At a recent meeting of the Community and Enterprise Resources committee, detailed architectural, landscape, and infrastructure priorities for Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton and Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride were outlined.

Designed to set the vision for investment in the country parks over the next 10 years, the plans follow a period of consultation and stakeholder engagement.

The plans have been designed to proceed over several phases as and when funding becomes available.

Phase one projects include the creation of a new ‘pump track’ for three–to seven-year-olds close to the existing adventure playground at Calderglen.

Suitable for use with cycles, scooters and skateboards, the track will suit a range of skills and abilities for children in a variety of wheeled sports.

Additionally, a study is underway to look at options to reinstate the White Bridge at Chatelherault. The council’s approved budget for 2025/2026 includes an allocation of £1.35m towards both projects. Approved Masterplans for each park will mean that the council can pursue new UK and Scottish Government funding as and when available.

Each details significant enhancements and improvements to facilities, heritage locations, play and parking, including:

Chatelherault

• Enhanced visitor centre café, exhibition and conference area with new roof-top orangery
• Heritage repairs and upgrades to grade A-listed Hunting Lodge
• Enhancement of paths and the landscape surrounding the visitor centre
• Investigation of the possible reinstatement of the white bridge
• Expansion and upgrade of the existing adventure playground

Calderglen

• New ‘Gateway Centre’ and walled garden transformation with arrival plaza
• Historic courtyard buildings transformation
• New conservation and animal rehabilitation centre
• Improved parking provision at Colonsay Field, together with a new active travel route into the park

Public consultation events were carried out within both parks during August 2024. An online survey was also launched, which received more than 1,000 responses. Follow-up sessions to share the draft proposals were held in late August/early September 2025 within each park.

The Masterplan for Calderglen Country Park includes a proposal for a new conservation and animal rehabilitation centre

Councillor Robert Brown, chair of the committee, described the masterplans as ‘the biggest investment blueprint for South Lanarkshire’s country parks in a generation’. He added: “Chatelherault and Calderglen country parks are hugely popular destination attractions that the council, along with South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, are proud custodians of.

“Their vibrant and welcoming facilities are prized by their local communities and visitors from across Lanarkshire and beyond. This exercise, and response to it, are testament to that, and I am grateful to everyone who took part in person and online.”

Complementary to the master planning exercise, forestry management plans are also being updated for each park to protect historic features, sensitive habitats and special landscapes for the enjoyment of visitors.

Full details of each masterplan are available to view on the website.