Huge New Community Greenspace to be Created

Glasgow City Council is to create a new woodland in Cadder as part of the city's Tree Plan. The vacant site at Hapland Road and Cathkin Quarry will become a multi-functional community asset. It will increase wildlife habitat, create recreational and outdoor learning spaces and boost the city's green canopy.

A tree nursery will also be established in the North East of the city to grow native saplings for planting across Glasgow while providing training and employment opportunities via a social enterprise. Vacant and Derelict Land funding has been secured for the first phase of the project and a working group has been created to progress the idea.

The exciting new projects were highlighted in an update on the city's Tree Plan presented to the council's Net Zero committee. 

The committee also heard that the council had planted over 24,000 trees across the city in 2023/24, exceeding the target for the year. This planting was carried out with the help of volunteers, schools, city businesses and partners including The Conservation Trust, Green Action Trust and Clyde Climate Forest.

Trees with smaller leaves, such as Birch, Rowan and Hornbeam, are also being planted in city streets - to reduce the risk of fallen leaves blocking drains. (Evergreen trees are less suited to busy road verges, as they are more susceptible to wind damage) 

Councillor Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, congratulated council staff and volunteers on the planting of over 24,000 trees in a year.

He said: "Work to increase the tree canopy and combat Climate Change has been progressing at pace across the city in the past year with the help of an array of partners and enthusiastic volunteers.

"Breathing new life into vacant and derelict land through tree planting will enhance and enrich communities by creating cherished greenspaces which could survive for hundreds of years."

Members of the public can also suggest locations for tree planting, volunteer to help with planting or buy a commemorative tree via the council's Tree Portal. It can be found HERE

Plans are also in the pipeline to enable city residents to sponsor a tree in their own street or a favourite city location.