Volunteers required to improve access at Millheugh, Larkhall

Four days this December and January

Volunteers are being sought to help improve vital walking and cycling routes from Millheugh, Larkhall, to Chatelherault Country Park in December and January.

The project is taking place as part of the Make Your Way arts heritage and active travel project linking communities in Hamilton, Larkhall and Quarter with the park via six rights of way.

Led by Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI), volunteer work will help keep the paths safe and accessible for all to use, and will include a chance to meet Make Your Way project artists during the first session. Volunteer tasks will involve cutting back vegetation to widen paths, clearing moss and loose material to improve safety, scraping back steps and installation of fencing as required. 

Volunteering sessions will take place 10:15am – 12:30pm on the following days:

Tuesday 19 December, including introduction to Make Your Way artists

Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 and Wednesday 24 January

No previous experience is necessary and all tools and hot drinks will be provided. Volunteers are welcome to sign up to as many or as few sessions as they wish and are only asked to bring a packed lunch, waterproofs, and lots of energy and enthusiasm. The ground is likely to be wet and uneven so wellies or sturdy boots are essential. Booking is essential via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 01555 663 430. The meeting place is the car park next to the roundabout at the bottom of Millheugh Brae near the river at 10:15am.

On Tuesday 19 December, volunteers will be joined by Make Your Way artists Jenny O’Boyle and Hannah Brackston. The artists will be recording, exploring and asking questions about these routes to inform future workshops, way finding and interpretation which will be created in collaboration with local communities and installed along the six routes, highlighting the unique history and heritage of each route. They are particularly interested in learning more about the present day ecology in and around Millheugh as well as the local food and agricultural heritage.

The Make Your Way project is supported by the Scottish Government Smarter Choices Smarter Places grant and Heritage Lottery Fund and LEADER supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP). It is delivered by ice cream architecture and Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust. It follows a first phase of the project which focussed on the communities of Carluke, Glassford, Larkhall, Lanark and Stonehouse.

“We are encouraging anyone with a little time to spare to help care for these paths connecting Larkhall and Chatelherault Country Park. It’s a fantastic way to really help out your local community, by helping maintain these well-loved paths,” says Sarah O’Sullivan, CAVLP Make Your Way Development Officer. 

She continues, “There’s the added opportunity for volunteers coming to the first session on Tuesday 19 December to pass on what they love and know about the local area to Make Your Way artists Jenny and Hannah. This information will be used to build a picture about why the local area is special, which will be used in creating the community focussed signage and artistic interpretation for each route.”

Make Your Way public artwork consultations, guided rides and bike maintenance days, open to all, are planned for the New Year and will be announced soon, in the Upcoming Events section of this website. Keep up to date on the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership Facebook and Twitter pages.

To sign up to volunteer with CCI, please contact CCI on 01555 664 211 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Find out more about the Make Your Way project at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/make-your-way. View a full list of volunteering opportunities available through the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/volunteer.