New scheme to protect outdoor areas gives everyone the advantage

As part of a Commonwealth Games legacy project 27 outdoor areas across the city have been given a special status protecting them for future generations.

The scheme instituted by Fields in Trust, a UK wide charity that safeguards greenspaces, means that use of these sites is secured, under a legal agreement, for recreation.

The arrangement with the council means that the sites will only be used as public playing fields, open spaces, parks or for recreation, leisure or sporting use.

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Frank McAveety, and Brian Samson, Chair of Fields in Trust Scotland visited Queens Park Community Tennis Club, within Queens Park, one of the protected sites, to see for themselves how future generations are making full use of the outdoor space.

Councillor Frank McAveety, said: "It's widely acknowledged that having access to outdoor space and undertaking some level of activity has numerous mental and physical benefits for individuals and families. We were delighted to take part in this scheme to guarantee areas for people to use and enjoy now and in the future.

"And of course it's at 'Come and Try' sessions like this tennis one in Queens Park that encourages young people to stay fit and active and where a passion for sport could help them develop into the sporting champions of tomorrow."

Brian Samson, Chair of Fields in Trust Scotland, said: "Glasgow City Council are leading the way by protecting, forever such a significant proportion of its public green spaces with Fields in Trust.

At a time when there is pressure on land for housing and commercial development we applaud the decision to safeguard recreational space for future generations and provide opportunities for families and the wider community of Glasgow to enjoy time outdoors. Access to parks and playgrounds contributes to physical health, mental wellbeing and community cohesion resulting in more active and longer, healthier lives."

The sites in the scheme cover some well-known parks in the city including Cathkin Braes, Rosshall Park and Glasgow Green but also includes lesser known playing fields, recreation and grounds such as Riccarton Street Park in Govanhill, Binghams Pond off Great Western Road, Milton Park and Ashtree Park near Pollokshaws.

Founded in 1925 by King George V, Fields in Trust (formerly known as the National Playing Fields Association) work to ensure that all citizens have access to free, local outdoor space for sport, play and recreation. The charity strives to promote active lifestyles through the protection and promotion of greenspace.

The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge, was Fields in Trust's flagship UK-wide programme to protect outdoor recreation spaces in celebration of the Queens Diamond Jubilee, London Olympics and Paralympic Games and closes with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Following a due diligence and legal process the 27 sites are being given a Fields in Trust designation. In the event that the council wished to change the use of a site, to sell, or build upon a site, Fields in Trust must give their consent.

In addition if the council wanted to remove an area from the Fields in Trust scheme, an alternative site must be added to the list in substitution.

Tennis facilities at Queens Park are currently undergoing a £250,000 upgrade as Glasgow launches the search for the next Andy Murray.  The funding, provided by Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life, will deliver five new synthetic grass tennis courts together as well as the comprehensive refurbishment of the adjacent, ageing pavilion.

The redevelopment of the tennis courts at Queens Park follows a similar investment at Drumchapel Park and Knightswood Park in 2012 that delivered eight new all-weather tennis courts.

GCC sites for inclusion in Fields in Trust

Botanic Gardens (Ward 15)
Cathkin Braes (Ward 1)
Darnley Mill (Ward 3)
Ashtree Park (Ward 2)
Auldhouse Park (Ward 2)
Binghams Pond (Ward 12)
Broomhouse Park (excluding Community Centre) (Ward 1)
Castlemilk Park (Ward 1) Dowanhill Park(Ward 12)
Garnethill Peoples Park (Ward 10)
Garrowhill Park (excluding Community Centre, Tennis & Bowls) (Ward 20)
Gorbals Park (Ward 8)
Govanhill Park (Ward 8)
Hayburn Park (Ward 12)
Holmlea Park (including extensive informal sport facilities) (Ward 7)
Maxwell Square (including extensive informal sport facilities) (Ward 6)
Milton Park (Ward 16) Naseby Park (Ward 12)
Newlands Park (Ward 2)
Queens Park (Ward 8)
Riccarton Street Park (Ward 8)
Robroyston Park (Ward 17)
Rosshall Park (Ward 4)
Thornwood Community Park (Ward 12)
Yoker Recreation Ground (Ward 13)
Baltic Street (Ward 9)
Glasgow Green (excluding Fleshers Haugh) (Ward 9)

Queens Park is managed by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council and is one of six sites across the city that is available for free public use. It forms a key part of Glasgow Life's Tennis Development Programme. Glasgow Life will work in partnership with Queen's Park Community Tennis Club to increase participation at the site.

Fields in Trust

Fields in Trust is a national charity founded in 1925 to improve the protection, provision and quality of outdoor recreational spaces for all communities in the UK
Currently over 2,600 sites (a total 30,000 acres)are protected across the UK of which 254 sites in Scotland are protected in perpetuity
HM The Queen has been Patron of Fields in Trust for 60 years; HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was President for 64 years and succeeded by HRH The Duke of Cambridge in 2013. The Duke of Cambridge has also been the Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge
Queen Elizabeth II Fields - was a scheme to protect recreatuional space in celebration of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics and Paralympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In Scotland, run as Queen Elizabeth Fields Challenge.