The council's Recover NL fund supports projects which maintain and improve common areas and green spaces by providing a range of equipment and materials to support local groups who volunteer to keep communities clean and tidy.

Local groups in Kilsyth including the Scouts, Rotary Club, Community Forum and Community Council took part in the litter pick and spring bulb planting on Saturday 13 November. Young people from the Craighalbert Centre also got involved with their own litter event in Cumbernauld.

Councillor Angela Campbell, Convener of Community Empowerment said: “The Recover NL fund is there to support community groups and organisations to improve their areas. The volunteers in Kilsyth are well known for their efforts in helping to maintain and enhance open spaces and parks in their town and they do a fantastic job. It was also wonderful to see the young people from the Craighalbert Centre being part of this great community effort. Well done to everyone involved.”

Bill Craik, Chair of Kilsyth Community Council said: “The Kilsyth Environmental Group was formed in August 2021 and at this time of year, we meet on the second Saturday of every month. Recover NL has supplied some equipment and Caulders Garden Centres supplied pansies and discounted bulbs while Sitka Tree Services supplied us with 4 cubic metres of bark.  Volunteers have improved the garden in Burngreen Park planting 250 pansies and over 6,000 spring bulbs and corms.”

Alicia McKenzie, Business Development Officer at The Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments said: “Recover NL funding has enabled the children of the Craighalbert Centre to be active citizens and take a role in keeping the local area tidy. For the children it is about being visible within the community and being part of a team who are making a difference.

“We at the Craighalbert Centre are part of the wider community and it is important to us that the children are as involved in community life as possible. We are particularly happy that through the funding, the equipment for litter picking in particular was specifically sourced so that the children do not have any barriers to participating in clean ups and we as staff see the enjoyment that they get out of being part of this project.”