THE streets of Neilston will be transformed into an outdoor gallery as part of a new initiative.

Catherine Train, of the village’s Robertson Crescent, is hoping to start an annual tradition in which locals decorate their windows with colourful designs to brighten up the streets in winter.

The Window Wanderland event, taking place in February 2020, will see the windows of homes and businesses in Station Road, High Street and Main Street decorated with beautiful displays – and it’s hoped many more people will take part.

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Catherine said: “The idea is to bring the community together and light up a neighbourhood.

“People can decorate their windows however they choose - and that can be really detailed things or hanging up a string of fairy lights. 

“We’re going to bring in a community artist and run some workshops just to give people ideas. It’s not an arts project. Anyone can do anything they want to their windows. It’s about bringing people together.

“We’ll have workshops for schools, the elderly community and everyone in between. The idea is to be as inclusive as possible.”

Window Wanderland is a not-for-profit social enterprise which holds events across the UK.
Catherine got the idea of bringing it to Neilston after seeing the impact in the south side of Glasgow, where she used to live.

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She said: “It brings in a lot of people from outside and a lot of trade.

“I think it would be a lovely thing to do at that time of the year, when people are feeling a bit miserable after Christmas and Hogmanay.”

Organisers have submitted a bid for funds from Nicer Neilston so they can supply materials to participants and pay for a community artist to provide ideas.

Laura Carswell, of Neilston Development Trust (NDT), said: “We think this is one of a whole number of great projects that have come forward for funding.”

People are invited to go along to Glen Halls on March 23 from 10am to 2pm to find out more about Nicer Neilston and what local groups have proposed.