Community-owned landscape regeneration, biodiversity in towns and villages, rewilding, tree planting and education, and community-owned eco-forestry were discussed at the second annual Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership (PNCP) conference held in Birnam today.

The free event, which was organised by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) and sold out for the second year in a row, aims to highlight work being done across the region to restore Scotland’s nature. 

This year, the conference was themed around examples of nature recovery projects that have a particular focus on community engagement. 

Attendees heard from representatives from innovative and ambitious projects across Perthshire that are working towards combatting climate change, financing landscape change, and protecting wildlife. 

David Tollick from PKCT giving the conference's opening remarks (c) CraicN Communications

Speakers included Fred Cochrane from the Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust-managed Dun Coillich project, Lesley McDonald from Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust’s Biodiversity Blair project, Clare Cooper from Bioregioning Tayside, Amanda James from Crook and Drum Growing Together, Eilidh Cage and Laurie Carruthers from Rewilding Denmarkfield, Catherine Leatherland from A Tree for Every Child - PKCT’s flagship education project - and Elspeth Coutts from the West Stormont Woodlands Group.

David Tollick, PKCT Conservation Officer, was delighted with the success of the event. He said:

“The annual Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership gathering is a great opportunity to hear from a range of speakers about some of the top nature recovery projects in this part of the country.

“It is also provides an opportunity to connect with individuals and organisations from across Perth and Kinross who share a passion and commitment for protecting and restoring nature.

“The climate emergency is creating significant landscape challenges that need to be addressed, and working in partnership is the most effective way to bring about positive change and support nature recovery and a cleaner, greener environment.

“We’re therefore delighted to have welcomed more than 70 people to this year’s gathering for what was an inspiring and informative day.”

 

Lesley McDonald from Biodiversity Blair said:

“This was a fantastic event to be part of and we were delighted to be invited to speak and to have the opportunity to network and hear what other people and organisations are doing. We are in the process of finalising an extensive piece of work for a Local Place Plan for Blairgowrie and Rattray and it was good to be able to highlight how important it is to make the connection between developing the town and biodiversity in ways that support nature recovery and benefit all species – including people.”

 

Eilidh Cage from Rewilding Denmarkfield said:

“It was great to spread the word about the work we are doing. We are all about connecting people to rewilding and biodiversity and working in partnership with others, which is key.”

 

Delegates networking at the PNCP conference at the Birnam Arts Centre (c) CraicN Communications

Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership is a network of environmentally conscious organisations, landowners, and members of the public who are committed to improving and restoring the landscape of Perthshire. 

The Partnership has a long-term, nature-based vision for Perth and Kinross that includes creating a distinct connection between the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Parks.

As an integrated landscape-scale ecological restoration partnership, PNCP provides connections to create and re-establish a sustainable and resilient landscape in Perthshire that provides environmental, health and wellbeing, and socio-economic benefits to local communities, landowners and land managers.

For further information click here

Catherine Leatherland from PKCT addresses the crowd (c) CraicN Communications