This week saw a significant milestone in the new management of Loch Ken, with the roll out of brand-new signage on the public slipway and at the boat registration point in the Loch Ken Marina.
Over the last year, a range of stakeholders around Loch Ken have come together to establish the Loch Ken Trust, formally being established last month as a registered charity. This new organisation has wasted no time in seeking to improve signage and information for Loch users around the area. The new signs, with the first two installed this week, will help users comply with the guidelines and work towards keeping everyone on the Loch safe.
The signs set out the requirements of the Loch Ken Boat Registration Scheme, outlining how to get your boat registered and gain access to the Loch. The signs also provide information for people looking to fish on Loch Ken, highlighting how to obtain a permit and the biosecurity measures required.
After the unveiling of the new signs, Alan Smith, Chairman Designate of the new Loch Ken Trust, said:
“These are not just signs, these are statements of intent by the Loch Ken Trust as we seek to improve the facilities and support the different stakeholders around the Loch, making the most of what is such an amazing asset, both for residents and visitors.
The Loch Ken Boat Registration Scheme benefits all users by establishing guidelines for motorboats on the loch and these signs also provide information for anglers. It is important to note that wherever or however you fish on Loch Ken, you do need a permit.
My thanks go to the Galloway Glens Scheme for funding the new signage.
Loch Ken Trust has been established as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) – registration number SC050211 PUBLIC
The Loch Ken Trust, now established as a registered charity, is seeking expressions of interest from anyone who has an interest in the Loch and would like to be a member or even a trustee.
If you are interested, we’d love to hear from you – please contact the Loch Ken Trust administrator, Gill Warnock, on [email protected].”
The work of the Loch Ken Trust is being supported as part of the ‘Loch Ken Alive’ project, seeking to bring the community together to make the most of the amazing natural environment of Loch Ken, with its enviable location in the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and Galloway Dark Sky Park. The Loch Ken Alive project is led by the Loch Ken Trust officer, Barney Fryer, who told us:
“We want to show the world what a beautiful place Loch Ken is, so they will come and enjoy everything there is on offer here in the heart of the biosphere. Part of that is making sure we have clear information, so that visitors know how to access the Loch in a safe and responsible way.”
Barney Fryer is currently drafting a new ‘Loch Ken Plan’ to oversee and co-ordinate the management and use of the Loch. If you would like to contribute or you would like any further information about the Loch Ken Alive project, please contact Barney on 07470 557742 or [email protected]
The Loch Ken Alive project is funded through the Galloway Glens Scheme, a suite of projects taking place up and down the Ken/Dee valley in Dumfries & Galloway seeking to connect people to their heritage, while boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable communities. It is a partnership of the public and private sectors, supported primarily by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more details about the scheme or the projects supported, please visit www.gallowayglens.org
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