6:30pm Speaker Ian Parker - Helix Project - The Kelpies

Tue, Jun 9th 2015 at 12:00 am -

Our club meeting on Tuesday featured a very informative talk by Ian Parker - The Helix Project - The Kelpies.

The Helix is situated between Grangemouth and Falkirk, and is a fantastic visitor attraction.

The Helix has transformed 350 hectares on an urban fringe of Falkirk into a brand new recreational green space, and visitor attraction.

The 'Helix' is an innovative, contemporary, and peoples park and is home to 'The Kelpies'

It includes a 200 Metre wide lagoon, wetland boardwalk, splash play area, as well as trails and outdoor event space.

There are 27 Kilometers of pathways, and with the facilities on the park can hold many outdoor events, and suitable for triathalon, cycle events and such like. This is an award winning park, which has resulted from £43M of funding - funding partners include - Falkirk Council, Big Lottery, Falkirk Environmental Trust, Scottish Canals, Sustrans, & SCORE.

Central attraction is 'The Kelpies' which are reputed to be the world's largest equine sculptures, The 'Kelpies' simply tower over the Forth & Clyde Canal and provide a dramatic gateway to the East Coast of Scotland.

The centrepiece is a pair of 30m tall steel horse heads, known as Kelpies, by the artist Andy Scott.

The park is run by the Falkirk Community Trust, who are responsible for its management and the 'Helix' is described as 'A place for everyone' Indeed 1,000,000 visitors have visited already.

There are multiple community projects at the park, including a new beekeeping society - Helix Beekeepers.

The 'Kelpies' visitor centre and a gift shop are due open this year, sometime around October.

Ian's talk on the 'Helix' provided an amazing amount of facts and features on this attraction - and we could not fail to be impressed. The 'Helix' is relatively on our doorstep, and well worth a visit.

The other big attraction, and well worth a visit in the Falkirk area, is the Falkirk Wheel 'The world's first rotating boatlift' The majestic working sculpture links the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

The formal handover followed the speaker talk, President Ewan handed over to President Elect Alex - Evan Wong.

There were speeches from both - Ewan provided a report on the past year.

President Alex addressed the meeting and also thanked outgoing President Ewan for his work as club president.

President Ewan wished President Alex, President Elect Dave and the new committee best wishes for the new Rotary year 2015 - 2016

Next meeting Tuesday 16th June - Ann Mitchell, Club Assembly.

Reception Roger Hall & Greig Hill

VOT Ewan Archibald

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Primary Schools linked to Rotary Club of West Fife:- Blairhall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Crossford, Camdean, Culross, Inzievar, Holy Name, Limekilns, Milesmark, St Serfs, Saline, Torryburn, Tulliallan. Secondary Schools:- Queen Anne and Woodmill