So what’s it all about then?
Spiral of Autumn leaves courtesy of Nikki Bayliss
Last week saw the launch of our #LivingWindow project in the Cumbernauld Town Centre and the Antonine Centre. The Cumbernauld Living Landscape commissioned three artists to work with community groups to create temporary art works that are now displayed in empty shop windows in the town centre. Over the summer I have been out with eight community groups visiting six fantastic sites in Cumbernauld to find out why they are such special places. The enthusiasm for this project has been great and there has been a certain buzz about Cumbernauld. The three artists have been working closely with the groups and we have been out and about building our very own art works using nature as a canvas.
It has been a very busy summer and we have been lucky enough to explore the following places with a diverse range of people:
- Palacerigg Country Park with Watch Us Grow
- Cumbernauld Village Langriggs with Cumbernauld Action for the Community and Carbrain and Hillcrest Play Scheme
- Cumbernauld Community Park – with Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park
- Cumbernauld Glen with Friends of Cumbernauld Glen and the Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve with the British Dragonfly Society
- Cumbernauld House Park with the Friends of Cumbernauld House Park
Just the tip of the iceberg for fascinating places to visit!
Highlighting the rare bred of Scot’s Dumpy Chicken © Pidgin Perfect
10 things I didn’t know before the #LivingWindow project
Although I have lived in Cumbernauld for 35 years I have discovered some hidden treasures and amazing facts. It’s been an exciting few months being out with so many people learning what makes their place special and taking part in their workshops. It is great to see everyone’s different ideas on paper, on a lawn or even in a photograph. The groups have been fantastic at sharing their special reasons why these green spaces are so important to them. Here’s my top ten run down of new and interesting facts I’ve learned with the groups.
10. Some of Scotland’s last medieval gardens are in the Village – The Langriggs in Cumbernauld Village are one of the last remaining medieval gardens in Scotland! Cumbernauld Village Action for the Community group work hard to maintain and improve the gardens and allotments.
9. There is a Golden Eagle in the Community Park – I was told by the Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park that the rubble from the old Golden Eagle hotel is now buried under the Park, so in essence we have our own Golden Eagle here in Cumbernauld.
8. There are secret ancient fossils in Cumbernauld Glen – Trilobite fossils have been found by a member of the Friends of Cumbernauld Glen in a secret place in Cumbernauld Glen.
7. Pigs and bishops roamed the bog – Local knowledge shared by Carbrain and Hillcrest Play Scheme tells us that Ravenswood Local Nature Reserve was once a pig farm and had a Bishops residence nearby.
6. Dragonflies are ancient predators – At a great workshop with the British Dragonfly Society we discovered that dragonflies are amazing predators and have been around for 350 million years.
5. The kings and queens of Scotland graced the house – I learned from the Friends of Cumbernauld House Park that King James the VI and Mary Queen of Scot’s were frequent visitors to the Flemming’s at Cumbernauld House.
4. A royal tree is still standing strong – Mary Queen of Scots planted a sweet chestnut tree in the House Park, which still grows, it’s huge! It has been officially classified as an ancient tree.
3. Scot’s Dumpy is a type of chicken not a person – In Palacerigg they have one of the oldest breeds of Chicken in the UK. The Scot’s Dumpy can now be found immortalised in one of our windows in the town centre.
2. Boats don’t always need to float – Watch Us Grow have their very own boat, however their feet are firmly planted on soil as it is used as a massive planter, it is quite the sight to see.
How far does it go ?
And finally No.1 Cumbernauld is #1 for community action – in this short project I have been blown away once again by the sheer level of community action in Cumbernauld. In just a few weeks we have:
– engaged 57 people in workshops
– talked to over 500 people at the launch
– have the opportunity to connect with the 55,000 people that live in the town
For me this project has reaffirmed how amazing Cumbernauld is. If you are in the town pop in to the shopping centres to find the artworks and start your journey to discover these amazing spaces for yourself.
Getting close with nature