Campbeltown trust reveals plans for boosting biodiversity

“The town is no different from anywhere else in the world in that it is suffering a decline in biodiversity. This may not be obvious to begin with but it creeps up on us.

“Something you may have noticed is a decline in insect numbers – do you remember the days when you would go for a drive in the summer months and the windshield was covered in splatted bugs? This decline is worrying as it affects the food web badly, with birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians all dying if they don’t have enough insects to eat.

“So, one of the main things I will be looking at is how to increase insect numbers once more, by improving their living quarters or habitats.”

Eric Spence, trust manager at SKDT, said the team was delighted to have been given the opportunity to carry out this research as part of its Climate Action Initiative. 

He added: “Biodiversity is a key indicator of the health of our local environment and this will provide us with the baseline information required to allow us to monitor the impacts of climate change and to investigate how we can best restore our diverse ecosystem. 

“We would like to thank the Royal Society of Edinburgh for supporting us to carry out this valuable research.”

The town’s Gateway Garden, the triangle of space behind The Fiddlers Inn currently being rejuvenated, will showcase many features that support biodiversity. 

Hannah Jones, local community growing co-ordinator for SKDT, said: “As well as the space being used by individuals and community groups to grow food, we’ll be enhancing it with attractive flowering species that are beneficial to pollinators, like butterflies and bees.

“Anyone interested in finding out more, or who would like to see what plants they could add to their gardens, are welcome to come along to the garden any Tuesday afternoon from 2pm-4pm.”