Teams of young conservation volunteers, working with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), have been transforming kilometres of paths throughout Fife, as part of the Fife Core Paths Network project.
During March, April and May, a team of eight young men, all unemployed, worked with SWT qualified trainers to clear footpaths, install gates and build bridges. Five trainees were placed through ProjectScotland, which places unemployed people on voluntary projects, and the remaining three came through Triage, a placement provider based in Kirkcaldy.
David Blair, SWT’s Conservation Projects Supervisor, based in Dysart, said: “The team worked very hard and enthusiastically, learning new skills while helping to maintain and improve access to the countryside around Fife. They all earned Lantra qualifications in gates, bridges and boardwalks, which may well help them find employment in landscaping or similar work in the future.”
The team worked in various parts of Fife: East Lomond near Leslie, West Lomond at Ballo Reservoir, Spinkie Den near St. Andrews and even into the Lomond Hills. This latter was quite a challenge, involving the volunteers walking 2km to the site and the landowner transporting materials on a quad bike, where they installed a metal self-closing gate, did some dry stone walling, diverted flood water and created a small bridge.
Much of the work was weather dependent. On one occasion, in the Lomond Hills, the mist descended so quickly that the team had to use GPS to find their way around.
The Fife Core Paths Network has 400 paths throughout Fife including the coastal path. By encouraging people to keep to the paths, the network has the added bonus of protecting wildlife which may be sensitive to disturbance.
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. SWT is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 35,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
2. SWT receives financial assistance and support from Scottish Natural Heritage and the People’s Postcode Lottery.
3. The Fife Core Paths network, developed in response to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 aims to maintain a safe and robust network of paths for the public to use for walking, cycling, horse riding and use by disabled people in Fife.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Clara Govier, Head of Communications, SWT
Tel: 0131 312 4747