January 2012 2012 will be the eleventh anniversary of our annual 5 and 10K events! Last year awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd to the Eritrean delegation and the 5K Family Fun Run was won by talented young Law and District Club member Gary Grieve. Gary established himself earlier in the year as Scotland’s third top under 23 runner at 800m. Thanks again must go to our sponsors Mosko man + woman, Bovis Lend Lease, Hazelhead Homecare, Rosebank Garden Centre, Border Biscuits, Boots, PLPC, Alfie’s, SNP Carluke Branch, Haldanes and South Lanarkshire Council. April 2011 The Trust, in conjunction with the Rural Development Trust has been awarded a ‘seedcorn’ grant from the Scottish Government to provide financial assistance to develop a Business Improvement District within the town. < March 2011 In March 2011, the Trust was awarded a substantial grant under the Climate Challenge Fund programme to establish their’ From Small Acorns project’.An energy project, From Small Acorns, is being launched by Carluke Development Trust. With funding from the Climate Change Fund, it has appointed a full time manager and two part-time advisors to provide free, energy advice to Carluke residents. “This is a very important moment in the life of the Trust and the community of Carluke, to have dedicated individuals who are available to help us save money on our energy bills and reduce our impact on the environment,” said Jean Douglas, the Trust director leading the project. For more details on how to get your Free Energy Audit conatact the team on 07842704875 or email us at carlukedevtrust.energy@hotmail.co.uk

Projects Market Square We’ve just successfully completed our first ever environmental improvement project in Market Square. Hopefully you’ll have seen, used it and enjoyed it. This project is part of our Town Gateways Initiative and was the first phase in creating an attractive and welcoming gateway to the High Street. The second phase was the renewal of the Wee Moss Play Park which has since been funded and delivered by the Council. The Market Square is synonymous with the town and is an important open space within the town centre that provides a pleasant space for informal recreation and town events. Three elements of a sensory garden theme - taste, touch and scent - were grouped together in the south eastern corner, while sound and sight features were located separately elsewhere within the Market. You’re also able to read about the history of the town and its people on interpretation panels which were populated with information from local historian Mary Penrice. We’re grateful to the project sponsors who include South Lanarkshire Council, the South Lanarkshire Renewable Energy Fund and the Market Towns Initiative Development Fund. The project was constructed and managed by Clydesdale Community Initiatives, a social enterprise and inclusion service which delivers environmental projects through involving people with a range of support needs. The workers gain a tremendous amount through working with the support of CCI, raising their self-esteem and providing invaluable work experience and training. We’ve now moved on to bigger things with the Moor Park project! Look out for the formal launch of the Market Square improvements later in the year. Before After

 

Station

Some of you will have noticed that the train station has become a bit brighter over the past year. It is, however, a common misconception that the planters, full of greenery, are maintained by station staff. In fact they have been planted and looked after by the Trust, using the Scotrail Adopt a Station Scheme. The Trust hopes that this effort, in some small way, brightens up someone’s day and makes an important part of our town a bit more attractive.

Quite a bit of work has been done on the station this year. We started with eight planters which were all replanted in the spring with a mixture of hardy flowering plants and annuals. In addition four new planters have been added. Two have been planted up with a Scottish winter theme, one with a selection of heathers and lavender and the other alpine plants and flax. Bulbs have been strewn through these as well….so watch out for a burst of colour soon.

The two empty planters will be filled next spring. One will have herbs such as thyme, mint and basil which will be for everyone’s use. So if you are hopping off the train from a hard days work and thinking, a bit of fresh coriander might be a good addition to that nights tea, feel free to take a bit home for your own use!

Unfortunately, we have been unable to progress our idea of a small enterprise at the station. However, an opportunity still exists to make use of some spare space. If there are any budding entrepreneurs out there with an idea then please get in touch…

Routes and Cycle Ways

CDT are working with others to put together an illustrated guide of walks and cycle routes within Carluke and neighbouring towns. These routes will generally start and finish within the town centre. This booklet is now being researched. Further information will be posted when available.

 

CCF Projects

BID

Moor Park

After a promising start we have had a couple of disappointments in terms of funding for the first stage feasibility work. Nevertheless, we continue to work to secure alternative resources to carry out this important piece of work. We are currently considering a bid to the South Lanarkshire ‘Developing Local Communities Fund’ to enable this.

In the meantime, the Project Group has determined to work towards improving the park in small, incremental ways. We hope to do this initially by establishing a growing area within the bounds of the park. An “options appraisal” of what we could achieve both practically and financially is currently in development. We are looking to recruit volunteers with specific interests in gardening and horticulture to support this activity. If you are interested in supporting our work then please get in touch.

Hopefully 2012 will see us able to take the Moor Park Project a step further forward. We hope a combination of small environmental improvements and hard work on the ground will enable us to convince support agencies and funders that we mean business where our local park is concerned.

 

Join Us on Facebook

We have launched this Facebook page – Carlukeourtown – in the hope that individuals, groups and organisations can start to talk to each other. As a Trust we are concerned and focussed on the future of the town and see this medium as a way of engaging with more people.

This exercise is about – OUR TOWN……YOUR TOWN, so please get involved, ask questions and put your ideas forward. By starting these new conversations we hope more people will get involved. Have your say in creating a sustainable future for the Trust and OUR TOWN.

As an organisation we need a more strategic, locally rooted operational framework which will increase our effectiveness. We also need to ensure that the Trust’s projects aren’t just those of the board, but that they are widely owned by us all. For instance, how can we take the positive assets of the town and develop these to achieve wider social, economic and environmental benefits…….LET’S GET TALKING.