In 2024 we supported 11 organisations from across Scotland to improve and animate parks and greenspaces and we are delighted that in 2025 the Parks4Life Community Fund was even more successful supporting 21 projects from across Scotland.

The primary goal of the Parks4Life Community Fund is to support community groups to deliver on their aim in bringing their parks to life and make the best of our parks for everyone to enjoy now and in the future. As such we are delighted with the range of projects from all across Scotland that we were able to support. 

We will be updating on some of these projects throughout the year through the greenspace scotland ebulletin and Project of the Month articles...

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Annan The History Town Group - Spirit of The Annan: The Harvest Hub -  Recipes, Roots and Reuse - Dumfries and Galloway

Transform a disused corner of Everholm into a raised bed edible garden and outdoor kitchen made from repurposed materials from Annan’s washed-away bridges. Working with local schools and community groups, including D&G Woodlands, Men’s Shed and Eco Warriors to, we will create four raised beds and a permanent outdoor frame for cooking and learning. 

Balivanich Community Play Park - Balivanich Play Park Green Enhancement Project - Na h-Eileanan Siar

A small community group committed to maintaining and enhancing Balivanich Play Park, one of the few green spaces available for children and families in our remote island community. This project will fund the planting and ongoing care of bushes and small trees, helping to create a greener, more welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.

CLEAR Buckhaven & Methil - Boosting Byron Park - Fife

Byron Park is large windswept, grass-covered space in Methil, amidst the most deprived neighbourhoods in Fife (and Scotland).  CLEAR has been carrying out improvements there for the past three years creating a woodland corridor, planting spring bulbs, installing entrance archways and storypoles.  This next phase of enhancement builds on the foundation to expand the orchard area by 25 fruit trees, planting wildflowers and bulbs (in and at the edge of the unmown areas), installing heritage panels and some birdboxes and purchasing some tools to assist the ongoing maintenance especially of the planted woodland-orchard area.

Culbokie Community Trust - Community Events on the Green - Highland

Culbokie Green is a 1hectare accessible and biodiverse greenspace in the heart of the village, established in 2022 on land owned by CCT.  Funds will support 3 community events on the Green between July and October 2025. These include a summer family games afternoon (July), a pollinator count (Aug), and a Halloween event (Oct).

Forgan Arts Centre - Explorers Garden Trail - Fife

Activate a Explorers Garden Trail within the community garden and greenspace at Forgan Arts Centre in Newport-on-Tay. This trail will guide and narrate visitors including individuals, families, and groups, through a rich and varied landscape that includes a woodland, biodiversity area, sensory zone,  wildflower meadow, hibernaculum and community growing space. This project supports a wider vision of transforming the Arts Centre into a vibrant, inclusive, and ecologically conscious hub.

Fresh Start (Scotland) - Growing Spaces - Forth Locality

Fresh Start’s Growing Spaces project runs across three community gardens in North Edinburgh Inchgarvie Court, Lauriston Farm, and Ferry Road Drive. After several years of use, some of the garden infrastructure now requires renewal to ensure the project remains safe, engaging, and accessible. This includes replacing large wooden planters that have weathered over time, refreshing soil and compost, and introducing new plants, seeds, and growing materials to support year-round growing and learning opportunities. Updating these elements will reinvigorate the spaces and allow us to expand our reach and impact, especially for new participants joining the project.

Friends of Hailes Quarry Park - Nature, Art & Social Activity at the Quarry Park - Edinburgh (Southwest)

Work to broaden the range of activities and events offered at the park, to include family-friendly nature activities, a lantern evening, art sessions for adults, equipment for out upcoming mini-gala day, and access to tablets for people without phones who would like to take part in our biodiversity project, as well as planting an area of willow trees for use in basketry workshops.

Friends of Saughton Park - Replacement Marquees - Edinburgh

Funds for the purchase of replacement marquees for use by the Friends group to support community events throughout the year.

Gallatown Community initiative - Re-populating the Gallatown Park – Fife

This is  a community-led project to reinvigorate Gallatown Park as a vibrant green heart of the community. The project will deliver a programme of free events, nature walks, outdoor fitness sessions, family fun days, and volunteer-led gardeningto encourage regular use and pride in the park. Parks4Life funding will enable the group to provide resources, training, promotional materials, and improvements such as signage, and planting.

Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust - Clydesmill Growing Together - South Lanarkshire

Clydesmill Growing Together is a community garden for residents of Cambuslang and Rutherglen to learn and share skills, grow food and increase awareness of nature, the environment and healthy living. Funding will the Clydesmill Growing Together volunteers to host a mid-summer event at the community garden where they will invite local people to join them in an evening of music, storytelling, arts & crafts, food and refreshments while being able to have a tour of the site.

JOCK TAMSONS GAIRDEN - Jocks Midsummer Gaithering - Edinburgh

Jock Tamson’s Gairden is an open greenspace,  home to community gardens in a beautiful setting on the banks of Duddingston Loch. To run an open day to welcome new people to our park, share the  space by giving people the chance to explore, enjoy a cuppa, ask lots of nosey questions, but most of all, we want them to meet the friendly volunteer team. 

Livingston Community Shed - The James ONeil Memorial Garden - West Lothian

The memorial garden has fallen into a state of disrepair and the Community Shed have been approached by Livingston Parish Church in association with West Lothian council to renovate and make the garden suitable for local child minder groups to use it safely.

Ninewells Community Garden (NCG) - NCG Community and Family Wellbeing Programme - Dundee City

Funding to support three key elements of the free summer programme:

1. The Big Biodiversity Bash -  a free, family-friendly community gala held at the NCG and surrounding woodlands, celebrating nature and local biodiversity.
2. The NCG Summer Club -  a programme of expert-led workshops for children, carers, and families during the Dundee school holidays.
3. Wellbeing sessions for Ninewells Hospital staff - including early morning Pilates and Mindfulness.

The programme will offer opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature, learn new skills, and enjoy inclusive, accessible activities in a welcoming green space.

Nith Valley Leaf Trust - Closeburn Community Garden and Park - Dumfries & Galloway

A locl  rural community trust last year, following an extended negotiation we took into community ownership a playing field to the rear of the school, which was neglected and and saw little use.. The community garden hosts all manner of events, but is restricted in use due to having no electricity and thus no lighting, funding will help purchase solar lights to extend useful hours at the garden.

North East Glasgow Framework for Dialogue (FFD) - Community Garden Revival: Grow & Share - Glasgow

Funding  will transform the underused park adjacent to the local Church into a vibrant hub for Springburn. Through community planting days to create a pollinator-friendly garden and install benches to encourage social interaction. Monthly family events including nature workshops and seasonal festivals will activate the space, fostering pride and ownership among residents.

Penicuik Community Development Trust - Growing Penicuik - Midlothian

To continue to develop a neglected part of Penicuik Park from being a corner where rubbish gathers into a thriving area with community food growing which is productive in yield and provides a social place to support community cohesion. With the funds we wish to cover material costs to carry out repairs and build additional raised beds and compost bays. We would purchase fruit bushes and purchase gardening equipment and compost.

Roslin Guerrilla Gardeners - Plants for People and Pollinators in Roslin Park - Midlothian

Roslin Guerrilla Gardeners are all volunteers and have, though Midlothian Councils Adopt a Green Space initiative taken on several neglected areas of ground in the village. There is a lot more to do, especially in Roslin Park which has several areas which are barren and depressing. Funding will initially used to buy more plants, bulbs and compost.

The Highbacks - The Highbacks Community Space - South Lanarkshire

The Highbacks is an outdoor space available free of charge in an area of high deprivation. It allows people to connect, learn, and support local residents through various activities and involvement in growing projects. Funding will enhance the space with a Relaxing outdoor seating area that families, individuals can take in the beautiful wildlife and greenspace in all weathers as well as installing more hanging baskets and grow bee and butterfly friendly flowers.

Upper Eskdale Development Group - Eskdalemuir Access for all Playpark glow up - Dumfries and Galloway

To empower a member of community to train with ROSPA so we can carry out the inspections.  To renew our wooden balance posts, and rails.  To renew the planting boxes and to buy pollinator plants, and some all year round plants so they will bring colour to the park even in winter.

Wimpy Park Community Group - Step into Summer at Wimpy - Clackmannanshire

The Wimpy Park Community Group formed a committee in 2017 and secured a 20-year lease from the local authority for the park area. Hosting 5 community events throughout the year and have weekly gardening sessions. Funding would help increase activities in the summer at the park and allow purchase of plants for the community groups that have raised beds in the park.