Story of the Trust

Moonlight over Kinghorn

Craigencalt Trust is based in the countryside around the village of Kinghorn and town of Burntisland.

Craigencalt Trust itself is a diverse community of individuals, groups and landowners that is the culmination of decades of community involvement.

What they have in common is a love of the area - whether it is to live and work, to indulge in their favourite water sport, take the dog for a walk, run, cycle or horse-ride, or to study the wildflowers, birds and insects. With the necessary to either be going up a hill or down one, they love the views.

The STORY below is adapted from presentations given by the Trust to the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and that to the Probus Club.

BACKGROUND

Kinghorn Loch had a blue-green algal problem, which is potentially toxic,
In 1995, a Loch Action Group was formed to tackle the problem which developed into the Loch User's Group by 1998,
In 2011, the Trust developed from this more or less single purpose (beat the algae) to a community strategy that has linked water-sports, residents, walkers, nature lovers and landowners,
We have the pleasure of helping look after Kinghorn Loch, some lovely countryside and a wealth of activities that take place here.

CRAIGENCALT RURAL COMMUNITY TRUST - WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

The origins lie in two community groups:

Kinghorn Loch Users Group
Kinghorn Pathways

It represents the interests of visitors, residents and landowners including:

Kirkcaldy Canoe Club
Kinghorn Sailing Club
Kinghorn Radio Sailors Group
Kinghorn Coastal Rowers
Scottish Carp Group
open water swimmers
birdwatchers and other environmental interests
walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and Walking Group

FRIEND SUPPORTERS.

The Trust aims are to improve the environment of the area in a sustainable way, and enhance the enjoyment of visitors and residents alike.

We have 140 Friends of CRCT who pay a small donation to join. Friends include many active volunteers who help with maintenance and new projects..

We keepour Friends updated by email, quarterly newsletters, presentations and social evenings, including an annual BBQ in August.

ETHOS.

The Trust is organised by a dedicated team of volunteers (with no paid staff) but we do understand that people are busy, and their time is iften limited.
People can dip into whatever we cover that interest me.
Some people join us for individual projects where they have a particular interest.
They come along to help when they can, and time is available.

OUR PATRON.

In 2020 we asked local author Hamish Brown to be Patron for the Trust and he accepted. Hamish has a long fondness for the Craigencalt area and for many years, each winter, he comes with helpers to plant more snowdrops around the loch. They have become truly beautiful sight to see in February.