until the project completes next year as they learn about design
and drawing through to construction and horticulture.
"We are hugely grateful to the Lord Provost and Councillor Munro
for showing their support today and to Land Engineering for giving
their help in preparing the area for this exciting project. It is
fantastic that they will also help teach the young people that
working on a major project like this beside the canal isn't simply
a case of just turning up with a spade. It takes a lot of planning,
preparation and hard work but the rewards can be huge."
Today and tomorrow the young people will roll up their sleeves
and work with Land Engineering learning how to scan the ground for
any nearby underground service lines then strip the top soil and
prepare the ground for fencing.
Following the preparatory works, canal college participants and
their volunteer mentors will begin the initial woodland planting
and timber fencing to the west of the entrance. Subsequent canal
college groups over the next year will be responsible for
continuing the project, planting woodland, creating hedges,
building fences and creating the central timber gateway feature.
Each canal college programme runs for two days a week for 14
weeks. During this time, the volunteer participants and their
mentors carry out a wide range of practical projects and work
towards a number of awards and certificates.
Projects include landscaping, tree planting and vegetation
management, wildlife conservation, trail creation, canal
engineering, maintenance, management and customer service.
Awards and certificates include the Saltire Volunteer Award,
John Muir Award (Discovery Level), Youth Achievement Award and
canal college Award.
Towards the end of the programme, participants are also given
help with job seeking and CV writing.
Issued on behalf the
Scottish Waterways Trust by
Joanna Harrison, mobile: 07884 187404
Notes to Editors
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
- Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage,
people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient
heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to
archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest
in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more
than 3,000 projects with an investment of over £611million across
Scotland. www.hlf.org.uk
Land Engineering
- Since 2000, Land Engineering has been committed to supporting
local initiatives, as well as providing training opportunities in
and around the communities where the organisation operates.
The Scottish Waterways Trust (SWT)
- SWT works to create brighter futures for people, wildlife
and communities along Scotland's canals
- By connecting people with the heritage, wildlife and green open
spaces of the Scottish canals through innovative projects, SWT
inspires people to get active, improve their health and mental
well-being, employment prospects and community life.
- These projects, which connect people with the built, natural
and cultural heritage of the canals and include the creation of new
and enhanced access, landscaping, interpretation and recreational
amenities, help people make positive changes to their life whilst
also improving and enhancing their canalside environment.
- SWT has five strategic areas of activity: Communities and
Regeneration; Learning and Skills Development; Health; Volunteering
and Environment and Heritage.
- Further information on SWT, including how to get involved or
donate, can be found at www.scottishwaterwaystrust.org.uk You can also
keep up to date with news and chat to SWT on Twitter and
Facebook.