Good Neighbourliness & Sustainability

We are very proud to announce that Red Deer Village has retained its Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award! The David Bellamy Conservation Scheme focuses on 3 main areas as well as its habitat initiatives. These include good neighbourliness, sustainability and ecological management.
Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at Red Deer Village that’s why it’s an honour to receive this award. We have now received special recognition for our hedgerows, wildflowers and this year, woodland areas!
Good Neighbourliness
Our residents’ hub is a great way to strengthen the feeling of village community. It offers our residents a place where they can come together, meet like minded people and socialise. The hub has hosted an MSP surgery, Macmillan Coffee Afternoons, Christmas Lights Switch-Ons, afternoon teas, a quiz night, jewellery party and Tropic treatment day and there are plans in place for more exciting events in the lead up to Christmas and into the new year.
We aim to use local suppliers whenever possible to help support the local economy. Voyage soft furnishings are used in our residential park homes and building supplies come from McNairs. We also endeavour to advertise local businesses and farmers markets in our hub for residents to use. Additionally, our courtesy shuttle bus takes residents on a twice-weekly shopping trip and a monthly outing to a destination of their choice. The minibus also has a wheelchair lift and the residents hub has flat access and wide doors.
Sustainability
Our tea and coffee area in the residents’ hub now uses fully recyclable plastic-free cups and our water cooler allows residents to refill their water bottles. We have also removed single use plastic cups.
The residents hub is a low energy building. It includes skylight downlights, turn off the lights signs and dimmer switches to reduce energy usage. There are 2 electric golf karts on the park to transport staff, residents and visitors. Water butts are in place at the hub and the holiday park office. Our residents and staff also take part in heavy recycling, and our coffee granules are saved for compost around the park. This all contributes to improving the sustainability of Red Deer Village.
Ecological Management
Red Deer Village aims to develop beautiful gardens around the park which include a range of flowers so that there is always something in bloom. This year, Red Deer Village took part in the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s 30 Day Challenge, where we reported a bee, deer and hedgehog on social media in addition to providing lots of information on our park’s biodiversity and wildlife on our website. Furthermore, we advertise many local nature and museum events in our hub and holiday park.
Some of our grasses are allowed to grow longer to accommodate hedgehogs and other wildlife. We also try to use plants that are good pollinators to help our bees. We have 2 ponds on our park, where fish, toads and dragonflies have been spotted. The park also includes an area of marshland outside of the residential area, that we fully allow the Forestry Commission to take care of.
We plan to plant trees in our new Phase 2 development and already have birch, field maple and hawthorn on site. We have 3 bug hotels, an owl box and a nest box in our holiday park area, as well as a mini nature reserve for a hedgehog.
Habitats
Many bees have been spotted around our park this year in accordance with our Honey Bee Pledge. This is thanks to our bee-friendly plants, including Hebes, Geraniums, Penstemmon, Thyme, Lithodora, Nepeta and Himalayan Catmint. Our wildflower habitat is also very beneficial for bees, at approximately 80 square metres.
Additionally, 250 square metres of woodland habitat is planned, which helped us to achieve our woodland badge. Hawthorns are around the park, and native trees are planned for our new Phase 2.
Our hedge habitat includes 170 metres of Leylandii, 500 metres of Field Maple and Hawthorn and a 165 metre Privet Hedge. This gives us a total of 835 metres of wildlife friendly hedge habitat!
We’re very proud that Red Deer Village includes biodiversity, conservation and sustainability at its heart. We hope that everyone will continue to do their best for the environment! Please contact us to find out more about our sustainability efforts or for more information on our exclusive over 50’s community in Stepps, Glasgow.