Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators’ is an exciting new project where Buglife will work with Tayside Biodiversity Partnership, Orchard Revival and other partners to engage with landowners, community groups and others to assess the health of the known historical orchards (22 known sites), and newer orchards, within the Carse of Gowrie area (the area between Perth and Dundee).
The project will:
- Engage and support landowners, communities and others with the restoration of 10 hectares of traditional orchard habitats across the Carse of Gowrie, including sites falling on the Buglife B-Line, to improve habitat connectivity that will allow insect pollinators and other wildlife to move freely through the highly agricultural landscape.
- Survey all sites involved in restoration works, before and after work, to improve our knowledge of invertebrate species (and other wildlife) in the area, increase wildlife records for the area and to feedback into required management of sites.
- Deliver events and activities to communities across the Carse and the neighbouring urban centres of Dundee and Perth, to raise awareness of the historic significance of top-fruit growing locally, to emphasise the value and importance of orchard habitats for pollinators and other invertebrates and encourage landowners and communities to restore these declining community assets.
- Provide training to enhance the confidence and skills of volunteers, landowners and others in managing habitats for wildlife, identifying and recording invertebrates and how to monitor sites for the long-term benefit of orchards in the Carse of Gowrie. A best practice guide on how to manage orchards for invertebrates will be produced and be available electronically.
Suzanne Burgess, Buglife Development Manager, attended the Scottish Apple Producers Group meeting held at Megginch Estate in September last year, to update members about the project, its proposal, aims and the funding process. Buglife are now very excited that funding has been secured from National Lottery Heritage Fund, NatureScot, MW Topps, Milkywire, CHK Foundation, Animal Friends Insurance and others to allow us to start the three-year project.
For more information about the project please get in touch with Suzanne at suzanne.burgess@buglife.org.uk
