Perthshire Nature Connections Partnership (PNCP) is a long-term, nature-based vision to create a connection across Highland Perthshire between the Cairngorms and the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Parks. It works with a range of organisations across community, environment and land management (website for details).

PNCP promotes integrated, large-scale ecological restoration of a sustainable and resilient landscape that provides environmental, socio-economic and health and wellbeing benefits to communities and land-managers.

PERTHSHIRE NATURE CONNECTION PARTNERSHIP – UPPER TAY CATCHMENT COMMUNITIES

PNCP knows where our area can deliver vitally important landscape changes, supporting biodiversity and addressing climate change. Landscape change will put Natural Capital ‘in the bank’ for us all – we have been overdrawn for too long. UPPER TAY CATCHMENT COMMUNITIES was an established working title for us prior to Riverwoods.

Our transition to a nature-based landscape needs supporting. Our area includes sparsely populated and remote areas, and significant but seasonal tourist activity. And nature across the area faces a worrying future.

Our local communities can be as nature-based as can any area’s communities – they are adaptable and innovative; but they must not be left behind. The landscape is not ‘urban’ or ‘rural’ capital – it is natural capital for everyone.

PNCP's published programme (Apr 2022) is a good framework, and the time has arrived for landscape-scale change on the ground.

Riverwoods - UPPER TAY CATCHMENT COMMUNITIES  will unlock opportunities for innovation in nature-finance, providing specialist support to help us to deliver change faster and further. PNCP will enable change-projects to deliver, however best we can.  We are always seeking new partners – businesses, communities and land-managers.

https://ballochparkregen.co.uk/

Immerse Balloch Castle Country Park's one million annual local & international visitors in nature recovery by putting Riverwoods action & education at the heart of this unique Park's critical restoration. Harness the local community's love of the Park to help achieve healthy, vibrant riparian woodland networks in the world famous Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

This 217 acre country park almost has it all:

- river, burns, loch lomond, beaches, slipway;

- extensive native woodland, outstanding veteran trees, designed parkland, walled garden;

- red squirrels, an array of wild fish species;

- A-Listed castle, gatehouses, playparks; &

- easy access by train, bus, bike and car from Glasgow.

Yet while annual visitor numbers have soared from 400,000 in 2003 to an estimated million now, this vast Park is suffering a rapid 'managed' decline - abandoned &  sunken watercraft, riven with problem non-native, self-seeding conifers & bamboo, erosion undermining woodland, mature trees and paths. Anti-social behaviour & littering, no café, accessible toilets or shop, deteriorating fenced off castle, minimal organised education, events or volunteering opportunities, & substantial negative impacts associated with a huge increase in footfall.

The Park and its bonnie banks are visitor magnets but these outstanding natural & capital assets currently generate no income for reinvestment in the Park. As well as international visitors, it serves some of the most deprived areas of Scotland. Owned by Glasgow City Council and leased to West Dunbartonshire Council, Balloch Castle Country Park is sinking and desperately needs vision and resources now.

https://www.facebook.com/Ballochcastlecountrypark

Our Balloch Park: https://vimeo.com/764966107/3a04ec5a56