PITTENCRIEFF Park's four-year, £1.6million transformation has brought a wealth of benefits to Dunfermline, councillors have been told.

A total of 29 improvements were carried out between 2012 and 2016 as part of the restoration of the 76-acre park, which was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with matching support from the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Council.

Works included new features such as a kitchen garden, refurbishment of the famous glasshouses and well-loved locomotive, repairing the Andrew Carnegie statue, a new home for the park's resident peacocks, upgrading entrance gates and seats, new lighting, improved steps and signage, as well as replanting schemes and improved drainage.

In total, three buildings and 15 historical features were restored; two buildings were brought back into use; four lost features were reconstructed; and more than three percent of the path network was improved.

And not only did the project come in slightly under budget, the work carried out also created the opportunity to apply for a Green Flag for the first time, which was subsequently awarded to Pittencrieff Park in 2015.

In a report to the City of Dunfermline area committee, head of area services Grant Ward said: “The project has brought the features and landscape of the park back to a high-quality standard. Future management and maintenance of the Park will be vital in continuing this legacy.

“An updated Management and Maintenance Plan has been produced which must be acted upon and renewed as necessary in the coming years.”

A summary accompanying the review said the project had seen an increase in visitor numbers – a record 780,169 visited in 2013/14 – and listed the benefits of the project to the town, community, Pittencrieff Primary and council.

It stated: “For local people it has increased visitor numbers; improved satisfaction with the park; offered more events and a wider range of events; provided opportunities to volunteer; and increased understanding and enjoyment of the park.

“For the local school it has offered a facility for outdoor learning; tied outdoor learning to learning outcomes over the curriculum; helped achieve John Muir and Natural Connections awards; helped physical development which promotes brain development and learning; and particularly benefited children who find it hard to concentrate indoors.

“For the park it has restored heritage features; improved access; created a new educational resource; raised standards of maintenance; and focused attention on the next 10 years through the Management Plan.

“For Fife Council it has taken the park to the next level; delivered valuable lessons on project management; allowed investment at a time of budget cuts; proved the value of volunteering; and shown how partnership working with local groups can enhance the project.”