The Forth Rivers Trust is pleased to announce £265,000 of funding awarded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. This funding will support 3 projects which will improve biodiversity, bring together efforts to tackle Invasive Non-Native Species, and build climate resilience within the Forth catchment: the Kelty Water development project, Revive the Allan Water and its Tributaries, and the Forth Invasive Species Project.
The Kelty Water project is a development phase initiative that will focus on small-scale habitat improvements in the upper Forth catchment, including hedgerow connectivity, tree planting around rivers, woodland connectivity, and community engagement. Improving habitat and restoring connectivity of diverse habitats in the upper catchment will deliver a host of benefits for our resident and migratory freshwater fish and other wildlife.
The Revive the Allan and its Tributaries project will investigate the addition of more woody structures in the river’s mainstem, large-scale riparian planting on 2 Allan Water tributaries, scoping easement of fish passage in the tributaries, and the potential for further wetland creation through implementation of an overflow channel. This will add to previous project works and further enhance a catchment-scale outcome. The project is kindly match-funded by EU MERLIN, furthering key research in habitat restoration and natural flood management techniques.
The Forth Invasive Species Project is a development phase project aiming to build on the work delivered previously by mapping the extent of Invasive Non-Native Species in the catchment, engaging with landowners on the impacts of INNS, and securing permissions for control in the future. The priority invasive species which will be tackled include American Skunk Cabbage, Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Signal Crayfish, alongside research into innovative control methods across the 14 main river catchments in the Forth that will pave the way for long-term control that will engage communities and groups across the Forth to tackle this vital issue to help restore our river habitats.
Amelia Heath and Jonathan Louis, co-directors of Forth Rivers Trust, said ‘We are extremely grateful to have received this funding. Supporting habitat improvements in the headwaters of the Upper Forth and the Allan Water will help protect our fragile freshwater fish populations, boosting biodiversity, and increasing climate resilience for communities downstream. Invasive species also have a major impact on our natural environment and are present around the Forth catchment, especially in and around our freshwaters, so we look forward to understanding their spread and building a collaborative and catchment-wide effort to protect our rivers for the benefits of both wildlife and people.‘
NatureScot Head of Biodiversity Katherine Leys said: “We are pleased to provide vital development support to these projects through the Nature Restoration Fund. This will help maximise the benefits and positive impacts for nature, by restoring habitats and species across the Forth catchment in the most sustainable and cost-effective ways.”
For more information on the projects as they progress, follow Forth Rivers Trust’s social platforms to stay up to date. You can also email trust@forthriverstrust.org to get in touch with us.
