A PROJECT to make nature accessible to more people at RSPB Scotland’s Loch Lomond nature reserve has been boosted by £242,800 of support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Centred around the creation of a new 1.3km path, the Wildlife Trail project will link the shoreline of the iconic loch with the nature reserve’s existing path network and visitor hub for the first time.

The trail will include viewing areas and interpretation detailing what wildlife visitors might see, and is designed to allow for better access for visitors with varying mobility needs as well as buggies and prams, allowing more people to explore and immerse themselves in this incredible place.

Once the path construction is completed, a new programme of activities based around it will begin.

The programme has been designed with local organisations Green Routes, Choices School, Tullochan, and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) specifically for the needs of the communities they work with.

The activities will be tailored for young people in the local area with learning difficulties and others facing disadvantages in the job market, pupils with additional support needs who have left mainstream education, and those with life-shortening conditions and their families and carers.

Paula Baker, RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond site manager said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have received this support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

“The Wildlife Trail to Loch Lomond will provide opportunities for many more people to experience the incredible nature in this part of Scotland, especially young people in the local community.

“The pandemic has shown just how important but unequal access to greenspaces is. The new path and the programme of activities around it will provide an amazing place for people’s mental and physical wellbeing to benefit from nature, and inspire them to take action to safeguard its future.

“The wellbeing benefits nature can provide should and must be for all and nature needs everyone to care about it in order to safeguard its future.

“We are so excited to begin construction work later this year.”