Hard work pays off at Holmhills
Park shipshape for summer
A Cambuslang park is shaping up for the summer, thanks to the determined efforts of the community.
Local resident Michelle Farmer last year contacted South Lanarkshire councillors, asking to meet with them over the condition of Holmhills Wood Community Park.
She was concerned that it was slowly being left to rot, with pathways starting to crumble, the plantlife was becoming overgrown, and as a result fewer and fewer people were choosing to go into the park as they were concerned about using the paths.
Ho w e v e r, South Lanarkshire Council have given the area due prominence in recent months, with the community payback - people who have been given community service in the courts - setting to work in the area.
Michelle said: “It ’ s looking far better than it was, and now, you can see from one end of the path to the other. The community payback team has made a big difference, as they’ve done such a lot of work.
“There was a big, damaged fence at the Langlea Road entrance, and it’s been removed. It looks much better as the plantlife has been cut right back, making the paths wider. So much of it was covered by shrubs, and that’s made a huge difference too.
“They’ve been working here since last September, and it’s looking so much better. There’s been repairs to the pathway too, as there was a big pothole in one place, and it’s been filled now.
“I’ve been in touch with the council about improving some of the pathways around the school. With the change in school transport, there’s going to be more and more people walking to Cathkin High, so all the pathways need to be much better.
“Some of them get flooded very easily as you see puddles there all the time when it’s wet, and that’s not going to be good with more people going there. They need to look at the drainage.”
The community park has become a real nature reserve since it was created in the late 1990s.
Michelle explained: “There’s a family of deer living in the park and someone spotted a baby with them recently.
“Someone got in touch with the Scottish SPCA to let them know, and their understanding is the deer came down from the Cathkin Braes when the Commonwealth Games mountain biking track was being built there.
“There are lots of other animals which can be seen - there are a couple of herons, frogs, birds, and some wildflowers were planted which have attracted butterflies. You can see the foxes at night too.”
Michelle hopes that something more formal could be done to get people into the community park, which runs from Langlea Road to Greenlees Road.
She explained: “I would love to be able to create a Friends of Holmhills Park group.
“The Cambuslang Community Council website has a link to a story talking about it and it would be great if we could hold some events in the park.
“A family day would be a great thing to hold to get people in here and using the park.
“We don’t want to be a rival to the Friends of Cambuslang Park or anything like that. So many people live around here, it would be great to do something for the community.
“The South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers are looking at getting more people using the park, and perhaps getting them to the pond to try fishing, to see what animals are living there.”
Michelle is organising a community litter pick- up on Sunday, June 7, running from 2-4pm. She is hoping people will get in touch with her, and perhaps Boys Brigade or scouting groups looking towards badge work, to give their support on the day. Those interested should meet at the Langlea Road entrance.
Contant Michelle at mishafarmer@live.com for further details.