The campaign group planted flowers and vegetables on the site

A community group has been given an environmental award for transforming derelict land at the centre of a dispute with Glasgow City Council.

North Kelvin Meadow Campaign received a merit certificate as part of Beautiful Scotland's Neighbourhood Awards.

It was for efforts to transform former playing fields in Clouston Street by planting flowers and vegetables.

The council aims to sell the land for a housing development and has taken legal action against members of the group.

Under the Glasgow City Council plan, the 1.4 hectare site would be used for a mixture of flats and houses, along with new playing facilities.

The authority said the proposals had been endorsed by local people during a community consultation day.

There can't be many community groups being threatened with eviction one day and winning awards the next Patrick Harvie MSP Scottish Green Party

Earlier this year, the council secured a court order preventing two members of North Kelvin Meadow Campaign from continuing their work.

The interdict against campaign chairman, Douglas Peacock, and treasurer Karen Chung, prevented both from erecting any more raised vegetable beds or installing bat boxes on the site.

It did not cover other members of the group, who have now installed 10 bat boxes.

Praising the group's efforts to transform the site, Beautiful Scotland Assessor Brian Chennell, said: "The project is at a very early stage but does have great potential, given the number of people involved and the size and location of the site.

"If they had the co-operation of Glasgow City Council, the group could develop the meadow into an alternative community area for the benefit of residents."

'Clear message'

Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, Patrick Harvie, said the award should prompt a change of direction from Glasgow City Council.

"There can't be many community groups being threatened with eviction one day and winning awards the next," he said.

"This award is yet another clear message to Glasgow City Council - it must now be time to abandon your efforts to undermine the good work the North Kelvin Meadow Campaign is doing and instead get behind their efforts to improve their neighbourhood.

"The administration appears to have forgotten who it was elected to serve, but hopefully this award will refresh its memory."