Progress is continuing to be made on the Seven Lochs Wetland Park project.

The £6.5m initiative will see a new heritage and nature park created in Glasgow. It will bring together 20 sq km of lochs, parks, nature reserves and woodland between Glasgow and Coatbridge.

The proposals outline how the development could protect, improve and bring together the area's heritage buildings and wildlife habitats.

Under the plans, new visitor facilities would be created, alongside new paths, and a number of activities to help local people and visitors to learn and help improve the area's heritage. Provan Hall House, one of the city's oldest buildings, would also be restored; as well as new walking and cycling routes between Hogganfield Park and Drumpellier Park in North Lanarkshire. Improvements to signage, interpretation and management across the whole of the park, and opportunities for training and volunteering will also be carried out.

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The Seven Lochs Partnership is working with the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership (GCVGNP) and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Scotland to develop plans for the park.

Councillor Maureen Burke, Chair of the partnership, commented: "This is a unique project and a considerable amount of effort has been put in by partners and local communities.

"To be at this stage in a project as big as this, is just fantastic. The work involved in creating what will ultimately be Scotland's newest and biggest nature park is a great challenge."

Scott Ferguson, Seven Lochs Project Coordinator with GCVGNP, added: "The Seven Lochs area is one of the most important places for heritage and wildlife in our area. The creation of a new visitor attraction, linked to on-going regeneration in communities around the park, is a great opportunity to bring a range of benefits to people living in and around the park."

The overall Seven Lochs project is a partnership between Glasgow City Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and The Conservation Volunteers Scotland.

(JP/MH)