We’re launching a crowdfunding campaign to help everyone access the countryside around Loch Leven! Can you help? http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/loch-leven-underpass/
For those who don’t know, we’re building a new accessible underpass at RSPB Scotland Loch Leven. This has been a dream of so many people for so long, that we can hardly believe it’s actually happening! But the construction workers are now on site, formally preparing the ground, and getting ready to dig.
Why do we need a new underpass?
The Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a 13-mile long accessible pathway that circles Loch Leven, and provides visitors with beautiful views, and access to some amazing countryside. The trail is wheelchair friendly, and there’s even a free mobility scooter hire scheme to help people get around. But, when the trail passes through the RSPB Scotland nature reserve on the south side of the loch, the only access between the path and the reserve’s visitor centre and facilities, is through an old tunnel with steep steps at both ends. If you’re using a wheelchair or mobility scooter, you simply can’t get through the tunnel, and it also creates access problems for cyclists, families with pushchairs, and anyone who finds it difficult to go up and down stairs.
That’s why we’re building a new one!
The new underpass will get rid of those steep steps, and use careful landscaping to create gentle slopes so that everyone can get safely across the road. The new underpass will also create an accessible link between the Loch Leven Heritage Trail and the Fife core path network, opening up miles of trails, and providing hours of opportunity for enjoying the outdoors.
This is a partnership project that has already received funding from Sustrans, Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Gannochy Trust, The Brown Forbes Memorial Fund, and The Gillman Trusts, and the RSPB is also putting in money. We’ve very very close to meeting all the costs, which is why we’re able to go ahead with the start of construction.
But, there’s still a small gap to fill. We’re trying to raise the final £19,000 to make sure the underpass project can be completed.
If you can help, even with a small donation, please visit our crowdfunding page: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/loch-leven-underpass/.
There are some fantastic rewards, including: your name on a sign in the new tunnel, and an exclusive tour of the reserve with one of our wardens.
Even if you’re not able to donate, please consider sharing this page through social media, to help us get the word out as far and wide as possible! This project will make such a difference to people, we really hope you can support it.
If you’d like to know more, please contact the reserve:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RSPBTaysideFife/
Twitter: @RSPBLochLeven
Telephone: 01577 862355
Email: lochleven@rspb.org.uk
Website: rspb.org.uk/lochleven