Putting the barley straw out on the rafts around Kinghorn Loch in late February/early March is always one of our first workdays of the year. It is now so well rehearsed with helpful volunteers rolling out the straw and sailors taking it out to each raft, that it always runs smoothly. But this year we were waiting and hoping that Covid restrictions would allow it to happen. It is an excellent way of ensuring the water quality. The birds on the loch see it as an indicator to begin making their nests in the straw.  Although we thought we would have to let down the swans, we managed to put the straw out on the rafts on a beautiful, windless day in March.  It was great to get it done.  The swans were already eyeing up their best nesting site.  Sadly only two cygnets have survived this year, but as a new pair, they may well settle better in coming years.  The geese also use the straw and goslings have done well.  Not really good news as we can easily have too many on the loch.

"Come & Try" Day

Loch Users return - but with casualties.

Kinghorn Radio Sailing Club have returned to the loch this summer for their regular Wednesday and Saturday meets operating from their vehicles since having to give up their clubhouse in the Old Mill (Hermitage).  The Art concession that took over the Hermitage will themselves be leaving after the summer.  Kirkcaldy Canoe Club still operate from their boatshed as usual, now with the bustle of children learning to canoe on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and others honing their skills on other days.  Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club will not need to be at the loch now until the autumn as they will be on the Firth, and Kinghorn Sailing Club will only be at the loch for the Come & Try Day.  The Scottish Carp Group continue to fish from the north and east banks of the loch.  There is a new market garden setting up on the lower paddock. 

Café.

Sadly the R&R café team, Tom and Cheryl, that replaced the "Barn at the Loch" café of Bruce and Sarah, have now given up the lease, so Craigencalt Farm is without a café.  However "The Nest" coffee shop of the Ecology Centre has expanded its opening hours so is a welcome addition to the lochside.

Toilets.

Two Skies, owners of Craigencalt Farm have now closed the toilets to visitors, so the nearest toilet is at the Ecology Centre.  The defibrillator has been relocated by Two Skies to the outside wall of the toilets.

News from 2021-2022.

Diana Neil with her dog Hugo at Craigencalt Farm in 2015.

Memories of the life of Diana Neil.

Diana came to live at Craigencalt Farm in 1989 along with her close friend Diana Bates. They shared a vision to make Craigencalt a place where the community could come, relax and enjoy the beauty of its natural surroundings. They believed that the power of nature would improve the health and well being of all who came. They began by planting hundreds of trees, a new woodland, in the bare field at the lochside, which has now matured into a beautiful tranquil place to walk and enjoy. The choice of a wide variety of native deciduous and pine trees was particularly farsighted. They created an environmental steering group to promote their love of the natural world. The building of the bird hide at the head of Kinghorn Loch was one of the last projects for Diana Bates, as sadly she died in 1998. A plaque above the door of the hide remembers her work.

Diana, along with her son Richard, continued the environmental and community spirit that was at the heart of Craigencalt. Diana, with her quiet, approachable manner, supported the community in so many ways. She took great interest and pleasure in seeing the various sports and leisure groups thrive at the loch. As landowner she lent her support to the Loch Users Group to build the new jetty and other loch improvements to replace the degraded launch area. She was always around on ‘Come and Try’ days at the loch, as well as the many events held there by the Earthship, canoe club and others. She enjoyed many music evenings held in the barn, and when the café opened, every Saturday she would have afternoon tea with her grandson Daniel. She was a well known, familiar face at Craigencalt and liked by many who regarded her as a good friend.

How it all began, and now the Trust is twelve years old

It is twelveyears since the idea of setting up a Community Trust began. Fife Council had a team promoting and assisting with creating community bodies, so a group of us went to their office in Cupar to find out more. We already had a Loch User’s Group, a Pathways and Walking Group who all met together, so the formation of a Trust would become the umbrella organisation. The next few months were busy getting everything right for our needs. Our aims are the same as when we began, we have always tried to remain true to ourselves and not deviate from that. By September 2011 the Craigencalt Rural Community Trust, (to give it the full title) was established as a company, but we decided it would be beneficial to apply for charity status too. This was granted in November 2011 so now we could look for a ‘Friends’ base to support us. We were delighted with the response from folk, and the number of Friends enrolled soon doubled our expectations and has remained around 140. An Inaugural Meeting for the setting up of the Trust was planned for February 2012 with Dr Bryan Spears as the guest speaker. It was attended by 83 people, crammed into the hall.

Looking Forward to the return of sports and leisure times at Kinghorn Loch.

We did not manage our Spring Walking Festival this year and it is postponed to Spring 2022.  We are running twice monthly walks with the Walking Group so join in.  As soon as we can, the Trust hopes to start up with all its events like the water sports “Come and Try” day. We haven’t forgotten that we have a BBQ evening to fit in as soon as normality arrives, at present scheduled for some time in September.  Celebration then!

Prestigious award for Alcan.

Walking Group - Covid restart

Loch Users look to return.

Kinghorn Radio Sailing Club have returned to the loch for their regular Wednesday and Saturday meets (with Covid compliant defences), operating from their vehicles since having to give up their clubhouse in the Old Mill (Hermitage).  Kirkcaldy Canoe Club still operate from their boatshed as usual, but on a restricted basis at the moment.  Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club will not need to be at the loch now until the autumn as they will be on the Firth, and that applies to Kinghorn Sailing Club too.  The Scottish Carp Group continue to fish from the north and east banks of the loch.  The Trust is in the process of refining the Wildlife Protection Areas on the loch together with Alcan.  Alcan's priority for the loch is as a wildlife conservation area and there are presently a desire to consolidate this protection for the birds.



Problems with the Burnside Path

Many of you will be aware that in recent weeks the Burnside Path has become severely flooded.  Residents, the Trust and others have been trying to get action on this problems for a few weeks.  The water level in the burn at the loch outlet rose by two meters, stranding the trees in deep water.  The Burnside Path has been flowing with almost the full force of the burn.

The Trust has made suggestions to Fife Council and Lovell, the house builder, and it looks as though these have been taken on-board and resolution is at hand.  For the future, it is essential that the Tannery Pond is kept dredged to below culvert level and culvert kept clear.  It looks as though this might now happen.

Look out, its snowdrop time again

Snowdrop and aconite, our earliest winter flowers.

In recent years progressive planting of snowdrops has led to several areas around the loch becoming well established with these lovely winter flowers. A walk where you can see them in plenty is going from the lochside up Woodland Rise through the woodland to Bramble Lane. Turn left, then follow the path in just after the gas station, also on your left. This leads down through a snowdrop glade. Along this path you may also spot a few yellow aconite flowers tucked low in the ground. Another place where you will find a large carpeted area of snowdrops is from the Binnend path as it descends into Burntisland opposite the Golf Course. We are fortunate that we do not have to go far to enjoy a great snowdrop walk in our local area. 

Our Honorary Patron, Hamish Brown, author of books of Scottish interest and in particular his book on the Fife Coastal Path, has always had a passion for snowdrops.  Together with Burntisland & Kinghorn Rotary Club volunteers, he has planted thousands of snowdrop bulbs throughout the area.  This year has been tremendous for these white beauties, showing how wonderful his efforts have been.