NEW attractions are being proposed for Cuningar Loop Woodland Park beside the Clyde in Glasgow, including a community bothy and garden and an elevated walkway with viewing tower.

Regeneration project Clyde Gateway have applied for planning permission to build the facilities at the park between Dalmarnock and Rutherglen.

A statement from JM Architects, acting on their behalf explains: “With the success of the park in its first year, criticism from visitors and local residents has identified a lack of suitable facilities.

“The opportunity at Cuningar Loop is to provide a permanent base for groups and activities throughout the park and do so in a way which encourages a wider range of user groups and engagement with local communities. At a practical level it will provide toilet facilities to encourage greater dwell time of all park users.”

“The main focus of The Bothy will be The Living Room — a robust space connected to the park and woodland and offering a space for talks, nature and arts events, play and community gathering.

“The Tùr [tower] will be a viewing point formed from a simple open ramp to climb above the tree canopy and enjoy the views over the park.”

The bothy will be near the south entrance, below, and will have a multi-functional community living room; kitchen and dining room; community library and visitor information and public toilets.

The architects’ design statement continues: “The accommodation has been designed to allow a variety of groups to inhabit the space and the principle of universal access with accompanying facilities is also a key focus.

“The multi-functional accommodation will encourage a diverse range of people to use the space such as community groups, visitors and local residents and in turn help develop a strong community spirit. The tradition of the central hearth to gather round will be adopted to add a domestic focus and a sense of cosiness in the winter.

“Large format windows to the main spaces will connect to the landscape, framing key views around the site and giving the opportunity for natural ventilation and high levels of daylight into the spaces.

“The interior will have a robust yet domestic quality; a cosy space in the winter and in summer large ‘barn’ doors open up the bothy allowing it to connect with the landscape.

There will also be a space for the growing of produce and a small story-telling hut.

The tower, which will have lighting at night, will allow visitors to take in the views over the park. There will be an elevated walkway to it, climbing above the tree canopy, and also stairs.

The walkway will be fully accessible and bridges unremediated land between two pathways and a large meadow allowing a previously inaccessible area of the site to be enjoyed by the public.

Cuningar Loop Background

The Cuningar Loop Forestry Park is an £8million green space project at the heart of the Clyde Gateway providing approximately 37 acres of unique urban woodland with river frontage and activity spaces.

It is located just across the River Clyde from Dalmarnock, to which it is connected via a pedestrian footbridge.

Clyde Gateway, Forestry Commission Scotland and South Lanarkshire Council regenerated the Loop as part of the Commonwealth Games Legacy.
Since opening in 2015, the park has attracted more than 115,000 visitors.

Activities currently available on site include:

— An extensive path network
— Adventure play facilities
— A bike skills area
— Outdoor bouldering park
— A woodland workout
— Large meadow and picnic areas
— An outdoor classroom
— A riverside boardwalk
— The Wee Cabin Café