Falkirk Helix
Encyclopedia
Project Overview
The Helix project will transform under-used land between FalkirkFalkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
and Grangemouth
Grangemouth
Grangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001...
into a thriving urban greenspace covering some 300 hectares.
The finished development will be an outdoor recreational area open to all, offering easy access to picturesque woodland, a central park with a lagoon, linked walking paths and cycleways. It will also open up the Forth and Clyde Canal
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
by installing a new full-length canal link and a canal hub featuring two unique equine structures known as the Kelpies. Each structure will measure around 30 metres in height. The Kelpies are the brainchild of Andy Scott
Andy Scott (sculptor)
Andy Scott is a Scottish figurative sculptor in galvanised steel, fibreglass, and cast bronze. He is based in Maryhill, Glasgow, and specialises in public art...
who also created the "Heavy Horse" sculpture at the side of the M8 motorway between Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Another inspiration was the fact that Carnera, the UK's largest Clydesdale Horse, once resided in Falkirk.
Project Background
The Helix has been awarded a £25 million grant by The Big Lottery Fund as part of its Living Landmarks Programme. Significant funding and land has also been committed by Falkirk Council and British WaterwaysBritish Waterways
British Waterways is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the government of the United Kingdom, serving as the navigation authority in England, Scotland and Wales for the vast majority of the canals as well as a number of rivers and docks...
Scotland. The project is being driven by a partnership of Falkirk Council, British Waterways Scotland and Central Scotland Forest Trust through the Helix Trust.