The Crail Community Partnership (CCP) brings together community groups across the local area and Fife to deliver its Local Place Plan and tackle the challenges and opportunities for the community.
The CCP has recently taken on the South Kilminning wildlife site through asset transfer from Fife Council. Located on the coastal path between Crail and Fife Ness the site is part of ongoing efforts to develop spaces for nature and for people in the East Neuk. The plan is to remove much of the tarmac to free-up space for more trees, water and wildlife while leaving enough for access and parking for people to enjoy the area. Long-term plans involve volunteer initiatives, re-wilding and habitat creation
At the nearby Pinkerton Triangle and Bow Butts Park, both also obtained for the community through asset transfer, they hope to use neglected but nature rich areas adjacent to Roome Bay and Denburn Wood to preserve the wildlife corridor connecting the wild areas of Crail to the coastal path at Sauchope and eventually Kilminning.
The Crail community already owns and successfully manages several other wildlife areas in Crail such as Denburn Wood and Denburn Park and works closely with Fife Council to manage its parks and community grassland.
Ultimately the CCP also plans to increase the tree and shrub cover throughout the Crail area, to connect all of these wildlife areas via a network of wooded paths. Their vision, over the next thirty years, is to make areas such as Kilminning part of a connected network of wildlife sites so that locals and visitors will be able to spend the whole day walking around the East Neuk village in wildlife rich and beautiful habitats.
And as they say themselves: “We’re doing this because wildlife needs our help, and the wildlife helps make our communities”
In February 2021 CCP also acquired, by Community Asset Transfer, Crail Community Hall from Fife Council and is now operating it as an increasing busy community asset. This asset transfer was supported and funded by the Scottish Land Fund. The hall sits adjacent to the expansive Beech Walk Park, which is all Crail Common Good Land.
With a proven track record in both willingness and ability to do more to enhance its environment, the community asset transfers provided another opportunity for the local community to take over the long-term management of its spaces for wildlife and for people.
