New lease of local pond life

A WELL-loved beauty spot has been given a makeover thanks to Scottish Natural Heritage and local volunteers.

Local group Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill gave Blackford Pond a new lease of life after winning grants of more than 12,000.

It is very popular with families but the banks had steadily worn away over the years. Now the group have installed elm cuttings as natural barriers on the bank, and planted a variety of native water plants.