DO YOU remember the early days of East Kilbride?
As the town celebrates its 75th anniversary, Historic Environment Scotland and Liverpool School of Architecture are inviting people to celebrate the remarkable woman who “made East Kilbride what it is”.
Brenda Colvin was a pioneering landscape architect who was responsible for many of the New Town’s parks and open spaces.
Dr Camilla Allen, Research Associate on Women of the Welfare Landscape – an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded research project, led by Dr Luca Csepely-Knorr – said: "In our research we found East Kilbride to be hugely interesting. Colvin rose to the challenge of how role of climate, soil and vegetation could shape the town’s identity, taking great care to manage storm water in the steep valleys that cut through East Kilbride.
“Particular attention was given to tree planting and the creation and preservation of shelterbelts, and a continuous forest belt round the south and west of the built-up areas.”
Dr Allen adds: “She chose which trees were to be retained from the existing landscape to add character and a sense of place for the new residents from Glasgow’s overcrowding. She also drew up plans for things like drying greens and childrens’ play spaces in The Murray area of the town.”
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As part of the Women of the Welfare Landscape project, a special ‘show and tell’ event will take place on November 1 at East Kilbride’s Central Library in the Olympia Shopping Centre.
Organisers are hoping people will share memories and bring along their own photographs and memorabilia.
Visitors to the library will also get a chance to see Women of the Welfare Landscape, a free exhibition currently touring the UK. It has been produced by academics at Liverpool School of Architecture who have been researching the work of Brenda Colvin, thanks to Arts and Humanities Research Council funding.
Running from October 22 to November 1, the touring exhibition highlights the remarkable achievements of Brenda and other female landscape architects in the immediate years after the Second World War. From 1949, Colvin delivered a range of schemes for gardens and greenways in the new East Kilbride conurbation while also contributing to the overall planning and execution of the landscape plan.
Neil Gregory, Head of Outreach at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said: “When we look at the history of our towns and cities we often focus on architects and their buildings rather than the natural spaces that we enjoy. But with the drop in event at East Kilbride Library and the touring exhibition, there’s a fantastic chance to talk about the places where we play, trees, planting and our private gardens. Brenda Colvin’s achievements made East Kilbride what it is today’.
Brenda Colvin was supported in her work by pioneering planner Elizabeth Mitchell who cut the first sod of earth to create the town and is recognised as part of HES’s Commemorative Plaque Scheme in Biggar where she lived.
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