Open Spaces, West Braes Crail

Why are we crowdfunding?

The housing company that owns two public open spaces in West Braes Crescent would like to gift the open spaces to the Crail community for all to enjoy for perpetuity. Crail Community Partnership has agreed to take on the ownership of these spaces, but we need funds to help us complete the legal asset transfer process. 

We would also like to raise funds to carry out planting and site improvement that will enhance these green spaces for the enjoyment of both humans and wildlife.

We want these spaces to be owned by the Crail community so that the community can control how the land is used and how it is enhanced.

A bit of background.....

West Braes Crescent is a small estate built to the West of the coastal village of Crail by a housing company in 1972. Like many other estates built at that time – it was the intention that the public open spaces created as part of the development would be looked after by the local authority and indeed the ownership of these spaces was often transferred to the local authority. Fife Council have maintained these areas since the estate was built.

In June 2020 the community were alerted to the fact that ownership had not been transferred to Fife Council when a house owner (a private developer) applied for planning permission to incorporate a piece of public open space into her garden. The application was successful, despite many objections, and it was discovered that the private property developer had managed to purchase the land from the housing company.

The community, concerned that this might happen again, approached the housing company to enquire whether the other public open spaces could be purchased by the community for the community, and prevent any further development of the public open spaces. It was at this point that the housing company communicated that that they would like to gift two public open spaces (Area 1 and Area 2 ) to Crail community. 

For residents and visitors alike

Area 1 is a strip of land to the north side of West Braes. The Fife Coastal Path runs along this road and many walkers arrive or leave Crail on their way from or to Anstruther.

The Fife Coastal Path is very popular and attracts many visitors to Crail, as well as being very well used by the residents of Crail. Within the area there are two public benches – providing a welcome seat for walkers as they arrive at the Burgh. The initial plan for this area is for it to be mown and maintained by the residents. 

A wild sanctuary

Area 2 is currently a large, grassed rectangle which has within the last two years become part of Fife Council’s rewilding scheme.

At the far edge of the space there is a large hedge and there is a small crop of low height trees. Wildlife is increasing in the space particularly since Fife Council has stopped cutting the grass – it now provides food and shelter for many garden birds and small mammals.

The plan for this space is to create a wildflower meadow with a sweeping path cut around and through the space.

Wildflowers such as wild marjoram, cornflower, field poppy, foxglove, hedge mustard and red clover could be chosen and in time, with further funding, perhaps a small fruit orchard and seated area could be added. 

Looking to the future

As villages expand and develop over the years it is most important to keep these managed wild areas. They provide sanctuaries for wildlife and pleasant areas for people to enjoy.

We need your help

Please help us accept this gift of green space, for us to maintain and keep forever - for Crail inhabitants and visitors alike.

Thank you for taking the time to read this page – we would really appreciate your support both financially and in helping to spread the word about this Crowdfunder.

If you would prefer not to donate online but would like to make a donation please contact Jude Gallon 07766704331, 13 West Braes Crescent , Sonja Potjewijd 07939147150 , 15 West Braes Crescent or Dennis Gowans 01333 450108.

Donations can be made to Crail Community Partnership (SC 049189) for the West Braes Open Spaces acquisition. 

Video Credits:

Music: www.bensound.com

Photos:  John Anderson, Will Cresswell

Drone Footage:  Tom Dawson