Tayside and Clackmannanshire

Growing Up with Loch Leven

A partnership initiative between Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB and Perth and Kinross Council.

Growing Up with Loch Leven aims to help the children in Kinross-shire develop an increased understanding of Loch Leven National Nature Reserve and what makes it such a special place.

We hope that this project will help teachers use Loch Leven NNR as a resource in their teaching and enhance children's learning over a whole range of subjects from ages 3 to 18, providing real life learning contexts and experiences.

Brown Trout go to Portmoak

One of the projects we are developing for Kinross-shire primary schools involves pupils learning all about the famous Loch Leven Brown Trout. With the support of Willie Wilson, Kinross Estate Fishery Manager, and Ian Montgomery, Perth and Kinross Countryside Ranger, the P7 children at Portmoak primary school have been caring for around 70 brown trout eggs in a special cooler tank in their classroom. After a couple of weeks all but one of the eggs hatched and the time came for the tiny trout (known as alevins) to say goodbye to Portmoak and find new homes in the Hatton Burn, one of the streams which feeds Loch Leven. It was a sunny February afternoon when the class, with the help of Willie and Ian took their fish to the burn, tested the pH and temperature of the water to make sure that conditions were just right for their charges and released them to find safe places among the gravel bed of the stream. The fish will spend the next few years growing in the burn, travelling downstream to Loch Leven when they are adults. The children will visit the burn again in the summer where they will have the chance to see how much their fish have grown. Willie reminded them if they go fishing on Loch Leven to be sure to ask any fish they catch if it was one of those that hatched out at Portmoak! Class teacher Lindsay Kettles said "The children have been really inspired by the project and the first thing they do each morning when they come in is go and look at the fish. We shall miss them in the classroom but hope that they like their new home in the burn."

Fossoway's budding poets

Portmoak are not the only Growing Up with Loch Leven school this year. Fossoway Primary 7 class have been studying migration this term and took a trip to Loch Leven National Nature Reserve at the Vane Farm RSPB centre. They called in at the bird hides and learnt about the birds that visit the NNR both in the winter and the summer, and had an inspiring walk to the top of the hill to get a bird's eye view of Loch Leven. Their visit also involved workshops with poet Gerry Cambridge, who shared with the children not only his love of birds but also showed them how poetry writing is a process of much writing, scoring out and rewriting. The results of the pupils' labours are impressive and Gerry will have to watch out, as there are some young competitors out there! (Here are some of the poems from Fossoway school)

Teaming up with the Teachers

The project is now working with a group of local teachers, funded by Careers Scotland, to further develop ideas and teaching resources. We plan to provide each school with sets of the resources to help them use Loch Leven NNR as a valuable addition to children's learning. Teachers can find out more about the development of the initiative here.

 

Kinross High School Standard Grade Field Trip

The continuing development of the Growing up with Loch Leven project has seen the standard grade pupils from Kinross High School here at the site on a biology field trip to conduct water quality monitoring.  Various locations were surveyed by the group to establish fluctuations in water quality.  Factors affecting water quality were taken into account.  Pollution, sewage and run off from local agriculture all contribute to the eutrophication occuring on the loch.  Levels of zooplankton, phytoplankton and species like stickleback were recorded as an assessment of levels of phosphates and nutrients in the water.

Having conducted their surveys, they attended a short lecture presented by Brian Spears, a scientist from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and Craig Nisbet, Reserve Officer for Loch Leven National Nature Reserve.   This provided the pupils with an introduction to the natural heritage of the reserve, and some background knowledge of how and why water quality is monitored at Loch Leven, with references to specific eutrophication incidents in the past that have affected the ecology of the loch.

The two groups were extremely fortunate to have wonderful weather conditions for their field work.  The sessions were well received by the pupils, and it appears that their experience was a valuable stage in their scientific education process.  We look forward to welcoming back future standard grade students to continue the water quality aspect of their education, and we feel that this project will benefit both the students and the reserve for the future.

Kinross Primary School Water Project

Pupils from the local Kinross Primary School visited the loch on Thursday 8th November 2007, a cold, windy day to learn about water quality monitoring in freshwater systems.  They were told about pollution events in the past that had catastrophic affects on the ecosystem.  Various forms of pollution were discussed, as well as how the quality of water at Loch Leven is tested by sampling water every 2 weeks.  

After learning about the importance of Loch Leven for migratory wildfowl, the pupils enjoyed a closer look into some of the invertebrate life the harbour has to offer.  The importance of all organisms in terms of the complex food web on the reserve was emphasised.  Biodiversity in the harbour is a good demonstration of the lower end of this food web, with submerged plants providing excellent habitat for freshwater invertebrates like diving beetles and water boatmen.

The Reserve Officer at Loch Leven was glad to welcome the enthusiasm of the children and their understanding of these key issues was both impressive and encouraging.  We hope that the development of the Growing up with Loch Leven project continues in this positive fashion.

Coming soon to a school near you!

Coming soon for pupils in the early years is a pack of materials all about Tuftie the Tufted Duck. Through Tuftie the children will discover what the ducks eat, where are the ducks' favourite places and about some of Tuftie's other bird friends. It is planned to trial this pack in the summer term with early years pupils at Fossaway School.