CLYDE Gateway has held a symbolic final tree planting to celebrate completion of all construction phases at Cuningar Loop Woodland Park.
The final tree was planted by Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen, a long-standing supporter of Clyde Gateway and regular visitor to the park. The ceremony marks completion of Phase 3 of the Cuningar Loop masterplan, a £1.25 million programme that has transformed a further four hectares of vacant and derelict land into green space. The final phase delivers new woodland paths, biodiverse habitats, and extensive planting.
Phase 3 has been delivered by Robertson Construction Central West, which has acted as principal contractor across all phases of the park for more than ten years. Working in partnership with Clyde Gateway and Forestry and Land Scotland, the project has turned a once-derelict riverside site into a woodland park that welcomed almost 400,000 visitors in its first year.
Earlier phases saw the introduction of attractions including Scotland’s first outdoor bouldering park, adventure play areas, a bike skills zone, meadows, picnic spaces, an outdoor classroom, and a pedestrian bridge linking the park to the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village.
Phase 2 extended the park by 9.1 hectares, delivering new footpaths and boardwalks, public art, 167 specimen trees, and a wildflower meadow. It also included a car park and entrance upgrade to support growing visitor numbers.
The completed Phase 3 adds a further 1,000m² of new paths, 8,000m² of wildflower meadow and urban woodland, and around 50 native trees. It also incorporates wider East Greening works across the river, delivering 200 native trees and 800 shrubs along the Clyde Walkway.
A key sustainability achievement of the final phase has been the reuse of more than 3,500 cubic metres of cleaned and remediated soil from nearby Manscroft Place. This contributed to Robertson diverting 100% of waste from landfill.
Completion of Phase 3, supported by Clyde Gateway and funding from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, will see the final section of the site removed from Scotland’s Vacant and Derelict Land Register.
Martin McKay, chief executive of Clyde Gateway, added, “This final tree planting represents much more than the end of construction. It symbolises years of partnership working to transform former industrial and landfill land into one of Scotland’s most loved woodland parks. Completing the masterplan is a proud moment for the area and everyone involved.”
Andy McLinden, regional MD, Robertson Construction Central West, commented, “It has been immensely satisfying for Robertson to be involved in the decade-long journey at Cuningar Loop from start to finish, and to have been called on time and again by Clyde Gateway as a trusted partner of choice to realise their bold vision for the site. In planting the final tree today, we reflect on the many high-quality projects that we have delivered for Clyde Gateway and how that relationship continues to grow and flourish.”
