Kelvin Clyde Greenspace – Byshot Brae, Possilpark

Since its creation in 2002, Kelvin Clyde Greenspace (KCG), part of Development & Regeneration Services of Glasgow City Council, has worked on environmental improvement projects with groups from all parts of Glasgow to create and enhance greenspaces.

In 2004 for example we initiated an extensive clean-up of Garscadden Burn in Drumchapel for a healthy walking project; in 2006 we worked with residents of a tenement backcourt on Gibson Street, Hillhead to remove waste materials and create a community garden. We are currently working with residents of a backcourt in Pollokshields to clear litter and provide a community space for residents.

Before	After

KCG has recently started collaborating with the Children’s Inclusion Partnership (jointly run by Barnardos and Stepping Stones for Families) on a greenspace project in Possilpark.  Concerned members of the public had approached CHIP and KCG about a piece of land near to their homes that was attracting a large amount of litter along with associated anti-social behaviour. In particular, the locals were very interested in transforming the space into a clean, semi-mown area where their children could safely play. 

Gillian Telfer, Project Officer with KCG, has been working in close partnership with CHIP and the residents of the Hawthorn Housing Association estate.  With the help of some locals along with a team from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the area was cleared of rubbish, the grass strimmed and bordering shrubs and trees pruned to open up the area. 

A local community consultation day was planned on 13th February 2007 which included an arts workshop, wishing tree, and nature activities.  The team asked for the residents’ views on how they would like to use this cleaned-up area, and their ideas will be taken into account when drawing up plans to formalise it into a useful community space.