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April Blog – Spring Update from Loch Ken Trust

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to our Spring Newsletter. Over the past few months, the Loch Ken Trust team, volunteers and partners have been busy delivering education sessions, supporting young people through our water safety programmes, running Junior Ranger activities and continuing ranger patrols around Loch Ken. This newsletter shares some highlights from recent projects and events, along with upcoming opportunities to get involved and stay connected with the work happening across the loch and wider community.

Lindsay Stewart – Editor

Spring has been a busy season for the Loch Ken Trust, with a wide range of activities taking place across the loch and surrounding communities. From water safety education and ranger patrols to Junior Ranger sessions and community engagement events, it has been fantastic to see so many people getting involved. We have also continued working with schools, families, volunteers and partner organisations to help promote safe enjoyment of the water and local environment.

Youth Water Safety Programme

The Loch Ken Youth Water Safety Programme 2026 is now underway, with the first session taking place this spring. More than 25 young people joined the session at Loch Ken, taking part in hands-on activities designed to build confidence on and around the water while learning essential lifesaving water safety skills.

Delivered in partnership with Galloway Activity Centre, the programme gives young people practical experience in a supportive outdoor environment while helping promote safe enjoyment of Loch Ken and other open water spaces.

A huge thank you to the instructors and staff at Galloway Activity Centre for providing such a positive and engaging learning experience on the water, and to all of the young people who took part.

We would also like to thank our funders for helping make this programme possible, including The Holywood Trust, Drax Group, Glenkens & District Trust, Tesco Stronger Starts and Galloway Association of Glasgow.

Ranger Education Programme

Over recent weeks, the Loch Ken Trust Ranger Education Programme has welcomed a range of young people to outdoor learning sessions focused on local wildlife and environmental awareness. The first sessions were attended by a small group of home-educated learners, followed by a visit from pupils at Kells Primary School.

Working alongside partners from Galloway Fisheries Trust, sessions explored the topic of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) through interactive games, bioblitz activities and kick sampling, giving pupils the opportunity to identify and observe both native and non-native species within their local environment.

Educational INNS resource packs were also provided by Galloway Fisheries Trust, including activity materials and curriculum-linked learning resources to help continue discussions beyond the sessions.

Junior Rangers Get Hands-On

Members of the LKT Junior Rangers Group recently visited the village to learn more about woodland management and path building. The group got stuck into a range of practical tasks including moving rocks, shovelling soil and riddling stones, while continuing work previously started by the Resilience Team earlier in the week.

It was a fantastic hands-on session and a great opportunity for young people to learn new skills while helping improve the local environment.

A big thank you to the Community Trust for allowing use of the hall facilities, and to Culgruff House for providing access to the site, which made transporting equipment much easier for the group.

We are going batty for our next Junior Ranger session on Friday 8th May, 8–10pm. The evening will focus on bats, nocturnal wildlife and evening surveying activities around the loch.

Ranger Season Underway

The 2026 ranger season has begun with a strong focus on visitor engagement, environmental care, water safety and community partnership working around Loch Ken. Rangers have carried out regular land and boat patrols, speaking with visitors, anglers, paddlers and local residents while monitoring activity around the loch and supporting safe, responsible access to the area.

Throughout the pre-season and early spring period, significant work has taken place to prepare for the busy visitor season, including:

Boat preparation
Installation of bird nesting signage on islands around the loch
Volunteer inductions
Staff training
Partnership planning meetings

Rangers and volunteers have also undertaken extensive litter picking across the loch shore, roadside laybys and village areas, collecting large amounts of rubbish and helping maintain the area for both wildlife and visitors.

Education and youth engagement have continued to grow this season through Junior Ranger sessions, home education activities and school visits. Young people have taken part in outdoor learning sessions focused on:

Water safety
Wildlife
Invasive species
Navigation
Woodland management
Environmental conservation

The Loch Ken Youth Water Safety Programme also launched successfully this spring, with more than 25 young people attending the first session at Galloway Activity Centre.

The ranger team has continued strengthening links with partner organisations, volunteers, community groups and local agencies, supporting projects including path improvements, climate resilience discussions, wildlife surveys and public engagement initiatives.

Seasonal fire warnings, visitor safety advice and wildlife protection messaging have also formed an important part of patrol work as visitor numbers begin to increase heading into summer.

Ranger Group Meetings

Thank you to everyone who came along to the first Ranger Group meeting of the season. The meeting was held as an informal discussion focused on how we move forward together. It was agreed that future meetings will take place within local communities to help listen to local views and better understand how the ranger service can offer support going forward.