The Creative Canopy Project, led by Govanhill Baths Community Trust, is transforming everyday spaces across Glasgow’s Southside into a vibrant network of green places. With support from the Urban Forestry Programme Challenge Fund, the project will plant 480 fruit and nut trees in backcourts, gardens, and schools — creating a dispersed community orchard co-designed by local residents.

This initiative is part of wider regeneration efforts in Govanhill, an area where access to green space has historically been limited. By bringing trees and nature directly into streets and shared spaces, the project will help tackle food insecurity, strengthen environmental awareness, and create a healthier, greener environment for the community to enjoy. The Creative Canopy Project takes inspiration from global ideas around forests, creativity, and ecological care. It shows the power of combining community-led action with urban greening — helping residents reimagine their surroundings and connect with nature where they live.

Simone Stewart, Arts and Heritage Manager at Govanhill Baths Community Trust, said:  “The Creative Canopy Project is about more than tree planting — it’s about growing environmental awareness, tackling food insecurity, and strengthening wellbeing through creativity and connection.”