Management of Kings Park including Gowan Hills
From "Ward 5 - Stirling West"
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During the local Scottish Wildlife Trusts vegetation surveys (see below) of the Council Managed Lands around the Castle and in the adjacent Kings Park site we were struck by the loss of biodiversity, the rapidity of recent change and the unbelievable lack of a coherent management plan for such an important national asset. In 2013 the responsibility for the entire Kings Park area was shifted from the Crown Estate to Stirling Council for the next 150 years. This should have been accompanied by a reassessment of the council's responsibilities for open ground and an appropriate resource allocated to this new commitment. At least one council employee should have responsibility for the area. A management committee needs to be set up to allow discussion to accommodate the aspirations of the various interests in constructing a long term management plan.
With respect to the pollinator strategy urgent action is required on both Gowan Hills and the lands around Kings Park Golf Course to save what little remains of the once widespread pollinator rich meadow lands. I joined Andrew Hipkin as a volunteer to try and stop the picnic area on flagpole hill which used to be covered in nectar rich wild flowers (see photo) from getting over-run with bramble/elder scrub. This was halted when I understand the council could not finance the removal of a lorry load of cut brambles. This completely demoralised the team.
The council should be ashamed of the overgrown viewing sites complete with benches and display maps that are now completely hidden in the gorse scrub both above Kings Park Farm and on the Gowan Hills.
This is a wonderful wildlife resource I am glad to see an attempt being made to manage it ... if I can be of any assistance I would only be too glad to help.
Dr Roy Sexton
Articles
Sexton R. 2014 Changes in the flora of Kings Park during the last Hundred years Forth Naturalist and Historian vol 37 17-29
Sexton R 2019 The Vegetation of Stirling's Castle Rock. Three centuries of change: The Back Walk and Cliffs, The Haining and Kings Knot Forth naturalist and Historian vol 42 10-28
Sexton R 2020 The Vegetation of Stirling's Castle Rock: Gowan Hill Forth Naturalist and Historian Vol 43 10-32