Biodiversity
The overarching aim of the Kinross-shire Civic Trust's environmental aspirations is to increase biodiversity in the area; to create places where flora and fauna have the opportunity to thrive. But why do we need new places for biodiversity to thrive? Are there not enough already? Well, no!
Habitat loss is the biggest single factor in the reduction in amphibian numbers. This goes on to affect other fauna as well. In the last 30 years there has been a 68% reduction in the number of common toads, whilst since 2004 there has been a 76% reduction in the number of flying insects as measured on car number plates. Back to habitat loss. Over an 11-year period, the Kinross population has increased by 2.6 times the national average. Now, people need places to live with the new estates welcoming new people to our area. But this contributes to habitat loss. So KCT is looking to introduce new opportunities for amphibians and insects to flourish.
In recent years KCT has created two new ponds in Kinross in the flood plain fed directly from the water table, along with a couple of small ponds adjacent to Clash Burn. At the same time Church View Wetland, which is the one on the link road that is fenced off, was restored as it was severely clogged up. We also created a bench for people to enjoy the view.
Now the main pond is buzzing with life. Flora and fauna have made the pond their home. Frog and toad spawn has been sighted along with a great variety of macroinvertebrates with many flying insects.
South Queich Catchment
Two years ago KCT commissioned Andrea Hudspeth of Aquila Wildlife and Nature CIC to write a report on creating ponds in the South Queich Catchment. The report identified potential sites in the area that would be suitable for new habitats to promote biodiversity. The report was comprehensive and became a guide as to how KCT should proceed with its implementation.
Thanks to funds from the Nature Restoration Fund, administered by NatureScot and provided by Perth and Kinross Council, this year's project was able to proceed. KCT would like to record the excellent support received from PKC who supported the project to the NRF. Without such support our projects over the last five years could not proceed.
Two sites were identified as follows:
Balado: This is owned by George Lawrie BEM who is a well-known and respected member of the Kinross community. The land is immediately adjacent to agricultural land and woodland. The soil is a combination of layers of clay and sand. The minor gradient will be good for water to accumulate after creation of the ponds.
At Balado, three ponds have been created with a connecting narrow canal. The ponds have already begun filling with water.
Dunning Glen: This is owned by Forestry and Land Scotland. They are an impressively disciplined organisation that had to ensure that what we were proposing would adhere to their principles. After a long process we were granted a licence to create a pond within the forest in an area with a high water table. The soil is clay and therefore differs from the site at Balado.
One large pond was created here. It has also started filling with water with the high water table aiding this.
What Next
There remain two objectives:
Seeding and planting around the perimeter of the ponds which will be done in late April/early May. This will help attract fauna to the area whilst itself being new flora, therefore fulfilling the aim of increasing biodiversity.
Monitoring: Every three months for the next year, visits will be made to the ponds along with an environmental scientist to identify how the ponds are being populated. The photographs next time should be much more interesting with photographs a year from now being worth seeing and helping to guide further development and new projects.
The Future
KCT would like to continue to do further projects and we are always open to suggestions. We are aiming to partner with PKC to plant the periphery of the Park and Ride. Depending upon how the ponds progress we may implement more of the plan produced by Aquila Wildlife and Nature CIC.
We are sure that NRF will continue to support KCT. The one impediment is volunteers. If there are some people who care about the local environment and would like to get involved, then please consider joining KCT and enjoy being involved. Do not hesitate to make contact:
kinrossshirecivictrustsecy@gmail.com
andrew@mgmc.cc
Andrew Flinn
Kinross-shire Civic Trust
April 2026