Hello, I’m Hazel from Healthy Valleys…

At Healthy Valleys we have recently embarked on our Active Travel journey. Hazel, our Active Travel project worker, has lots of opportunities to get involved, these consist of E-Bike trials and short-term loans to Active Travel awareness sessions where you can learn how to reduce your carbon emissions while getting healthier and feel more connected to your community. We also take bike donations that we upcycle, and they are then redistributed back out to the local community.

If you would like more information on what we have to offer or would like to volunteer with Healthy Valleys give Hazel a call on 07872161913 or email [email protected]

Like us on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyValleys

Hello, I’m Sarah and I’m the Green Health Volunteering Development Officer for the Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership based at VASLan, covering South Lanarkshire

The Green Health Partnership was formed in April 2018 and has been working to connect health and social care with nature, encouraging people to use the outdoors as “our Natural Health Service”.

Initially, my work was focused on building a network of groups that offer green health volunteering opportunities (everything from health walk leaders to community gardening to practical conservation) and supporting them with best practice in volunteer management. However, last March all that came to an abrupt halt and our focus moved to promoting everyday connection with nature. The Green Volunteer Network has continued to meet on Zoom throughout the pandemic and we’ve been able to run several nature connection promotional projects including a Nature Advent(ure) Calendar last Christmas and the Green Elf Code.

Not being able to use indoor space last year resulted in more of the groups that VASLan works with looking at ways to take their work outside, so in partnership with South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers we were able to offer some training about what you need to think about when you’re taking a group outdoors. That’s now available to view online. Our most recent project is a partnership with the walking and nature connection app Go Jauntly, where we are hoping to get lots of interesting Lanarkshire walks uploaded, encouraging people to walk in new places and notice more of the nature around them.

If you want to find out more about the Green Health Partnership or if you’re an organisation with “green” opportunities and you’d like to get involved, please get in touch with me: [email protected]

Hello, I’m Karen from the South Lanarkshire Council Countryside Rangers

As a Countryside Ranger with South Lanarkshire Council, I work on various initiatives to support people to get involved in using their local woodlands and greenspaces. One of my current projects is Jock's Burn in Carluke which I see as a little green oasis in the middle of a busy town. It is in the process of being designated a Local Nature Reserve and is ideally situated for this, being surrounded by housing and in close proximity to several local schools a nursery, community centre and local amenities.

In April, we carried out a survey of local people and schools. It's clear that many value the site as a place to go for a walk or a dog walk and get some fresh air and time out. Unfortunately, parts of the site suffer from litter, vandalism and fly-tipping meaning that local people can't fully use the site as they'd like. Over recent months South Lanarkshire Countryside Ranger Service, in partnership with the local community has been working to change this. Various school and nursery groups have joined us to learn about wildlife on their doorstep and help litter pick the site. We're also working with local organisations Forest Friends and Wellriggs Ecology and Outdoor Learning to run family and youth activities. We have awarded funding to Carluke High to enable them to run their Jock's Burn Forest and Outdoor Learning Award. November will see the launch of our Walking for Wellbeing programme- a chance for people to come together for a short walk and some relaxation. Monthly litter picks and site maintenance with Clydesdale Community Initiatives have seen the paths opened up and lots of litter removed.

Lots of progress, but still so much to do! We are delighted also to be working with Crawforddyke Primary and a real highlight of the project has been their anti- litter demonstration march, timed to take place during the COP 26 Climate Summit . The childrens' message was loud and clear. They want to have a safe, clean and beautiful woodland to learn and play and grow up. I think it's time we helped them!

For more information on what's going on or how you can get involved, contact [email protected]

CDT AGM

Carluke Development Trusts AGM will take place on the 23rd November 2021 at St Johns Church, Hamilton Street.

For more information, check out the website or contact [email protected]

Carluke Community Council AGM

Carluke Community Council AGM was held on the 18th of November at 7.30pm in St Athanasius Hall.

St Andrews Day

St Andrews Day falls on 30th November and the Scottish Government Website has a whole list of events and activities taking place.

Discover them here.