Loch Leven - Scottish Natural Heritage

Loch Leven
National Nature Reserve
Growing up with Loch Leven
Teacher’s Guide
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
Contents
P. S.
ortmoak
P
s
d
n
u
so
mage
Top: Autumn
eding plu
re
b
in
k
duc
Above: Tufted
Introduction Aims of this guide
Management
What makes Loch Leven so special?
Birds
Winter
Spring
Summer & Autumn
Mammals
Fish
Plants
Wetland plants
Wildflowers
Invertebrates
Butterflies
Dragonflies & damselflies
Bumblebees
Aquatic insects
Habitats
Loch & islands
Wetlands & reedbeds
Wild flower meadows
Woodlands
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Ponds
Rivers & burns
History
Access to the reserve
The Pier
Reserve map
Kirkgate Park
Burleigh Sands
Vane Farm
Findatie & Levenmouth
How do you enjoy the reserve
safely?
Risk Assessments
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Responsible citizenship
What is the Growing up with
Loch Leven initiative?
Who to contact?
Growing up with Loch Leven initiative
Design principles
GuwLL resources
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Continued overleaf
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
Contents
ng
with you
t
s
e
n
n
o
an
Left: Mute sw
y
d ecolog
n
a
rl
o
o
Top: M
east safari
Above: Minib
GuwLL case studies
Telling our stories
Wild Words
Tufty the Tufted Duck
Brown trout in the classroom
P6 Expressive Arts Week 2009
Making Connections Arts Project
2008
Water quality
Monsters of the Deep
Caring for our Future
Page
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14
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Photography
All images by Lorne Gill/SNH other than:
Cover: Main picture Pat Macdonald
George Logan/SNH
Contents: Laurie Campbell & RSPB Scotland
Main section:
Laurie Campbell pp1, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 24
Pam Ellis p13
Joyce Gilbert/RSPB Scotland: pp 3,5, 7, 8,
9, 10, 14, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25
Dr R E Stibbings p6
Philip Hay p8
Brian Kilby p12
George Logan/SNH p4
Christian Roberts p8
SNH staff: pp 7, 17
Dave Whittaker: p 9
Design: Ordie Interpretive Design
Print: Mckinlay 15/3/20100
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk
Introduction
ides
ew bird h gate
n
e
h
t
f
o
e
n
irk
Left: O
Day at K
lumage
Top: Discovery ck in breeding p
du
Above: Tufted
Lying beneath the shadow of the Lomond
Hills is Loch Leven, the largest loch in
lowland Scotland and one of the most
important sites for waterfowl in Britain
and Europe.
A National Nature Reserve since 1964,
its position, size, shallowness, richness
and variety of habitats provide a unique
environment that attracts not only the
largest concentration of breeding ducks
found anywhere in the UK, but many
thousands of migratory ducks, geese and
swans every autumn and winter. The
loch also supports a wealth of plant and
insect life including many rare species.
The richness of the loch and surrounding
landscape has attracted settlers for
thousands of years. From the exploits of
an imprisoned Queen to men controlling
the river waters to drive the mills of Fife
and the export of world famous fish eggs
across the world, the loch is a major part
of local life. Today the beauty and
tranquillity attract visitors for recreation,
walking, cycling and appreciating
nature.
This provides an incredibly valuable local
educational resource for you and your
class.
1
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Top: Lo
ch Leven
Castle
Right: P
ink foot g
eese
Above:
Kirkgate P
ark
Aims of this guide
Management
This guide aims to provide a starting point
for educational visits to Loch Leven National
Nature Reserve (NNR) by schools. It provides
background information on the natural history
of the reserve, access to the reserve, and some
case studies from the Growing up with Loch
Leven (GuwLL) initiative.
It is anticipated that as you use the guide you
will add new information and ideas that can
be used by other groups to enhance their
visits to the reserve.
The day-to-day management of the loch is
shared between Scottish Natural Heritage
who manage most of the National Nature
Reserve and RSPB who manage the Vane
Farm section. Both organisations work closely
on species protection, habitat management,
research, access, interpretation and
education.
The GuwLL initiative is a partnership
of SNH, RSPB and PKC that was set up to
encourage outdoor learning by local schools
on Loch Leven National Nature Reserve
throughout their school career.
(see page 23 What is the Growing up with
Loch Leven initiative?)
More information can also be found at
www.lochleven-nnr.org.uk
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Other organisations are also involved in
managing interests within the NNR
boundary. Kinross Estate manage the fishing
and shooting; Perth and Kinross Council (PKC)
manage Kirkgate Park, Historic Scotland
manage Castle Island and run the ferry, the
River Leven Trustees are responsible for
managing the loch’s water levels and SNH
and PKC jointly manage the Heritage Trail.
The Centre of Ecology and Hydrology have
been studying the water ecology of the loch
for over 40 years.
This all provides an incredibly valuable local
educational resource for you and your class.
eze
ryline Fre
Left: Portmoak Sto
r yline
utumn Sto
A
f
o
ds
un
So
:
Top
rkshop
chers Wo
a
Te
e
n
li
ry
Sto
Above:
Telling our stories
Sallie Harkness of Storyline Scotland has
been working with the Growing up with
Loch Leven initiative partners to develop
Storylines linking with outdoor learning.
Storyline is essentially a partnership
between the teacher and the learners which
uses a narrative approach to deliver the
curriculum.
The teacher designs the line (chapters of
the story) and the learners create and
develop the story. The line aims at
curricular content (knowledge) and skill
practice while the story provides the
context in which pupils will feel motivation
through ownership. The line is designed in
the form of key questions.
A number of Storyline workshops have been
held at the SNH headquarters at
Battleby and at the RSPB reserve at Vane
Farm for primary and secondary teachers
in the Growing up with Loch Leven cluster.
The first workshop at Battleby focussed on
the natural environment of the Loch and its
immediate surroundings, wetland and
woodlands.
Teachers from early stages and middle
primary took up the ideas and created their
own storylines making beautiful friezes of the
landscape and studying the creatures that live
there.
The P4 class at Portmoak Primary School
worked with a sound artist and using their
frieze as a musical score, composed a
percussion piece. This was recorded during
a linked visit to the nature reserve and then
presented on a CD along with photographs
taken on the visit.
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What makes Loch Leven so special?
Right: M
ute swans
with cygne
Top: C
ts
ommon sa
ndpiper
Above:
Shoveler d
ucks
Birds
Loch Leven is internationally important for
birdlife with around 35,000 waterfowl
present in the winter months.Its position in
the lowlands, abundant sources of food,
safe island nesting sites and large surface
area make it a perfect location for birds.
The majority of the birds on the loch are
waterfowl (different types of ducks) but you
can also find waders such as greenshank,
redshank, common snipe, dunlin and common
sandpiper around the shores. The birds you
will see on the loch change with the seasons
so whenever you visit there will be something
to look for.
Winter
During the winter Loch Leven is home to around
20,000 pink-footed geese, an amazing 10% of
the global population! The geese roost on the
loch and feed in the agricultural fields around
the shore.
The loch is also an important stopping place
for birds migrating between their breeding and
wintering grounds. Goldeneye, teal, gadwell,
pochard, pintail shoveler, wigeon and a
flock of over 100 whooper swans spend
the winter on the loch. Large flocks of
curlew, lapwing, golden plover and
common gull can also be seen around the
loch shore during the winter months.
Spring
The islands and shoreline reedbeds and
overhanging willows provide the perfect
combination of safe nesting sites, shelter and
an abundant food supply for breeding birds.
Loch Leven hosts up to 1,000 breeding pairs
of duck one of the largest concentrations
in Europe. The most numerous are tufted
duck and mallard, with smaller numbers of
gadwall, shoveler, teal and shelduck.
Loch Leven has one of the highest concentrations
of breeding tufted duck in the UK.
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mbridge
err y Ca
G
t
e
o
p
h
Left: Pupils wit
e Farm
mat at Van
Top: Tufty Stor y
ulptures
Above: Birds sc
Wild Words
Through my binoculars
Through my binoculars over Loch Leven
An egret shining like a bright light that never
goes out,
Lonely and the odd one out, the only egret
around.
A kestrel floating perfectly still,
Feathers gleaming brightly in the sunlight
Just waiting for its prey, preparing to dive.
The glittering colours of a passing wigeon,
A head of gleaming, golden feathers,
Sparkling in the light.
The amazing long, curved beak
Of the curlew flying overhead
Uniquely adapted for catching its prey.
Calum Fare, Fossoway Primary School
This poem was written as part of the GuwLL
‘Wild Words’ Project where primary and
secondary pupils worked with a poet and an
ecologist on the theme of migration at Loch
Leven National Nature Reserve.
‘The combination of arts and science was
engaging and inspirational. The pupils produced
excellent factual information leaflets about the bird
life of Loch Leven plus some of the best poetry they
have ever written’
Ellen McMullen, P7 teacher,
Fossoway Primary School
Tufty the Tufted Duck
With the help of a larger than life ‘Tufty’
puppet, pupils in the early years can discover
what tufted ducks eat, where they live and
why nature reserves are important for birds
like Tufty. SNH have produced a Resource
Box for local schools with a Tufty story,
puppets, books, build a bird pieces and
suggested activities for the classroom or
school grounds. The programme includes a
linked visit to the RSPB education centre at
Vane Farm, where a specially designed
storymat is used to follow the lives of Tufty
and his friends throughout the year.
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Top: O
tter Abov
e: Leisler’s
feeds li
bat ke a Dau
b
enton’s bat
Right: B
rown trou
t leaping
Summer & Autumn
During August large numbers of birds gather
on the loch to moult, shedding their summer
plumage and growing new feathers ready for
winter. As they are often flightless during this
period, they use the wide-open space of the
loch to stay away from danger, often
gathering in large flocks. Mute swans gather
in their thousands during the autumn to moult,
forming large white rafts in the water while
they are flightless.
Mammals
Loch Leven is not just a haven for birds but for
mammals too. Otters have a ‘holt’ in the bank
of the river Leven and water shrews and water
voles live in the banks of the rivers and burns
that feed the loch. Field voles, bank voles and
wood mice also live around the loch and the
new heritage trail is a good place to spot roe
deer at dawn and dusk. Daubenton’s bats feed
low over the water around Castle Island and
roost in the castle with their cousins the
pipistrelle bats.
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Fish
The brown trout of Loch Leven, famous for
their unusual colour and high quality, have
been exported to stock lakes throughout the
world including Canada, China and New
Zealand. The rivers and loch also support
perch, pike, sticklebacks, minnows and the
extraordinary ancient lamprey.
Plants
The shores and shallow waters of Loch Leven
host a wealth of plant life including many that
are locally, nationally or internationally rare.
The three internationally rare plants on the
ICUN ‘Red List’ are coral-root orchid, lesser
water plantain and the Loch Leven spearwort.
The Loch Leven spearwort is particularly
special as it is a local hybrid between lesser
and creeping spearwort and endemic to Loch
Leven. It is thought this hybrid is a result of
birds carrying seeds on their from one water
refuge to another.
The lesser-butterfly orchid is also found around
the loch. This rare plant is being researched
by the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and
experiments are being done to try and increase
the numbers of this habitat specific plant.
nitor
ilson mo
W
e
li
il
W
Left: Helping
earwort
Top: Greater sp
rass
Above: Holy G
Brown Trout in the Classroom
Designed for upper primary, the programme is
based around the life cycle of the brown trout
with emphasis being placed on the importance
of local burns and rivers as locations for adult
fish to spawn and juvenile fish to grow. Portmoak Primary School P7 class cared for 70
brown trout eggs – supplied by the Kinross
Estate Fishery – in a special cooled tank in the
classroom. Willie Wilson, the Kinross Estate
fishery manager and Countryside Ranger, Ian
Montgomery visited the class to tell the pupils all
about the life of the brown trout and why Loch
Leven brown trout are so special. The pupils
proved to be fantastic custodians with all but
one of the eggs hatching. Once the young trout
were old enough, the class went out one sunny
February afternoon to the Hatton Burn which
flows into Loch Leven, to release the young fish.
‘The children were really inspired by the project
and the first thing they did in the morning when
they came in was to go and look at the fish’.
Lindsay Kettles, teacher,
Portmoak Primary School
‘We really missed the fish, but were sure
they’d love their new home in the burn.’
P7 Pupil, Portmoak Primary School
trout
Wetland plants
Many wet areas around the loch shore have
significant populations of rare plants including
thread rush and salix viminalis (the willow used
to manufacture cricket bats). You will also find
holy grass, well-known for its vanilla-like scent
along the shoreline. It was historically used as
a form of incense in holy buildings such as the
Priory on St Serfs’ Island and local churches,
where it was laid on the floor, giving off its sweet
aroma when crushed under foot.
Wildflowers
There are now two wildflower meadows on
the shores of the loch, one natural at Burleigh
and one planted at Vane Farm. The Burleigh
wildflower meadow is managed to encourage
a wide range of native flowers including
willowherb, hay rattle, yarrow and dead nettle.
The meadow at Vane Farm was planted with
native flowers in collaboration with Bumblebee
Conservation Trust to encourage a wide variety
of insects.
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Right:
Expressiv
e Arts W
Top: C
eek
ommon-h
awker drag
Above
onfly
: Red adm
iral butterfly
Invertebrates
Invertebrates are an integral
part of the Loch Leven ecosystem
with many birds, fish and other animal
life depending on them.
Insect sur veys have recorded a variety
of butterfly, dragonfly and bumblebee
species and it’s hoped that new
species will be found in the future as
management improves the habitats.
Butterflies
The wildflower meadows on a sunny
summer’s day are the place to spot
butterflies at Loch Leven.
Look out for native common blue and
small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies
as well as summer migrants from Africa
such as the red admiral (above) and
painted lady. In summer 2008 a Comma
was spotted at Vane Farm, this might be
due to climate change as they seem to
be spreading north.
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P6 Expressive Arts Week 2009
This was designed as a collaborative
celebration of the loch’s natural
heritage by all the P6s in the Kinross
cluster group using various artistic
media with professional artists.
Groups visited the loch at Kirkgate Park.
Some groups explored the water, trees
and bushes for minibeasts then
researched and developed these into
puppets and plays.
Another group examined the old oak
trees and created a play with drama and
movement.
Another group recorded the changing
sounds from the village to the shore,
created a musical score and performed it
(with no instruments!).
Others linked music with their research
about Mary Queen of Scots in a play.
At the end of the week all the groups
shared their experiences in a grand
performance.
ct
Arts Proje
s
n
o
ti
c
e
n
n
o
Left: Making C
fly
blue butter
n
o
m
m
o
Top: C
ee
o Bumbleb
Above: Cucko
Dragonflies & damselflies
Recent improvements in water quality have
seen an increase in the numbers of
dragonflies and damselflies around both
the loch and ponds at Burleigh and Mary’s
Knowe. Dragonflies and damselflies are
very similar (damselflies are generally
smaller than dragonflies and fold their
wings together when at rest) common
hawker and black darter dragonflies and
large red and common blue damselflies are
often seen around the ponds. An
azure damselfly was recorded on the
reserve for the first time in 2008 – similar
to a common blue but with different
markings on the 2nd segment.
Bumblebees
Ten species of bumblebee have been
recorded on the reserve, including three
species of cuckoo bumblebee (pictured;
above). As the name suggests, cuckoo
bumblebees are parasites, preying on the
nests of other more common bumblebees.
Making Connections Arts
Project 2008
A small group of S3 pupils from
Kinross High School linked up with
the P7 class at Milnathort Primar y
school. Under the guidance of artists
from Artspace in Perth and staff from
RSPB and SNH, the aim of the project
was to interpret Loch Leven National
Nature Reser ve using a variety of
different media from animation to
sculpture.
The project culminated in a week
where pupils enjoyed working on
their installations outdoors rather
than a conventional classroom
setting.
9
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Top: W
ate
Right & r beetle larvae
above: K
inross Hig
Freshw
h School
ater biolo
gy fieldw
ork by the
loc
h
Aquatic insects
The aquatic insects are vital to the loch
ecosystem, providing essential food for fish
and birds and the loch is home to three rare
species of water beetles.
During the summer midges hatch en masse
from eggs laid in the loch the previous winter.
These short lived invertebrates provide
excellent food for birds like swifts, swallows,
house martins & sand martins with an
abundance of food and their eggs are food
for fish.
Swifts congregate at Loch Leven in their
thousands when returning on their migration
from Africa in late April.
They disperse throughout the country,
congregating at Loch Leven again in August
before migration south to Africa because of
this plentiful supply of airborne food.
Water quality
Real World, Real Learning, Real Benefits
S3 pupils from Kinross High School use
Loch Leven to carry out fieldwork
related to their Standard Grade course
and to meet with ecologists and
others who work around the Loch.
Pupils sample the Loch’s oxygen
content, pH, temperature, and also
identify some of the organisms that
make up the very fragile freshwater
ecosystem on which many bird species
rely for food and breeding.
‘It is really important for us that this
is not a one off trip, but an ongoing
programme where eventually the school
hopes to have collected enough real
data over many years to determine the
changing conditions of the loch.’
Emma Jack, Biology Teacher,
Kinross High School
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ght
Left: Swift in fli
ishing
Top: Osprey f
e loch
loom on th
b
l
a
lg
A
:
ve
Abo
Habitats
Loch & islands
Loch Leven is ver y special because the
water is naturally rich in nutrients so it
can support a wealth of wildlife.
In the past water quality has been a
problem as pollution from agriculture,
sewage and local industr y raised the
nutrient levels causing algal blooms.
A major bloom in 1992 was so bad it
closed the fisher y.
With an average depth of just 4m,
photosynthesis occurs over most of the
loch bed, a perfect place for the aquatic
plants that form the base of the loch’s
food chain.
The plants feed and shelter the aquatic
insects, especially snails, which are then
food for fish, wintering wildfowl,
breeding ducks and other birds such as
swifts and ospreys.
The islands are extremely important for
breeding birds, providing sanctuary from
predators such as foxes and are
relatively disturbance free.
The tussocky grass on the islands is
perfect for nesting and the edges of the
islands and over-hanging willows are a
great place for broods of young ducks as
well as providing shelter for many birds
and other animals.
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Right:
Lesser bu
tterfly orch
Top: Re
id
edbed at
B
u
rl
e
igh Sands
Above:
Greenfinc
h
Wetlands & reedbeds
The wetlands around the loch are home
to lots of the reser ves special plants
and animals but these areas are ver y
sensitive to damage caused by
changes in water levels especially
draining.
Careshall Bog is botanically rich with
lesser butterfly-orchid and thread rush
growing here.
It is also an excellent place for ground
nesting birds such as snipe, skylark
and meadow pipit which are easily
disturbed by walkers and dogs.
These reedbeds are vital to
breeding birds and ducks, providing
shelter from the weather, predators
and disturbance.
The most easily accessible reedbeds
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are found around the Kingfisher Hide
at Burleigh Sands, the Boathouse Hide
and at Levenmouth where seasonal
planting has taken place to encourage
this habitat around the hides.
The reedbeds are protected by gabions
to prevent wave and ice erosion of this
ver y important habitat.
Mar y’s Knowe is an important site for
holy grass and important populations
of rare orchids grow in the wetlands at Findatie.
Wild flower meadows
The wildflower meadows around the
loch are home to many rare plants.
Orchids such as the lesser butterfly
orchid prefer the soggy areas while
hay rattle and yarrow thrive in the
drier areas for example by the
Kingfisher Hide.
ryline
dland Sto
o
o
W
e
th
Left: Life in
ttle
Top: Yellow ra
aric fungi
Above: Fly ag
The wildflowers are not only beautiful
but a fantastic source of food for lots of
different minibeasts. On a sunny
summer’s day you will see lots of
butterflies and bumblebees feeding on
the flowers and a quick search will
uncover lots of other minibeasts.
The tall trees beside the loch provide
potential nesting sites for osprey.
There are more details of the
wildflower meadow insects in the
invertebrate section.
They can break this material, extract
the nutrients and feed it back to the
trees in exchange for things they need.
Minibeast Safari
The many habitats around Loch Leven
offer excellent opportunities for
investigation of minibeasts.
Over 50 species of fungi have been
found at Levenmouth during the autumn
including glistening inkcap, sulphur tuft
and the poisonous, classic toadstool:
fly agaric. .
Woodlands
Scots Pine and birch woodlands are
found around the loch and provide
homes for lots of common woodland
birds including great-spotted
woodpeckers, chaffinches,
treecreepers, siskins and buzzards
and greenfinches,
The woodlands are also the home of
nature’s recyclers – fungi! Fungi
sur vive on the nutrients other wise
trapped in dead wood and leaves.
The birch trees often have oyster
mushrooms living as parasites.
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Right: P
ortmoak P
S pond in sc
Top: La
hool grounds
rge red d
amselfly. A
bove: Otter
Ponds
Around the loch you will find a few small
ponds, most of them newly restored. The
ponds are the perfect place for looking at
a mini version of life in the loch and in the
summer they are teaming with life
especially dragonflies. An interesting
comparison can be made between the
new ponds at Mary’s Knowe and the more
established ones at Burleigh and how long
the new ponds take to establish.
The ponds at Mary’s Knowe, between
Kirkgate and Burleigh, have been newly
cleared with the help of Princes trust
volunteers. They are now more suitable
for dragonflies, with large red damselflies
already seen exploring the site and with
the installation of viewing platforms this is
a brilliant spot for pond dipping.
The ponds at the Kingfisher Hide at
Burleigh were created in 2005 in the path of
the old North Quiech. There are good examples of emergent vegetation including:
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Monsters of the Deep
Role play, games and a pond dipping
session at RSPB’s Vane Farm Education
Centre helps pupils to understand the
complexities of freshwater habitats. Pupils
at Portmoak Primary School were so
inspired, they decided to design and build
their own pond in their school grounds.
greater spearwort, water horse-tail,
hornwort, water forget-me-not and rare
freshwater sponges.
This wealth of plant life supports lots of
insects from diving beetles, pond snails
and damselfly larvae to cyclops, water
flea and caddisfly larvae making this
the best spot for pond dipping!
It would also be interesting to
compare the newly dug ponds,
established ponds and burn.
prey;
r Top: Lam
Left: Kingfishe
-not
r Forget-me
Above: Wate
Rivers & burns
The rivers and burns feeding the loch
are important spawning grounds for the
brown trout, pike, lamprey and other
fish that live in the loch.
Occasionally polluted by local
industry this site has been used for
Standard grade water quality testing to
compare biodiversity in the river,
harbour and loch.
Four rivers and burns flow into Loch
Leven; the North Quiech, South Queich,
Gairney and Pow Burn and the River
Leven flows out of the loch eventually
entering the Firth of Forth at Leven.
Gairney to the south west and Pow Burn,
by Loch Leven’s Larder, are not easily
accessible because of steep banks but
are home to Water Voles.
The North Queich flows in from Milnathort
and Burleigh and is an excellent place to see
river species including dipper, kingfisher, otter
and water vole.
The River Leven, flowing from the south
east corner of the loch was canalised
and sluices installed in the 1830’s to
control the water supply to industr y
downstream.
The mouth of the river, visible from the Kingfisher Hide, attracts waders and gulls to
the sandbanks where nutrient rich water is
washed into the loch from the river.
The South Queich, entering the loch
by the Pier at Kinross, is another good
place to spot wading birds.
The river is now a Kingfisher and Otter
hotspot and the Levenmouth Hide
surveys the wetlands where the river
used to flow, an excellent wildlife
watching area.
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Right:
Loch Lev
en Castle
Top: M
ute swan
on nest
Above:
RSPB Bird
Friendly Sc
hools
History
Loch Leven has had an interesting and
important part to play both local and
national history. People have lived around
the loch since the Iron Age, with the first
mention of a castle on Castle Island in the
5th Century and a religious building on St
Serf’s Island since the 6th Century.
The castle was used as a prison for many
years in the 1600’s, it’s most famous
resident being Mary Queen of Scots,
who in 1657 whilst imprisoned here, was
forced to abdicate to her infant son James
VI. In 1658 Queen Mary escaped with
assistance and threw the castle key into the
loch, leaving her captors locked inside.
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In 1830 major works were carried out to
lower the water level of the loch, canalise
the River Leven and install sluices to control
the flow of water to industry downstream.
Curling was a major winter activity on
the loch until the late 1950’s with the last
major “Grand Match” or “bonspiel” being
played in 1959.
Fishing has been a very important activity
on the loch since the 14th century but the
installation of the sluices and reduction in
water level reduced the variety of fish living
in the loch. Loch Leven was once regarded
as the best brown trout fishery in the world
with up to 40,000 catches at its peak.
Access to Loch Leven NNR
indatie
e houses, F
Left: The Sluic
in
Top: Loch marg lity, Kirkgate
ua
q
r
te
a
Above: W
Main access points
There are five main points of access to
Loch Leven NNR allowing visiting groups
to explore the fantastic range of habitats
around the loch. The facilities, habitats
and activities available near each of
these access points are detailed below.
Remember it is now much easier to start
at one point and finish at another using
the newly opened Heritage Trail.
The P i e r
Fac ilities: coach parking, toile t s a t
the café may be accessed by
a r r a ng ement d ur ing summer m ont hs,
SNH reser ve office. Tickets to C a s t l e
Isla nd fr om Histor ic Scotla nd i nfor m a tion p oint.
Suggested A c tiv ities:
•
Wa ter q ua lity testing
•
Str ea m d ip p ing
•
Fer r y to Ca stle Isla nd
De s c r i p t i on: Between the car park
a n d t h e pier t here is an ent ra nce
t o t h e H e ritage Trail. From here a
b o a r d w a lk passes through shoreline
v e g e t a t i on and links the pier to
K ir k g a t e Park . T he pier al so
p r o v i d e s an excellent initial view of
t h e l o c h and is home to Kinross
E s t a t e ’s angling centre.
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Toilet
Refreshments
Information centre
Wildlife watching
M
90
Milnathort
B9
B996
96
No
rt
h
Q
ue
h
A9
ic
11
Lethangie
h
Burleigh Castle
0
1
Burleigh Sands
kilometres
ueich
South Q
Mary’s Gate
Golf Courses
K in ross
Green Isle
Kinross
House
Standing Stones
Orwell
Kinross Pier
Kirkgate Park
Scart Island
A9
11
Kirkgate Point
Alice’s Bower
Roy’s Folly
Castle Island
M9
0
Lochleven Castle
Pow
Bur
n
Reed Bower
6
B99
irn
ey
B9
Wa
09
Wester Balgedie
Carsehall
Bog
Key
Gairney Bank
Ga
Ch
Channel
Farm
Easter Balgedie
Loch Leven Heritage Trail
Other Paths
Reserve Boundary
FerryK(summer
i n n e s s w o o donly)
ter
Parking
St. Serf’s Island
7
Grahamstone
Bus stop
Loch Leven Heritage Trail
Other Paths
Reserve Boundary
Ferry (summer only)
A911
Priory
Key
Toilet
Refreshments
RSPB
Vane Farm
Information
S co
tlandwell
Parking
Gliding Airfield
Levenmouth
centre
Wildlife watching
Bus stop
Lochend
B9
09
7
Refreshments
Information centre
18
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kilometres
er
Le
ve
nC
u
t
0
1
kilometres
Wildlife watching
0
Riv
20
Findatie
B9
Toilet
Kirkgate Park
Description: Public park with access to
the kirkyard and shoreline with excellent views over the loch and islands.
The path leads past Kinross House,
and round to the Boathouse hide
located in the water and accessed via
a boardwalk through a reed bed.
From the Boathouse hide it is a short
walk to the newly cleared ponds with
boardwalk access and pond dipping
potential at Mar y’s Knowe.
Facilities: Parking available for cars
and mini-buses only.
Suggested Activities:
•
Compare stream dipping /
loch dipping
•
Exploration of reedbed habitats
•
Bird watching
•
Minibeast hunt
•
Sensor y activities
B u r l e i g h San ds
Description: Located on the north
shore, Burleigh provides access to most
of the habitats found at Loch Leven
NNR.
Walking through the woodland brings
you to the loch shore and a small
beach. You can then follow on past the
newly restored ponds to the Kingfisher
hide.
The grassy area by the Kingfisher hide
is a meadow full of wildflowers, butterflies and bumblebees during the summer months.
Beyond the hide is the North Queich
burn; home to otters, water voles and
kingfisher, and where the clear
waters let you look down on trout.
A short walk further on will take you to
Mar y’s Gate, named after Mar y Queen
of Scots.
Fac ilities: Small car park, sui t a b l e
for minibuses & mini coaches,
no toilets
Suggested A c tiv ities:
•
Minib ea st hunt
•
B ir d wa tching
•
Pond d ip p ing
•
b umb leb ee or d r a g onfly su r ve y
•
Sensor y a ctivities
•
A r t/ wr iting / d r a ma
•
Exploration of habitats meadows, reedbeds,
wood la nd s a nd loch sho r e
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Right:C
aring for
our Future
Top an
frieze
d above:
C
aring for o
linked
ur Future
visit to RS
PB Vane Fa
rm
Vane Farm
Description: RSPB Vane Farm is
managed as a wetland centre and is part of
Loch Leven National Nature Reserve.
‘Caring for our Future’
Developed by RSPB Scotland, SNH and the
Institute for Earth Education ‘Caring for our
Future’ looks at where our energy comes
from, and how our wise use of it is the key
to a sustainable future, including conserving
biodiversity and tackling climate change.
The programme starts in school with an
activity called ‘Throwaway Planet’. Part
way through a lesson a parcel containing
a dustbin is delivered to the classroom. The
pupils are invited to solve a riddle written on
the dustbin lid ‘What can’t you throw in the
bin when you are finished with it?’
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A trail leads to three bird hides overlooking
wetlands by the loch shore, and the
woodland walk culminates in a wonderful
panoramic view of the loch from Vane Hill.
RSPB guided visits are available by
arrangement
Opening the dustbin reveals a model of
Planet Earth with a note attached ‘The
Earth - it IS the bin!’
After a period of research, pupils are
invited to come to RSPB Vane Farm for
some ‘Close Encounters’ and to solve
another riddle. ‘What does a hot planet
need?’
During the day on the nature reserve, a
series of linked activities help the students
to understand energy in natural systems
and the concept of sustainable lifestyles.
Each activity ‘earns’ a letter (e.g. ‘C’
for Cycles), which is presented as an
anagram at the end of the day – spelling
the answer to the riddle - ‘Cool Kids’!
rve”
ture rese
a
n
a
is
t
ing “Wha
Left: Research
ss
Top: Holy gra
dpecker
otted woo
p
s
t
a
re
G
:
Above
Facilities: There is ample parking for
coaches and cars, a visitor centre, woodland
nature trails, three bird hides, toilets, café,
shop and classroom for educational groups
(by prior arrangement).
For details of RSPB programmes contact
Education Officer 01577 862 355
Suggested activities:
•
Bird watching
•
Minibeast hunt
•
Art/writing
•
Drama/storytelling
•
Exploration of habitats – woodland, wetland, grassland
Findatie & Levenmouth
Description: This area shows the best
evidence of human effects on the loch with
good views of the sluice gates and
canalised River Leven. This is a good place
to catch a glimpse of otters. The steep path
down from the car park gives access to the
shoreline and Findatie beach.
A short walk north, the old route of the river
is now a series of shallow pools with
wetlands around their edges. The pools are
home to some of Loch Leven’s very special
plant life including holy grass and thread
rush, and Levenmouth hide provides excellent
seclusion to observe the peaceful tranquillity
and wildlife around the pools. The walk
from the river to Levenmouth hide takes you
through fungi rich woodland habitat teeming
with woodland species, including great
spotted woodpecker, treecreeper and roe deer.
Facilities: Small carpark suitable for
minibus with two paths, one steep, one with
gentle gradient down to the shore.
No public toilets.
Suggested Activities:
•
Bird watching
•
Fungus foray
•
Minibeast hunt
•
Sensory activities
•
Art/writing
•
Drama/storytelling
•
Woodland ecology
•
Historic research
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How do you enjoy the reserve safely?
Top: A
utumn S
ounds S
Above
toryline
: Blue Tit
Right:
Making
Connecti
ons Arts P
roject
Risk Assessments
For any visit out of school there will be
essential procedures and forms to be
completed as part of your school or
Local Council regulations. Please
ensure you have met all these criteria
before arriving on site. Site based
descriptors of hazards will be available
on the SNH web site for completing your
own risk assessments for areas of the
reserve that SNH manages. For further
information on risk assessments for visits
to Vane Farm please contact the RSPB
reserve office at Vane Farm.
It is always helpful if you can visit the site
yourself before you bring a group.
It will help you to plan your visit safely
with minimal disturbance to wildlife if
you let the SNH staff at the Pier office,
or RSPB staff for the Vane Farm part of
the NNR, know of your visit beforehand.
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First aid provision & medication
All SNH reser ve staff are trained in
first aid and carr y a comprehensive
first aid kit and mobile phone but we
ask that a member of the visiting group
is also a trained first aider. Also if
any group members require medication
(asthma inhalers etc) that reser ve staff
are made aware of this when booking
and that the visit leader is responsible for looking after medication.
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Loch Leven is a great place to visit but
please remember is a nature reserve so
why not include the Scottish Outdoor
Access Code in your class preparations
for the visit?
CfE Responsible Citizenship
activities
SNH have produced education packs
with activities to raise awareness of the
responsibilities we all have when out
enjoying the countryside.
What is the Growing up with Loch Leven initiative?
ands
Burleigh S
Left : Pupils at
Fossoway PS
Top:Wild words
Above: Dipper
Project description
Growing up with Loch Leven” (GuwLL)
involves Scottish Natural Heritage,
RSPB Scotland, Kinross Estates
Company and Perth & Kinross Council;
introducing pupils and teachers to the
value and beauty of their local area,
which includes Loch Leven National
Nature Reser ve (NNR). The initiative is
about providing exciting, challenging
and varied outdoor learning experiences
throughout a pupil’s time at school.
A central focus of Growing up with Loch
Leven is ‘place-based learning’.
Underpinning this is the concept that
local place and its community - whether
a city, small town, village or farming
community is an ecosystem with feedback connections that integrate the
infrastructure of the community, its
institutions, market economies, and its
cultural and natural heritage.
Visits to Loch Leven NNR are therefore
linked into work at school including
outdoor experiences in the school
grounds and local green spaces. The
‘Growing up with Loch Leven’ model
allows pupils to return to exploration of
their local place including the National
Nature Reser ve, in upper primar y and
secondar y.
Taking this ‘spiral’ approach means that
students can undertake more in depth
studies, build important concepts and
gradually appreciate more fully the
biological and cultural interdependencies
that sustain their living place and
importantly the living place of others.
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Design Principles
Right:
Minibeas
t safari
Top: Ki
rkgate sh
oreline
Above:
Pond Ska
ter
Seven design principles
underpin GuwLL programmes.These are:1. Experience
In all weathers and at all times of year
2. Discover
Allowing freedom to play and explore, make
connections and be independent learners
3. Learn
Programmes are interdisciplinary –
incorporating where possible art, science,
maths, history, ethics, economics, politics,
philosophy, architecture, agriculture, natural
history, storytelling etc.
4. Love/Wonder
Rich experiences, discovery and
learning helps to promote a sense of
‘wonder’. This deep connection with place is
rooted in the emotions or what biologist
E.O. Wilson has called ‘biophila’ – which is
simply the affinity for the natural world.
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5. Care
When we love a place, we care about it and
want to give something back – e.g. putting up
bird feeders or making lifestyle choices that
give consideration to climate change,
sustainability, biodiversity, global citizenship.
6. Connect
It might be argued that study of place is in
danger of becoming inherently parochial
and narrow. However, the study of a
particular place should be only part of a
larger curriculum that would cover the
relationship between places.
By developing an understanding of their
local community/place, students can begin
to apply what they have learned to other
places they may never visit – this underpins
global citizenship.
7. Return
When we have experienced, discovered,
learned about, loved and cared for a place,
we will want to return – whether that is next
week, next month or several years later.
GUWLL resources currently available
ryline
Robin Sto
ie
b
b
o
R
p
el
Left: H
dies
Top: Wild Ted
g for birds
Above: Carin
GuwLL resources currently
available
GuwLL is developing teaching
resources and CPD training to help
teachers use Loch Leven NNR in their
teaching and enhance children’s
learning over a whole range of subjects
from ages 3 to 18, providing real life
learning contexts and experiences.
Early
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tufty theTufted Duck
Willow the Water Vole
Wild Teddies
Storyline - Help Robbie Robin
Wild Teddies
Storyline
First
•
Storylines
- What is a Nature reserve?
- Nature Tours
- Life in the Woodland
Second
•
Brown Trout in the Classroom
•
Migration
•
Caring for our Future
•
Storyline
- White tailed eagles - a new
begining
Third
•
•
•
•
& Fourth
Storyline
- White tailed eagles - a new
begining
Design for Nature (Nest box design)
The Place to Be (Interpretation &
leaflet design)
Birds and Migration
S3 onwards
•
Water Quality (Biology)
•
Woodland Ecology
•
Designs from Nature (Art)
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Contacts
Who to contact?
If you have any specific questions about
a topic or visit please contact the reserve
staff at either the SNH office in Kinross
or RSPB office at Vane Farm.
SNH at Kinross – 01577 864 439
The Pier, Loch Leven, Kinross, KY13 8UF
RSPB at Vane Farm – 01577 862 355
Vane Farm Nature Reserve, Kinross,
KY13 7LX
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Trim back cover here
This site guide was produced as
part of the Growing up with Loch
Leven initiative. The GuwLL initiative
is a partnership of SNH, RSPB and
PKC that was set up to encourage
outdoor learning by local schools
on Loch Leven National Nature
Reserve throughout their school
career.