Tell us what you love about the Glen

The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust own Pittencrieff Park and it is managed and maintained by Fife Council.

The trust is keen to have a conversation with the people of Dunfermline on how the Glen could be improved over the next 10 years to allow them to build a business case and apply for funding.

Some initial exciting ideas for Dunfermline's beloved Glen could see an electric train, treasure trails, horse rides and crazy golf, cocktails and fine dining on the terrace at the pavilion as well as everything from summer schools, geodesic domes and a Men's Shed to beehives, yoga and a fairytale area.

The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust have also put forward proposals for a new stair and lift tower to help re-open Pittencrieff House for weddings, exhibitions, private functions, dinners and an augmented reality telling the story of Andrew Carnegie and General Forbes and the town's links to Pittsburgh.

But while the trust own the park, the town's most famous son gifted it to the people of Dunfermline and they want to know what YOU love about our dear green space and YOUR ideas for what could make it better.

Gillian Taylor, chief executive of the trust, said: "Andrew Carnegie was a Dunfermline-born industrialist and philanthropist who made his fortune in American steel.

"He never forgot his roots and gifted part of his vast fortune to his hometown of Dunfermline.

"In 1902, he purchased the privately-owned Pittencrieff Estate known locally as ‘the Glen’.

"The following year, in 1903, he established the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and transferred Pittencrieff Estate,along with a monetary endowment, to the trustees.

"He asked the trustees to create a recreational park at Pittencrieff and use his money to bring ‘sweetness and light’ to the lives of the people of Dunfermline.

"When looking back on his life, Andrew Carnegie said that Pittencrieff Park was his greatest gift.

"As a young boy, he had lived in a cottage on the skirts of the estate but he was not allowed in and was often chased out by the gamekeepers.

"Therefore, it was particularly satisfying to see this beautiful, tranquil greenspace in the heart of Dunfermline being opened for everyone to enjoy."

She continued: "Over the last 118 years, the park has changed and developed in many different ways, but we have always held true to Andrew’s wishes and values.

"The park and buildings are still owned by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and are managed and maintained in partnership with Fife Council.

"Throughout the pandemic, we have become even more aware of what a special place the Glen is.

"The park has offered a safe, tranquil green haven for the people of Dunfermline to enjoy, socialise, breathe and exercise.

"We realise that this park and its buildings are a significant asset that can play a key role in Dunfermline’s recovery from the pandemic, and we have ambitions and ideas, but we need YOU, the people of Dunfermline, to help us shape the future of this special place.

"Our mission is that Pittencrieff Park is Scotland’s primary destination for happiness, health, wellbeing and education."

The park is the "garden of the town centre", as well as a key asset for its economy, and more people coming to live centrally in developments such as the Pilmuir Works, is one of the driving forces for change.

With decent Wi-fi coverage to come, they're even hoping those new residents making their home here will bring their laptop and make the great outdoors of the park their 'office' too.

It's likely to cost millions of pounds, so change won't happen overnight, and this will be a long-term project, and funders will look for a mandate from the people, to ensure it's something they want, before writing a cheque.

With a different business model in mind, and a desire to make the most of partnerships in the town, the trust has looked to the success of the business model at Craigtoun Park, near St Andrews.

It fell into disrepair until a group, the Friends of Craigtoun, took on a 25-year lease fro the council.

The 65 acres of parkland and facilities, such as the boating lake, playparks and electric train, are flourishing again and the trust has been in discussions with them to find out more about their model, including the generation of funds.

It's also helped the trust come up with ideas for the Glen, with the aim of making it a destination park for Scotland, which you can see below.

Visual – map of park

Events and festivals – music, food, sport, art, lighting (enchanted glen), outdoor cinema, walking tours.

l Things for families and visitors to do – electric train, putting/crazy golf, viewing tower, picnic/bbq tables, treasure trails, rubber sledging hills, horse and cart rides, zip wire.

l Cabins throughout the park selling coffee, ice cream, snacks, drinks.

l Community growing opportunities – kitchen garden, use of greenhouses, beehives.

l Environment – solar panels, recycling area, plant/compost.

l Installations – geodesic dome, sculptures, Carnegie quotes, water features, signage.

l Specific Areas – fairy-tale area, peace garden, craft village, habitat creation spaces.

Visual – Pittencrieff House

l Digital highway between Dunfermline and Pittsburgh – telling the story of Andrew Carnegie and General John Forbes – (augmented reality).

l Makers Market – selling crafts, art and produce made or grown locally.

l Events – Wedding Ceremonies, Celebrations, Dinners, Corporate Away Days, Concerts, Chess competitions etc.

l Gallery Area – showcasing temporary exhibitions/displays.

l Summer schools – archaeology, genealogy, history, art, Geddes, music.

Visual – Glen Pavilion

l Recreate art deco interior.

l Introduce new dining areas alongside the café in the Peacock Room and Glen Suite and utilise terraces for eating /drinking.

l Introduce a public cocktail bar/gin bar.

l More events and festivals – inside and from the outside auditorium (mixture of free/ticketed).

l Encourage more use of the building for community wellbeing – yoga, tea dances etc.

Glasshouses and Coach houses

l Growing Produce.

l Open up classroom space to schools, clubs, groups, summer schools.

l Horticultural classes.

l Tropical experience – eg butterflies, birds, others.

l Mens shed.

l Crafting area.

l Apprentice area.