12 of these are waiting to be put to good use in the Stanley Biodiversity Village area
What else has WSWG been doing this month?
On 27 February, we attended an extremely interesting and useful free webinar organised for charities by the Benefact Group entitled “How to ensure you are set up for fundraising success in 2025”. Such a lot of great advice and recommendations which should stand us in good stead going forward in 2025 and beyond.
On 4 March, we had a lovely site visit to Taymount Wood and interesting follow-on discussion about the WSWG project with Phil Lidstone and Les Dalziel of Phil Lidstone Productions. They have been commissioned to carry out a pre-production “story-finding” phase of a video project commissioned by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust with funding from Climate Connect Perth & Kinross which will aim to raise the profile of Perthshire-based community projects focusing on nature recovery. We’ll keep you posted on how this project progresses and hopefully have a piece of film to show you at some point in the future.
As we have been so busy with preparing for our NLHF Application, we have not had time to deliver WSWG events so far this year. However, we have instead been promoting a number of wonderful projects being offered to the Stanley Biodiversity Village initiative under the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership’s Biodiversity Villages, Towns and Neighbourhoods banner, including:
- Toads on Roads Training Workshops aiming to set up “Toad Patrols” in the Stanley, Murthly and Bankfoot areas to reduce the number of amphibians killed at migration crossing points and in drains on local roads.
- Hedgehog Workshop in Stanley aiming to distribute “Hogilo” hedgehog houses in and establish Hedgehog Highways between suitable gardens and other habitat areas in the Stanley Biodiversity Village area.
- Mag & Bee Posts to be installed in Taymount Wood and Stanley Community Orchard www.caledoniaplay.com/product/magpost-large-2/ ; www.madebylandmark.com/product/bee-post
- Looking for opportunities to create Bee Beds, a project run by the charity RePollinate.
- Biological Recording Company webinars: hedgehogs; bee intelligence; beetles; red squirrels; and more.
- Swift nest boxes for the Stanley Swift Project and droppings boards for siting below swallow and house-martin nest sites.
- Coming soon: fruit tree planting; bat walks and surveys; snowdrop bulbs from Cambo.
And talking of toads …. following reports by concerned woodland users of large numbers of toads and frogs killed by vehicles on forest tracks at night in Taymount Wood during their breeding migration period in 2024, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have informed deer contractors to avoid Taymount Wood for the time being. A big thank you to FLS for doing this.
Resulting from the Toads on Roads Workshops, it looks like small groups are setting up in Bankfoot, Murthly and the C406 to see what can be done on several stretches of road where people have observed serious roadkill during “migration crossings” at this time of year in particular. Tayside Amphibian and Reptile Group (TayARG) are co-ordinating this project. including provision of training, practical and safety equipment and all licensing and insurance matters.
Word of the Month
Toad Patrols: groups of volunteers who organise to rescue toads, frogs and newts to reduce the huge numbers killed by vehicles as they cross roads whilst migrating between their overwintering grounds and native breeding ponds. Doing this during in March and April has a double impact as rescued amphibians can then go on to breed. When a female carrying eggs is crushed to death, nature also loses all her offspring too, with detrimental impacts on the local amphibian population.
Extra Word of the Month
Hogilo: a cleverly designed hedgehog home made from recycled plastic and FSC wood, which has been checked by hedgehog carers for suitability. It can be used all year round for nesting, nursing or hibernating in. It has built-in air ventilation, an internal tunnel for protection and a lift-and-twist lid making it secure but easy for cleaning if necessary once it becomes vacant. This can be tested by placing a large flower head just inside the entrance or some small sticks across the entrance to see it they get pushed aside. Hedgehogs are solitary animals so except for a nest of babies, it’s rare to get more than 1 hedgehog per box/nest. It’s important not to disturb a hedgehog in a nest at any time of year if a hedgehog is in residence, this is especially important during baby season as mothers are very likely to abandon a disturbed nest. Please don’t be tempted to have a little look inside once the box is in situ. Source: British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
What’s coming up next?
On 14 March, WSWG is participating in the Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership Gathering in Birnam Arts. The theme of the event is to profile community-focused nature restoration projects across the region. The other projects showcasing their activities are:
- Dun Coillich (near Schiehallion)
- Biodiversity Towns and Villages
- Rewilding Denmarkfield
- A Tree for Every Child A Tree for Every Child | Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust
Saturday 15 March 12-1pm: Hedgehog Workshop in Stanley Village Hall for hedgehog enthusiasts and anyone interested in siting Hogilos and creating Hedgehog Highways throughout the village. Email Elena Barbary on hedgehoghighways@gmail.com to book a place.
Sunday 23 March from 11am to 4pm: WSWG participation in C406 annual Community Litterpick. Meet at Innernyte Farmhouse at 11am where litter-picking equipment will be provided. Road closed for the duration of the event. PKC Waste Operations Team support on the day.
Thursday 27 March 6.30pm – free webinar on Red Squirrels by The Biological Recording Company*. More info and booking via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/biodiversity-villages-towns-and-neighbourhoods-3877043
Tuesday 1 April – WSWG will attend PKC Nature Networks Community Engagement event in Birnam. This process is about connecting nature across the rural landscape and welcomes anyone with local knowledge of nature sites, including landowners, farmers, conservation groups, and community interest groups. Bringing together practical knowledge, policy perspectives, and on-the-ground experience to help map nature across Perth and Kinross. Find details of all the available sessions at Events | Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust *
Friday 4 April 12.30pm to 4.30pm– Climate Connect P&K and Growbiz – Adaptation Awareness event, 2 High Street, Perth*. Free event. Find out more at www.climateconnect.scot and email info@climateconnect.scot by 31 March to book a place.
Saturday 5 April 10.30am to 3.30pm – Climate Connect P&K Community Gathering and Launch, 2 High Street, Perth*. Free event. Find out more at www.climateconnect.scot and email info@climateconnect.scot by 31 March to book a place.
Booking required for events marked *.
