With today being Clean Air Day the council is hoping everyone will do what they can to improve the air we all breathe.

In South Lanarkshire we generally have good and improving air quality with the council taking many measures to continue to improve it through its Air Quality Action Plan.

But cleaning up our air isn’t easy so the council is encouraging everyone to do what they can to help ensure it doesn’t get worse.

There are lots of things we can all do to help improve air quality in South Lanarkshire, from choosing public transport, active travel and eco-driving to just taking some simple steps to make your home more energy efficient. Making small changes to your daily life can make a big difference to the local environment.

Fraser Carlin, the council’s Head of Planning & Regulatory Services, said: “There really are so many small changes we can all make in our daily lives to help improve the air that we breathe.

“By simply choosing more sustainable and active ways to travel everyone can do their bit to make themselves healthier and happier whilst helping to reduce traffic congestion and emissions which improves air quality across our communities.”

A fun way to do all of that is to join our WALKCYCLE4AIR treasure trail again this year which relaunches today. The app can be downloaded free from Google or Apple Play Stores after which you can follow the trail and answer questions on local landmarks.

This joint initiative with North Lanarkshire Council, which is funded by the Scottish Government Air Quality Action Plan, includes a series of questions posted around the Palace Grounds and Strathclyde Park. And alongside this is the summer competition where five lucky entrants picked at random will win £100 of Halfords vouchers.

The competition runs from Clean Air Day until the last Saturday in August. But it is hoped that this will encourage everyone taking part to continue to walk and cycle long after this and make it part of your everyday journeys.