Lanark Community Development Trust has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the annual ‘Scottish Rural Action – Rural Innovator Awards’ in the ‘Environment and Land Use’ category. The shortlisted project is the ongoing development at Castlebank Park in Lanark which has been selected as a best example in its category.

This project includes the work of the volunteer team who have dedicated an estimated 4,000 hours per year in transforming areas of land within Castlebank Park from inaccessible jungle to beautiful spaces allowing the local community to enjoy their natural environment. The Development Trust has also worked, since 2012, to develop the Castlebank Horticultural Centre on formerly derelict land, and to successfully obtain funding to renovate the derelict sawmill buildings into a new Community Hub building within the park.

Sylvia Russell, Chair of Lanark Community Development Trust and Project Lead at Castlebank Park said “We are very proud of our achievements so far in transforming Castlebank Park, and have our amazing volunteers to thank for a huge amount of the work. They truly deserve this recognition on a national platform and we’d encourage people living in Lanark, and the local community, who enjoy visiting Castlebank Park, to vote for us. With the new Community Hub building nearing completion it really feels like things are taking off at Castlebank Park, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the project.”

Scottish Rural Action said of the annual awards “Scotland’s rural communities are jam-packed full of innovators. Addressing challenges such as transport, food and drink, housing and making the most of our assets. The Rural Innovators Awards are an opportunity to showcase that work on a national platform. The winner in each category will be invited to attend and give a short presentation about the project during the award ceremony at the Scottish Rural Parliament which takes place 14-16 November 2018.”

Online voting for the Rural Innovators Award is available at the Scottish Rural Action website: https://www.sra.scot

Voting closes at 5pm on Wednesday 24th October 2018.