A LOT has been achieved in Cowdenbeath in 2014 in terms of preserving the environment and the town’s Enviro Group is keen to keep up the positive momentum.

The Cowdenbeath Environment Group comprises a group of dedicated volunteers who strive to promote and improve the town’s environment through floral displays along the High Street, the walks in the community woodland at Woodend and the areas of biodiversity at Dalbeath Marsh near Hill of Beath.

The woodland was reclaimed from industrial wasteland, which has been cared for by the group and in the spring and summer it is a popular spot for visitors.

Also there are plans to improve the pond there which has become overgrown.

Said a spokesman for the group, “These are fine features but it is also great to see the new allotment site up and running with the town having two allotment areas both well used.

“Also the recycling centre in Cuddyhouse Road is worth a visit on its own as an example to all to ‘up cycle’, putting to good use the items brought in by the public and creating as lovely garden as possible and perhaps winning the Fife-wide recycling centre category in Beautiful Fife in the future?

“The centre is spotless and a credit to environmental services.

“Meanwhile Cowdenbeath Golf Club has attractive displays, the membership is healthy with an increase in numbers and being built on the site of an old opencast mine, is now a well used recreation facility for all, an excellent example of the town’s turnaround from an industrial past to a green present.” But the group still sees areas where improvements can be made.

They feel that the flowering baskets need more impact with the choice of plants notably less than last year and they will be consulting with the supplier to ensure there’s a more varied and better choice of high impact plant choices for 2015.

The spokesperson added, “There are plans to have flower beds within the green space off High Street and this would be good to see realised.

“We earned the Silver Gilt award this year in the Beautiful Fife competition which was well earned during a hard year for members of the group due to illness and injury so to get 157 points was a good effort.”