Fife Council’s Levenmouth area committee approved a green space action plan for 2013 at their last meeting.
The action plan sets out and prioritises work to improve the quality of parks and public green spaces, play areas, allotments, woods, outdoor sports and floral features.
Committee chairman Tom Adams welcomed the work that has already taken place to improve local green spaces.
“We’ve seen some great progress, often thanks to the hard work of voluntary groups and businesses who are helping to make the area a more attractive place to live and play in,” he said.
“The council is working in partnership with these groups to get funding and support projects that are making a real difference to our community.”
Highlights of the work already under way include:
* Community groups taking part in Beautiful Fife, an environmental campaign which rewards communities for improving their local area. In the past, silver gilt awards were handed out to Coaltown of Wemyss and Kennoway, and silvers were awarded to Buckhaven, East Wemyss, Leven, West Wemyss.
* Wildflower meadows were sown and flowered across the area. Bright blue cornflowers bloomed at the Sainsbury’s roundabout in Leven while yellow rattle flowered at Kennoway Den and Poplar Road in Methill.
* A funding boost of £175,000 was received from the Big Lottery’s Coastal Communities Fund, which is helping improve the greenspace along the River Leven between Methil and Leven. Up to 16 people will have paid employment for two years in land-based skills training, including improving local woodlands.
* The first phase of the Toll Park play area at Buckhaven was completed.
* A community growing space at Burns Avenue in Buckhaven was opened. This partnership between Fife Council and CLEAR Buckhaven has transformed underused greenspace into an orchard and food growing plots.
Over the coming year many more enhancements are planned for the area, including:
* Selected areas will be seeded with poppies in 2014 to commemorate the First World War.
* Play areas will be upgraded at Broom play area in Leven, Taylor Park in Methil and Toll Park in Buckhaven.
* Work will continue on the River Leven project.
* Plans for the long-term management of Silverburn Park in Leven will be developed by Fife Employment Access Team.
* Letham Glen in Leven will be judged for the green flag award for parks and greenspaces. The green flag award scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.
* Funding will be sought for Cotlands Park to improve the features of the park such as planting, paths and the play area.
* Fife Council will work with Kennoway Den Action Group to plant new trees, bulbs, wildflowers in the den.
* The community garden at Brady Crescent in Methil will be replanted and new seating installed.
* A number of organisations are collaborating to transform Starkies Wood in Buckhaven into a community woodland park.
* Paths and planting will be upgraded at Lochhead Park in Coaltown of Wemyss.
Mr Adams added: “I look forward to seeing the impact of the planned work on our local environment in the year ahead. Working together with the community we really can improve the quality of life in our area.”