Local people in Caldercruix, Greengairs and Wattston, Harthill Eastfield and Greenrigg, Plains and Upperton are being asked to share their views, tell their story and highlight potential heritage projects in order to develop five local Heritage Plans.

The Rural Development Trust is developing the plans as part of the North Lanarkshire Rural Heritage Programme which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

As part of the consultation there will be a series of Drop in Events for each community. These will take place at the start of March and a questionnaire will be live until 11th March 2023. If you would like a paper copy of the questionnaire please email heritage@RuralDevTrust.co.uk. You can also complete it online.  

There will be a range of community engagement activities including discussion groups, outdoor walks, hands-on activities for children, an opportunity to see some historic items and memorabilia up close and exhibition material for each community. The aim is to ensure that local history is captured and preserved as recollected by those who live in the community and that heritage plans are developed by local people for future generations to come. The Heritage Plans will record information on place, the history and heritage of each community and the stories that make each community unique.

When the Heritage Plans are complete, the Rural Development Trust, using funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will launch a programme of Heritage Micro Grants. The grants are aimed at both experienced organisations and first-time applicants and the funding will be available in late Spring.

The Rural Development Trust has commissioned an independent consultant, Martin McManus, to set up meetings with local organisations and arrange the Drop in Sessions. Local Lanarkshire man Martin is a community engagement practitioner with significant experience of working with community-led projects. If you are keen to preserve and protect your local heritage and would like to get involved, please contact Martin at communitiesconnected@tiscali.co.uk or call him on 07551 439622.

Elaine Richardson, Heritage Officer for the North Lanarkshire Rural Heritage Programme said: “It’s important then we not only capture and preserve local history but that we have plans in place - developed and led by the community - to ensure we continue to do so in the future. Once these plans are developed, we can provide some funding to ensure that they’re sustainable.

“We are inviting people in our five rural North Lanarkshire communities, to share their childhood memories, stories, recollections and knowledge through a range of activities. These experiences will help shape each Heritage Plan.”

For more information go to Community Action Lanarkshire.