Lighting the Way at Lochore Meadows
Small grants can deliver just as much local impact as larger ones — and can be just as hard to secure. This case study explores how one modest grant helped light the way for a thriving community green space, making it safer, more welcoming, and accessible to all — day or night.
Lochore Meadows Country Park is one of Fife's most visited green spaces, welcoming over one million visitors a year. Friends of Lochore Meadows (FOLM) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) established in 2023 to support the development and maintenance of the park for the benefit of the wider Benarty community of around 5,700 residents.
Winter storm damage had left the decorative lighting on six trees along the park's main entrance driveway in a poor state of repair. The aged lights were no longer functioning correctly, reducing the welcoming atmosphere and the sense of safety for the growing number of people visiting the park during evening hours.
What the funding made possible
A grant of £1,656 from Nadara Westfield (Benarty) enabled the group to commission a reputable contractor to repair and re-string the winter lighting on all six affected trees, including main connection cabling. The lights were restored to full capacity and are now connected year-round, switching on automatically in line with the surrounding lamp posts.
Community impact and outcomes
The restored lighting has had a wide range of positive effects across the park and the broader Benarty community:
- Improved safety and visibility for the estimated 100+ people who visit the park on foot during evening hours each week — including walkers, joggers, dog owners, cyclists and members of the local running club.
- A warmer, more welcoming entrance to the park visible from the main road, reinforcing the park's reputation as a well-maintained and inclusive community space.
- Support for the Benarty Walking Plan, enabling people to walk confidently throughout the year, including during winter months.
- Increased visitor numbers outside of peak daytime hours, with knock-on economic benefits as evening visitors use local shops and services.
- A stronger sense of pride and community ownership of the park, reflected in positive comments on FOLM's Facebook page and direct feedback from local residents and groups.
- A safer public environment: as more people use the park in the evening, the space becomes more active and perceived as secure.
Community voice
A local running club member shared:
| “Members of the club thoroughly enjoy the lights, particularly through a dreary and wet winter — it adds to a generally good feeling in the park which makes people feel better.” |
A community member, of the FOLM Facebook page shared:
| “Great they have been done.” |
Looking ahead
The lighting equipment is actively monitored and FOLM has a plan in place to address any future maintenance needs promptly. The project has strengthened relationships between the community, FOLM and Fife Council, and the enhanced evening access supports the wider ambitions of the Benarty Walking Plan. FOLM continues to build on its growing reputation as a proactive steward of one of the area's most valued community assets.
Final thoughts
This award offers the proof, if it were needed, that the size of a grant is no measure of the difference it can make. This modest investment has brightened evenings, boosted footfall, and brought a community closer together, one lit pathway at a time.
Read more about the Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund - Benarty here.