So this recent event in Birnam was a great opportunity for us to propose both the Stanley Biodiversity Village area and the wider West Stormont Connect area around Taymount Wood, a distinct and rich ecological unit bounded on three sides by the River Tay loop, for consideration as part of the Nature Networks in Perth and Kinross going forward. Fingers crossed!
Explore the West Stormont Connect Project
What else has WSWG been doing this month?
Breaking news: WSWG wish to let you know that there is about to be a planning application submitted for an intensive breeding poultry unit at Newbigging Farm, Kinclaven, situated a very short distance from the southern edge of Taymount Wood. The developer Aviagen www.aviagen.com is currently undertaking engagement with the local community as part of the pre-planning phase. Planning documents associated with this stage can be viewed on the PKC website.
Although the full planning application is yet to be submitted and therefore information is incomplete, the WSWG board of trustees is at this stage minded to object to the development, a position which, for information only, it has intimated to Stanley and District Community Council by email.
The WSWG board welcomes any thoughts from WSWG members and supporters on this proposed development and the WSWG stance on it at any time as the planning process moves forward. For this, please email our chair, Murray Gauld, at chair@weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot
We will keep you posted as we learn more over the coming weeks.
(For the purposes of absolute transparency, it should be noted that two of the WSWG trustees live in properties near the proposed development site.)
As regards our more regular activities, on 14 March, WSWG participated in the excellent Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership Gathering at Birnam Arts, giving a short PowerPoint presentation on the WSWG Project and our vision and plans for Nature Recovery in Taymount Wood. We were one of four community groups presenting their projects, including Rewilding Denmarkfield, Dùn Coillich Community Woodland, Crook of Devon Biodiversity Village, as well as Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust’s project, “A Tree for Every Child”.
On 23 March, local WSWG members participated in the C406 annual Community Litterpick, clearing rubbish from the ditches, verges and car park at the main entrance to Taymount Wood. As ever, it was so rewarding to see it spick and span afterwards! We do carry out localised litter-clearance in the car park on an ad hoc basis through the year, but it is so good to be part of this greater collective community effort once a year. Although a few sections of the road were really bad, other people reported less rubbish than last year on their sections, which was good to hear.
Sadly though, the new Noticeboard we put up in the Taymount Wood car park earlier this year has been vandalised, with the A1-sized perspex pane smashed in and no longer watertight. Hopefully we’ll be able to get it sorted so we have a properly usable noticeboard again soon.
On 27 March, we submitted our new Expression of Interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for a revised Proposal for Taymount Wood. We should hear during April whether this has been accepted. If so, we will shortly be submitting a Phase 1 funding application for a two-year development period which would see WSWG employing staff for the first time to deliver more events and activities, work up community-led plans for a Forest Hub building and secure match funding. Fingers crossed again!
SUPPORT NEEDED FROM WSWG MEMBERS. As WSWG moves towards this new phase, however, and the prospective gear change it will bring in the depth and scale of our operations, we are aware we need to prepare now for change in the way we work. And for that we are needing your help.
Up to now, our volunteer board of trustees has been running all aspects of project development and delivery together with the wonderful and vital but ad hoc involvement of a wide array of lovely volunteers along the way. But that approach is not sufficiently sustainable going forward, nor in keeping with our aims for our governance and operational structure as presented in our CATS Proposal as shown in the graphic below.
In anticipation of becoming a staffed organisation within perhaps the next year, by that stage it is our intention to have the board of trustees function at an overall governance level supported by a WSWG Committee of some 6-8 people as a working group on engagement activities such as events, membership communications and marketing and as a sounding board for ongoing programming and delivery of day-to-day operations. There will of course always be plenty of opportunities for occasional volunteers to help out in all sorts of ways, but we also now need a substantially increased core of regular and creative input beyond the board of trustees too.
(Note: due to current WSWG involvement in working to bring the Stanley Wildwood Rookery into community ownership, we have chosen to use the title “WSWG Committee” rather than “Wildwood Steering Group”, but it is effectively the same entity.)
Comprising a minimum of 1 representative trustee from the board, other non-trustee volunteers and eventually our staff, it is envisaged the WSWG Committee would meet monthly, with interim activity as needed.
We would hope to have enough people to form the new WSWG Committee to be able to announce its creation at the WSWG AGM at Stanley Village Hall on 7 June 2025.
It is vital that we build our governance and operations capacity by swelling the numbers at this heart of our activities, so if you would like to be part of this exciting and essential new stage in the WSWG Project, we would love to have a chat with you. Please email Murray Gauld at chair@weststormontwoodlandgroup.scot in the first instance.
On 4 April, we attended a Climate Adaptation Awareness event organised by Climate Connect P&K and Growbiz at the Civic Hall in Perth. And then on 5 April, we were delighted to celebrate with the wonderful new Climate Connect P&K at their Community Gathering and Launch, also at the Civic Hall in Perth. WSWG was one of the projects in a video premiered at the event which has been produced by Climate Connect P&K to highlight communities currently working within the various Climate Connect networks to deliver action on the climate across the region: Energy, Food, Transport, Zero Waste, Nature and the Climate Café Network. www.climateconnect.scot Hopefully we’ll be able to give you a link for your own viewing of the video soon.
We’ve had so many indoor activities and events this month, but here are some signs of spring from outdoors in Taymount Wood itself for you to enjoy.
Word of the Month
Nature Networks: Nature Networks are a new and developing policy within Scotland which will inform Local Development Plans. A Nature Network connects nature-rich sites, restoration areas, and other environmental projects through a series of areas of suitable habitat, habitat corridors and stepping-stones. As well as supporting regional and national approaches to protect and restore nature, they provide local benefits to wildlife and people. Connectivity is an essential part of nature. It is necessary for functioning and healthy ecosystems, key for the survival of animal and plant species, and is crucial to ensuring genetic diversity and adaptation to pressures such as climate change. Nature Networks Explained.
What’s coming up next?
Saturday 3rd May, 11am to 2pm: Stanley Community Connections Event and Energy Advice Roadshow, Tayside Hotel, Stanley.
Early notification for you: WSWG AGM event – Saturday 7 June, 3-5pm at Stanley Village Hall. All welcome. Information packs will be sent out to members in due course. We will be looking for WSWG members willing to join the WSWG Board as Trustees so if you or anyone you know might be interested in this, please let us know. We will be putting out a formal call to our membership for this in the coming weeks too.
