BIODIVERSITY BID FOR TOWN

Green spaces status would be first in Scotland

An innovative new project could see Blairgowrie and Rattray become the first biodiversity town in Scotland.

That’s the hope of a group of organisations that has got together to discuss the new ‘open spaces’ initiative in the east Perthshire town.

Headed up by Proactive Communities, the project involves the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Climate Cafe, the Blairgowrie and Rattray Access Network (BRAN), Blair in Bloom, the Riverside Venture Group and Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club.

Perth and Kinross Council’s Greenspace team and Tayside Biodiversity are also involved in the initiative which will see a proposed action plan drawn up over the coming weeks and months.

Lesley McDonald from Proactive Communities said: “This is a really exciting project and a great example of a number of groups in the town coming together and working cohesively for the wider benefit of all.

“At the moment the project is

very much in its infancy and we are looking at what can be done in Blairgowrie and Rattray that could potentially lead to becoming a biodiversity town.

“Some of the suggestion we could look at including establishing orchards and growing veg that will provide fruit and veg for local residents, with any surplus food being distributed through the Blairgowrie and Rattray Independent (BaRI) Food Project, for example.

“We’re also looking at growing wildflowers in various open spaces which would improve biodiversity in terms of insects and wildlife.”

There are a number of open spaces that could be looked at initially around Blairgowrie and Rattray such as Davie Park, the area behind Douglas Road, Elm Drive, two SUDS drainage areas and opposite Tesco, depending on how the town’s residents would like to introduce more biodiversity in their area.

Lesley added:“One of the great things about this project is that it involves several of the beautiful spaces in Rattray, which can often be overlooked, and encourages locals to become part of the creation of the first biodiverse town in Scotland.”

Len Seal from the Climate Cafe said:“The members of the Climate Cafe are increasingly aware that we cannot tackle the climate emergency without also helping in the recovery of nature, bees, hedgehogs, swifts – so many species are under threat and are important to the balance of nature on which we all depend.

“We are really delighted that Proactive Communities has taken the initiative in bringing several groups in the town together to take collective action.

“As well as helping nature to thrive in our town, the result will be more colourful and vibrant.’’

And Mary Birch from Blair in Bloom added:“This is an interesting idea and hopefully one which can move forward.

“We are very lucky to have the riverside, Davie Park and Loon Braes and it would be lovely to see them developed as a nature park, with a wildflower meadow etc. However, I think we have to be mindful of leaving some green spaces for children to play.”