Taking ownership: Climate Action Towns' ongoing stories

We wrapped up our Climate Action Towns support in March 2024, but for many that is when the Climate Action began. We caught up with partners in four of the Climate Action Towns – Holytown, Stevenston, Annan and Blackburn to find out what happened next. 

Each town in the project started at a different stage, some with existing climate activities and groups and some without any. The four projects we hear from here represent differing scales of climate action and stages of development. 

In Holytown, North Lanarkshire, we heard from Alison Russell from Holytown Environmental Group. Building on litter picking activities they started at the end of the Climate Action Towns Project, they have since accessed funding from North Lanarkshire Council to deliver on a number of greenspace and environmental improvement projects in Holytown.  

Alison said, “Since the Climate Action Towns project, we have carried out monthly community litter picks. We were also the catalyst for a new village heritage fence, which hides a large derelict space, that celebrates Holytown’s history. We challenge landowners of abandoned buildings and land spaces, and react quickly to graffiti spates by reporting to relevant organisations. We have planted spring bulbs around the village and have bought and placed eight large planters around the village.”   

Over the next twelve months, Holytown Environmental Group have grand plans. Following a successful funding application, North Lanarkshire Council are upgrading a community greenspace on the main street for a community garden, which the environmental group will plant up and maintain. They will also plant up and look after Holytown War Memorial Garden and are keen to build up a store of tools and equipment needed to do this. A living Christmas tree for the village is on the wishlist for this year too.  

Over the next five years Holytown Environmental Group is keen for Holytown to be a more aesthetically pleasing village. This would mean reduced graffiti and community greenspaces where people can meet up or simply enjoy the shrubs, flowers and wildlife and become more involved in group activities, bringing a renewed sense of pride to Holytown.  

In Stevenston, North Ayrshire, we heard from Jean Frew of Friends of Stevenston (F.R.I.E.N.D.S) and Stevenston Community Company about the work a small network of organisations in the town have carried out since March 2024. The Climate Action Towns process brought together aspirations in Stevenston and better understanding between community and local authority aims for climate action. 

Jean noted that in the last year “As Stevenston Community Company we have continued in our pursuit of Asset Transfer of Kerelaw Estate. We have continued our work around the town with more tree planting through our local environmental group F.R.I.E.N.D.S. with further planting of an Orchard at Ardeer Nature Reserve and Auchenharvie ASN School (Lockhart Campus). These planting projects are being supported by Scottish Wildlife Trust local volunteers.

“We are also well through the preparations for the creation of a wetland area at Ardeer Nature Reserve, having secured permission from the local authority and funding for an archaeological survey. We will be looking to secure funding for the creation of the wetland in due course.

Stevenston Community Company are hoping that an asset transfer of Kerelaw Estate can lead to more environmental projects, tree management, rewilding and the creation of an improved habitat for wildlife and humans. They are also looking to acquire a second piece of land to build a Solar Farm to fund the ongoing costs of maintaining the Kerelaw Estate for the long term. Over the next five years they are hoping that local authority can introduce a management plan for the coastal areas at risk of sea level rise, building on the existing Coast Management Plan. 

We heard from Alan Thomson from Annan Harbour Action Group who confirmed they have grand plans for the next few years, “We have at last signed a contract with Dumfries & Galloway Council to receive our Levelling Up funding to deliver Annan Harbour Redevelopment, a £16m project that will transform the harbour and surrounding area. We will be delivering this to RIBA2030 standards and closely monitoring our plans to ensure that we are locking up the existing carbon in our sandstone building, reusing materials where possible and opting for renewable energy sources.” 

He confirmed they are also completing their local place plan, which was started in conjunction with our project team and incorporates learning from the Climate Action Towns project. 

While the two-year Annan Harbour Regeneration project awaits completion, the group will continue developing community projects to ensure engaging programs are ready for the new facilities. Over the next five years Alan would like to see improved access to climate friendly heating and power, better active travel infrastructure and improved access to green spaces.

In Blackburn, we heard from Lisa Haggerty Brown, Community Development Officer from Community Action Blackburn to catch up on what they have been up to since the project wrapped up. Presenting strategic plans, the Blackburn Local Place plan was recently registered by West Lothian Council. The young people of Blackburn are keen to start delivering on small incremental changes that can show action is happening. 

It is great to hear how the Change in Blackburn youth committee has not slowed down. They have been busy discussing how to keep the vital work going, brainstorming fresh ideas to keep the community engaged, and exploring funding opportunities to fuel their future projects.

They are also looking forward to recruiting P7s to join the committee and planning a P6/7 Climate Action conference for the 2025/26 term.

When asked what advice they would give other communities wanting to take climate action, they said, “It’s a worthwhile experience, and you'll learn so much.” They highlighted how the lessons learned from taking action on climate change can allow people to inform the next generation of the impacts on the wider community and beyond. Most importantly, they said, "Try and involve as many people as possible, as it affects everyone.”

As one of the nine Climate Action Towns, they learned the urgency of climate action and how it is important to take measures now to adapt to our changing climate, and the carbon footprint of our food. They also said, “It’s nice to see how much people care and it’s good to educate others.” 

Looking ahead five years, they envision a cleaner and healthier Blackburn—a place with less litter, reduced food poverty, and improved accessibility for everyone, whether walking, cycling, or using a wheelchair buggy.

The Blackburn youth committee had engaged in extensive discussions regarding their experiences with the Climate Action Towns project. Whilst they held a strong awareness of the long-term impacts of climate change, the group consciously chose to prioritise the planning of short-term activities. This strategic decision stemmed from their desire to enable the community to witness tangible results and observe positive changes within a relatively brief timeframe

Since March, people have been busy across the other Climate Action Towns too. In Campbeltown, the Gateway Garden has flourished with the support of Kintyre Grows. Benarty has developed and published their Local Place Plan, which they are now working to deliver on. And in Invergordon Community Groups have been seeking asset transfers of key town centre buildings to ensure their future.

(Header image of La Malouine, the Solway Firth's own (small) tall ship in her winter berth at Annan Harbour credited to Annan Harbour Action Group)