GreenPower’s summer Team Event this year included a very special visit to the Ury Riverside Park, near Inverurie – to see up close the hard work and dedication of the local community at this ground-breaking and inspirational community project. The Ury project was Best Community Initiative winner at the last RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards, which GreenPower has sponsored for the past ten years.
With the help of hundreds of volunteers, many living adjacent to the Park, this former arable field has been transformed to an area rich in nature with wildflower meadows, wetlands and in the future the newly planted trees will create native woodlands for people to enjoy and wildlife to call home.
Rob Forrest, GreenPower CEO said: “We were delighted to be given a tour of the Park and to hear first-hand how the Park was created and how all the hard work by hundreds of volunteers has created this massive transformation in such a short time. The local community and elected members who have driven this project forward with such great vision and enthusiasm are rightly proud of what they have achieved.
“On the day of our visit the weather was glorious, and the Park was full of people running, cycling and walking along the all abilities paths that have been put in. The number of bird species and activity was striking with many of our keen birdwatcher staff particularly enjoying the wildlife which is clearly thriving.”
Rob thanked Martin and all the guides for making the visit the highlight of the GreenPower Team Event. “It has been truly inspirational to see what has been achieved and you certainly are worthy winners of the Best Community Initiative Award.”
Chair of the Steering Group Martin Auld told of future plans which include building new footbridges and paths to connect nearby residents to the Park, providing people with a safe and easy walking route into the town centre. Martin said “winning the RSPB’s Best Community Initiative has raised our profile and been a great boost for all our volunteers. “
Judy Whyte, the Provost of Aberdeen and a number of committee members past and present, kindly joined the visit showing just how much support and enthusiasm there is for the Park. More information on the park can be found here.
