Charity No: SC028174
Company No: 188446

Telephone:
01592 891567
Email: admin@theecologycentre.org

Lottery support, Summer 2010

We are very happy to announce that the Big Lottery have granted the first portion of money for the new Centre. The Lottery’s Investing in Communities programme has awarded £742 463 towards the new building. The total cost of the new Centre is £1.5 million, this money therefore makes a significant contribution. Staff are continuing to fundraise for the remainder of the costs.

The Ecology Centre’s Chair, Tony Payne said “It is fantastic to hear that our application for the new building has been successful. This will enable us to not only create a new, secure and sustainable home for The Ecology Centre but to also provide high quality facilities for Kinghorn and the surrounding communities including event and meeting space, recreational areas and a refreshment area. This fabulous new space will create a range of new opportunities for local people and enable them to become more involved with their community.”

Planning Permission, April 2010

We are delighted to report that planning permission has been granted for a new building to house The Ecology Centre at Kinghorn Loch. This takes us one step closer to ensuring the future of the Centre. The next milestone will be achieved when we have secured all the funding required to complete the project. Our Chairman Tony Payne was delighted with the news and thanked the many groups and individuals who supported the application

‘We are very pleased with this outcome and the support that we have had, and we will continue to talk to local people about this development as it progresses. It is very important that we make this a place for people to be proud of and that we do this while improving the biodiversity of the area.’

The plans for the new centre can be viewed on the information board at The Ecology Centre.

Why do we want to build a new Centre?

The Ecology Centre’s lease with Craigencalt Farm will end in 2015 and the landlords have categorically stated that it will not be renewed. For a number of years we have been looking for a new home so we can continue providing services to the community.

When The Ecology Centre was threatened with eviction in 2003, a Register of Support for the Centre was established, which received over 2,000 signatures. The community consultation exercises held over the last few years and months have shown that there is widespread support for a permanent home for The Ecology Centre.

What will the new Centre provide?

The designs for the new Centre aim to take into account the points raised by local people in the community consultation exercises. As well as educational activities, events and volunteering opportunities, people have said they would like better, accessible facilities, somewhere for individuals and groups to meet, and the possibility of refreshments. Showers and changing facilities for people using the loch have also been highlighted.

How have the designs for the new building been developed?

The plans aim to provide a simple, modest building which meets community needs but has minimum visual impact. Local materials will be used where possible. The appointed professional design team are experts in ecological design and have built these principles and technologies into the plans.

An upper level has been included because we have tried to keep the building’s footprint small and avoid a situation where we need to add on extra buildings in future. However, in light of feedback from local people, we are looking at this again.

Why do we need a workshop?

The Ecology Centre is a registered charity and receives grants from funders such as Scottish Natural Heritage, as well as generous donations from the local community. However, these do not cover all the costs of providing events, education and volunteering opportunities for thousands of people every year (this year alone, we have worked with over 7,000 individuals). Grant money is always uncertain and in the current climate there is even less public funding to go around.

The Centre’s trading arm, Ecology Centre Enterprise, helps schools, housing associations and other organisations to improve their outdoor spaces, and so it supports our mission to give people direct experience of the natural environment. At the same time, it helps the charity to continue its educational work by providing a source of income. All of the company’s profits are gift aided back to the charity. The workshop also provides opportunities for employment and training for local people.

Will we be able to continue delivering environmental education on the new site?

The land to the east end of the loch is a smaller area than the land we currently lease from Craigencalt Farm (although much of this is taken up by woodland). There is however enough space for the displays, demonstration gardens and other features we need to provide environmental education, as well as providing an improved amenity for local people and visitors. We will also retain the area at the west end of the loch that we currently lease from Alcan.