Rising from the ashes: Phoenix bird hide back in action after devastating fire
IT was a popular site for birdwatchers and every year attracted around 300,000 people keen to see migrating species from across the world on Scotland’s largest lowland loch.
Now a new hide at a nature reserve has been officially opened, rising from the ashes of the old building that burned down last year.
Nature lovers were devastated when Mill Hide at Loch Leven National Nature Reserve was destroyed in a fire in February 2021.
A crowdfunding appeal to rebuild the hide raised almost £30,000 and the remainder has been funded by Naturescot, which manages much of the reserve.
Naturescot chair Mike Cantlay and reserve manager Neil Mitchell were joined by the Kinross Beavers, as well as representatives from the local community and businesses, to cut the ribbon and officially open the new Phoenix Hide to the public yesterday.
Mr Cantlay said: “To see the new Phoenix Hide rise from the ashes has been wonderful, and it just would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of the local community, businesses and the wider public.
“Today we want to thank each and every one for making this day possible. The level of support has been truly heart-warming and demonstrates the importance of this special place for nature for the local community and beyond.
“As Scotland’s nature agency, our aim is to inspire many more people to value our natural world and I know that this beautiful new hide will play a vital role in doing that for generations to come.”
Mill Hide, on the shores of Loch Leven National Nature Reserve near Kinross, was completely gutted in what has been described as a deliberate fire in February last year.
Its destruction left reserve workers “shocked and saddened” and caused widespread anger in the local community.
Erected in 2011, the hide had been a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to take in views of the loch and the large number of birds – including ospreys and pink-footed geese – which frequent its waters.
Its charred remains were removed a short time later but the foundations survived the blaze and have been reused to support the replacement structure.
As the largest lowland loch in Scotland, Loch Leven is an important site for waterfowl, with up to 35,000 birds present during the winter months.
The birds migrate from places as far afield as Greenland, Iceland and Siberia as well as Ireland and northern and central Europe. The area is particularly important for pink-footed geese, with up to 20,000 of them – nearly one 10th of the world’s total population – present at times.
Other wintering species include greylag geese, whooper swans, goldeneyes, tufted ducks, pochards, teals, gadwalls, cormorants and shovelers.
It is also important for breeding birds, as it hosts one of the largest concentrations of breeding ducks of any non-coastal site in Europe.
Loch Leven is Naturescot’s most visited national nature reserve, as it welcomes more than 300,000 people each year. Scotland is home to 43 national nature reserves, which host a wide variety of habitats and wildlife, including both nationally and internationally important species.
The hide has been designed with a more open back to discourage antisocial behaviour and includes a new camera to record any incidents in a bid to provide a level of security.
Naturescot’s Neil Mitchell, the reserve manager who oversaw the hide rebuild, said: “When the Mill Hide was destroyed last year we were all absolutely devastated.
“After the fire, what really came through was what a much-loved place it was for people near and far to come and connect with nature. We were determined to do all that we could to rebuild the hide and can’t express how grateful we are to the local community, businesses and visitors who contributed so generously to making it happen.
“The new building looks wonderful and I’m sure staff and locals alike are all looking forward to having this special place back again.
“If you’re visiting in the next few months, you can look out for lots of fluffy young ducklings snacking on the rich insect and plant life of the loch, mute swans raising their cygnets, while herons, kingfishers and osprey can all be seen fishing too.”
The level of support has been truly heart-warming and shows the importance of this special place for the community