Coalface to Wildspace

New leap of life for 31 community conservation projects in Scotland and Yorkshire

August 27, 2026 by Admin

The Froglife Trust gets £1.8m boost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced over £1.8 million new funding for a natural heritage initiative supporting and restoring habitats in some of the most disadvantaged areas across Central Scotland and Yorkshire.

Coalface to Wildspace is a conservation and community engagement project led by the Froglife Trust, aiming to restore and create habitats for native reptiles and amphibians while connecting these places through wildlife

These projects will be working in post-industrial areas to prioritise wildlife, particularly reptiles and amphibians. Each scheme will improve access to green areas for local communities and create opportunities for getting out and involved in natural heritage, while strengthening ecological connections across the landscape.

Funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been secured to deliver 31 projects across central Scotland and Yorkshire. This follows a successful 3-year project in Walsall in the West Midlands – a place with its history rooted in the mining of coal and limestone and later the production of stirrups, buckles, saddles and leather goods.

*Our Coalface to Wildspace Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire & The Lothians team alongside representatives from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland. ©The National Lottery Heritage Fund*

Froglife identify priority areas within neighbourhoods that have limited access to green spaces and the natural environment.

Coalface to Wildspace aims to:

Enhance biodiversity by restoring freshwater and terrestrial habitats for reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife
Engage communities through volunteer activities, educational sessions, and public events
Improve accessibility to natural spaces, encouraging people to connect with nature and understand local wildlife

In Scotland home to some amazing reptiles and amphibians, Coalface to Wildspace has received a grant of over £940,000 for projects across Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and the Lothians to improve and restore habitat on a large scale. It will work at 14 sites, creating 65 new ponds, restoring 22 ponds and improving 24 surrounding habitats.

In Yorkshire the project has received a grant of over £880,000 and will deliver habitat improvements at 17 sites across North, South and West Yorkshire. It includes a programme of ecological restoration, wildlife corridor creation, community involvement and creative activities.

Six new Neighbourhood Wildlife Corridors will help reconnect fragmented habitats, while communities will work alongside Froglife to create 48 small ponds, expanding opportunities for local involvement in conservation and creating 93 freshwater habitats.

Ponds are one of the UK’s most important wildlife habitats, supporting at least two-thirds of Britain’s freshwater plants and animals. They are particularly important for reptiles and amphibians, which depend on healthy freshwater and terrestrial habitats to survive. Across Europe, 59% of amphibian species and 42% of reptile species are experiencing population declines, with many threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, disease and environmental pressures.

Our Coalface to Wildspace project launch. Pictured are Froglife Operations Manager, Darren Starkey (2nd from Left), Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Helen Featherstone (center), and volunteers from the Barnsley Main Colliery Group.
*©The National Lottery Heritage Fund*

Kathy Wormald, Froglife Chief Executive, said “This is a wonderful opportunity for Froglife to make a real difference for nature and people. These two projects will greatly enhance the natural environment in Scotland and Yorkshire, whilst also providing communities living in these regions with fantastic opportunities to engage with and enjoy their natural environments.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Fund, said:

“Protecting and preserving our natural heritage is central to what we do at The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Our investment will support 31 new Coalface to Wildspace projects to be delivered by Froglife Trust across Scotland’s Central Belt, North, South and West Yorkshire. Focusing on some of the most disadvantaged communities and neighbourhoods with limited access to green spaces and nature, these projects will transform former colliery sites and pit dwellings into thriving green spaces and habitats for wildlife.

“By creating and restoring ponds and developing neighbourhood wildlife corridors, the programme will support vulnerable amphibians and reptile species, while giving people of all ages the chance to get involved in nature recovery on their doorstep. Just as importantly, communities will help shape activities, gain new skills and training, and inspire the next generation of conservationists. Thanks to National Lottery players we’re helping make sure our natural heritage is valued, cared for and protected for now and future generations.”

McKenzie Raynor, a volunteer from Dalkeith, said “Volunteering as part of Coalface to Wildspace has had a huge impact on my life, helping me build confidence, achieve over 500 hours of volunteering and that’s led to opening up new career opportunities. I’ve had a chance to be part of a something which is transforming neglected spaces into thriving amphibian habitats. I’ve long believed that conservation which is led and involves communities is one of the best ways to protect wildlife: when people care about the land around them, they help create landscapes that are more sustainable and resilient.”

Coalface to Wildspace is intended to be a programme that gives priority to getting people and communities involved in nature in a way that feels comfortable and it has developed a wide range of opportunities and creative activities for people on a wildlife journey helping them to access the natural environment.

Case Studies from our project: Coalface to Wildspace: Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire & Lothians

April 1, 2026 by Admin

Developing our Coalface to Wildspace project in Scotland has been an inspiring journey. Along the way, we’ve connected with some truly incredible organisations and individuals. Explore the case studies below to discover their stories.

Fernbrae Meadows Allotments

Fernbrae Meadows Allotments became involved in the Coalface to Wildspace project after an introduction from South Lanarkshire Council’s Landscape Services team. Froglife’s vision for what the site could become, an allotment that nurtures both people and wildlife, resonated strongly with members. The allotments already host bird and bat boxes, a small pond, and plans for further habitat features, but the project opened up a much bigger, more ambitious possibility: creating a true wildlife corridor linked with Fernbrae Meadows. With the support and enthusiasm of the Park Rangers, whose deep knowledge of the local environment has long inspired the community, the committee quickly recognised the transformative potential of the work. They helped drive the 2025 consultation by mobilising members to complete Froglife’s survey, showcasing both the biodiversity already present and the strength of community commitment to enhancing it.

The proposed developments through Coalface to Wildspace would have a profound impact on the allotments and the wider community. Additional ponds would support amphibians, bringing natural pest control to the resident allotment slugs, and create a richer, more resilient ecosystem that local people could take pride in. The partnership with Froglife and the Park Rangers would also open the door to educational events, family activities, and opportunities for local schools to engage with nature on their doorstep. The committee hopes this marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration, positioning Fernbrae Meadows Allotments as a leading example of how urban growing spaces can champion biodiversity while strengthening community connections.

Volunteer Story

This volunteer’s journey with the Coalface to Wildspace project began unexpectedly when Froglife were running a consultation workshop at their local LGBTQ+ social group run by MYPAS (Midlothian Young Peoples Advice Service) in Dalkeith. Already passionate about amphibian conservation, they approached the Project Manager to ask about upcoming volunteering opportunities. That conversation sparked a deep and ongoing involvement in the project’s development phase across the Lothians, South Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. They have long believed that community‑based conservation is one of the most effective ways to protect wildlife: when people care about the land around them, they help create landscapes that are more sustainable and resilient. Coalface to Wildspace’s focus on helping communities rediscover and re‑imagine forgotten pockets of land resonated strongly with their belief that nurturing local stewardship is key to long‑term environmental change.

In 2025, they played a central role in the project’s community engagement and research activities. Their work involved identifying organisations interested in transforming neglected spaces into thriving amphibian habitats and reaching out to explore potential partnerships. Speaking with such a wide range of inspiring groups was a highlight of the experience with one of those connections leading to the volunteer’s current employment. Their motivation was also deeply personal: near their home, they have watched once‑natural areas become stripped bare by urbanisation. The possibility that Coalface to Wildspace could help bring wildlife back to these places, allowing plants, fungi, amphibians and other species to flourish alongside people felt profoundly important. Volunteering with Froglife has also had a significant impact on their own development. The project contributed to their Saltire Summit Award for over 500 hours of volunteering, helped them secure a role at One Dalkeith, and led to a nomination for SCVO’s Volunteer of the Year. They credit the project with opening doors, building confidence, and giving them the chance to contribute to a future where communities and wildlife thrive together.

Watch this space for further updates on our Coalface to Wildspace project in Scotland.

Campaign success: £5,185 raised for Scotland wildlife ponds

August 11, 2025 by Admin

We are thrilled to announce that our Coalface to Wildspace Scotland crowdfunding campaign has successfully raised £5,185, smashing our £5,000 target.

The response has been extraordinary. The Froglife community raised an astonishing £1,875 in just 3 days to get us over the line, with some supporters even donating again to make sure we reached our goal.

What this means

This crowdfunding success demonstrates genuine community appetite for connecting Scottish children with wildlife. We will now approach funders with evidence that communities across Ayrshire, Lothians, and South Lanarkshire want this project to happen.

The funds raised will enable us to create accessible wildlife experiences in schools and communities, transforming neglected urban spaces into thriving habitats where children will discover amphibians and reptiles for the first time.

The next steps

With this community backing secured, we will now work with funders to secure the additional support needed to create wildlife ponds across Scotland. The stronger our crowdfunding success, the better our case for expanding this transformative work.

Our sincere thanks

To every supporter who believed in this vision – from our earliest donors to those who joined the final push – thank you. You have made it possible for us to demonstrate that Scotland wants children to have meaningful encounters with wildlife while supporting conservation of declining amphibian populations.

Thanks to your support, we are ready to create spaces where Scottish children will experience the wonder of discovering wildlife in their own communities.

Updates on our progress will follow as we work to bring these wildlife ponds to life.

Frogsongs Poetry Collection

July 21, 2025 by Admin

Supporting our Coalface to Wildspace Scotland Campaign

Froglife trustee Gordon MacLellan has created a remarkable collection of poems celebrating reptiles, amphibians and their habitats. Many of these verses were written specifically to support our Coalface to Wildspace Scotland campaign, connecting the wonder of poetry with practical conservation action.

About the collection

Frogsongs features poems that capture the magic of wildlife encounters – from the “golden wonder and amphibian delight” of discovering your first toad to praise songs for Scottish waters. As a trustee, zoologist, artist and storyteller working under the name Creeping Toad, Gordon bridges creative expression with conservation messaging.

Campaign connection

The collection demonstrates how art and environmental action work together. Gordon’s Questions poem asks: “What will you do when mud unfolds legs, and a toad’s eye opens and draws you into golden wonder and amphibian delight?” Our Scotland campaign creates exactly these transformative spaces.

We are creating 6 new wildlife ponds across Ayrshire, Lothians, and South Lanarkshire where over 200 Scottish children will discover amphibians and reptiles for the first time. These poems celebrate the same wildlife encounters we are making possible.

Campaign progress

Thanks to 83 supporters, we have raised £2,480 towards our £5,000 target – just £20 away from the halfway mark. Donations are being doubled through our match funding arrangement until we reach our goal.

Download the collection

The poetry collection includes information about our Scotland campaign and shows how creative work can support practical conservation outcomes.

Frogsongs poetry collection

Support our campaign:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-scotlands-ponds-and-wild-spaces

Save Scotland’s ponds and wild spaces: Donate today and double your gift

June 9, 2025 by Admin

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest crowdfunder campaign to raise funds to save Scotland’s ponds and wild spaces.

We want to bring life-changing wildlife habitats to communities across Scotland where many children have never experienced the wonder of discovering a frog, newt or grass snake.

Why Scotland’s amphibians and reptiles need your help now

Scotland’s native amphibians and reptiles are facing a crisis. Common toads have declined by 68% in just 30 years, and many species are disappearing from areas where they once thrived. At the same time, over half of UK children have never seen a frog in the wild, with urban children being particularly disconnected from nature.

Our proven Coalface to Wildspace approach, established in the West Midlands, addresses both these challenges by transforming degraded urban sites into thriving wildlife havens whilst connecting children with nature for the first time.

What your donation will achieve

Every donation will be matched pound for pound – but only if we can demonstrate strong public support.

Our target is £5,000 by the end of July, which becomes £10,000 with match funding. This is enough to:

• Create new wildlife ponds in three Scottish regions: Ayrshire, Lothians, and South Lanarkshire
• Connect hundreds of children with amphibians through hands-on conservation activities
• Restore degraded habitats where native species can breed and thrive
• Build sustainable community engagement around wildlife conservation

Success in action: What we’ve already achieved

In our pilot work in Scotland, children at SiMY Youth Club in Glasgow transformed a neglected area into a thriving wildlife pond. Many had never seen a newt before – now they’re passionate wildlife guardians, checking water quality and monitoring amphibian populations.

Why children and wildlife both benefit

This isn’t just about saving amphibians – it is about creating the next generation of conservationists. Research shows that children who participate in hands-on nature activities are significantly more likely to care for the environment as adults.

Through rolling out Coalface to Wildspace in Scotland, we are recovering wildlife and educating local communities about wild spaces, creating a positive cycle where today’s young pond-dippers become tomorrow’s conservation champions.

Every donation counts – here’s how

Donate today, and together we could achieve:

• £10 provides wildlife identification guides for a classroom
• £25 supports a child’s wildlife discovery session
• £50 provides materials for community habitat creation
• £100 funds professional habitat restoration work

Remember, every £1 donated could become £2 for conservation if we successfully demonstrate public support.

Join our campaign today

Scotland’s amphibians can’t wait. Every day counts in creating the habitats these remarkable creatures need to survive and thrive.

Visit our crowdfunder page now and help us Save Scotland’s Ponds and Wild Spaces.

Your donation today could be the difference between a child’s first magical wildlife encounter and another generation growing up disconnected from nature. Together, we can ensure Scotland’s amphibians have a future – and that future starts with your support.

Donate here – every pound could be doubled through match funding