Update – Co-Designing our Community Springboard  

The Community Springboard brings together local initiatives focused on nature access, connection, restoration, biodiversity, and wellbeing across the Leven Catchment. Its goal is to support these groups by sharing knowledge, tackling challenges, and helping ideas and projects flourish. 

We kicked off the Springboard on Sunday 12 October, bringing together seven community members involved in nature-based activities. The session aimed to shape the Springboard around the needs and priorities of local groups. Guided by questions like “What projects or ideas are you developing?” and “What support or connections would help your ideas grow?”, participants shared experiences, ideas, and ambitions. 

Practical ideas for events and training quickly emerged. Suggestions included hands-on workshops for tree maintenance and woodland management, hedge-laying demonstrations, guided visits to local projects across Kinross-shire and the wider Leven Catchment, and guidance on how to set up a group as a legal entity. 

Our first practical workshop on tree seed collection gave participants hands-on experience and inspiration for future projects. 

Some key challenges also came to light. Broadening engagement in nature stewardship amongst residents of Kinross-shire was highlighted as a priority, alongside increasing collaboration between groups. Suggestions to tackle these challenges included partnering with schools and colleges, exploring new outreach channels, visiting each other’s projects, and joint communication and social media promotion. We are now working on developing these ideas and putting them into action. 

The workshop concluded with a delicious locally sourced lunch from Feast Catering, giving everyone a chance to continue connecting, sharing ideas, and building momentum for future projects. 

If you’d like to find out more about the Community Springboard, click HERE. To sign up and get involved, click HERE.