Cardenden and District Local History Group have teamed up with the Forestry Commission and the Coal Fields Regeneration Trust to preserve and promote local walks in the Cardenden area and this week joined with the local community, the local MSP and councillors to launch new guide leaflets setting out the routes, history and nature of the area.
Councillor Linda Erskine welcomed everyone to the launch and said when she grew up in Cardenden the woods and fields were an extension of the school playground. She said; “I am delighted to see the investment that is going in to improving the walks and providing lots of information that helps people enjoy the local countryside and appreciate the history of the area”.
The group are keen to promote the area for locals and visitors and say when you walk the paths you are following in the footsteps of foresters, farm workers and miners and the land is still being farmed. There is traces of stone quarried and coal mines and the woodlands are managed sustainably with trees being harvested and planted and provision for visitors to enjoy the landscape.
Dougie Reid who chairs the group said; “We are keen to put Cardenden on the map environmentally as well as historically. We are grateful to the coal regeneration fund and forestry commission for all the support they have given us”.
Local MSP Alex Rowley attended the event and joined with locals on a guided walk and said; “It is great that this local history group working with others are doing so much to promote the local area. I really enjoyed the walk and it was great to see so many young families and children also having a great time enjoying the outdoors and learning about the heritage of the area”.
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Photo shows the members of the local history group at the launch
