Natural Devon - Pool of Muckhart NFM Project

Overview

Natural Devon – Pool of Muckhart NFM project aims to deliver nature-based solutions to slow the flow of water along an unnamed burn near the village of Muckhart. Residents have come together to form the local flood group to try and look at ways of reducing flood risk to properties in the village. The project has introduced overflow channels, scrapes and leaky dams to try and help slow the flow during flood events whilst boosting habitats for wildlife via the creation of open water habitats, the sewing of wildflower seeds and the installation of living willow leaky dams.  The local residents have been involved in developing and delivering this project, helping shape their landscape for nature and their community.

This project has been championed by the community, with the community taking the lead on what they want from the project with expert advice from the Forth Rivers Trust and Clackmannanshire Council. Support from the Trust and council has been provided with expertise on securing funding to deliver the works provided to the community.

The project first started development in its current form in March 2022 with a funding application to NatureScot. Permissions were also secured from Muckhart Church to deliver the works in their field. Works on the ground began in May 2023 with the project being delivered over the following months. The project will be completed by March 2024.

The project is made up of several elements. These include:

Overflow channel 1 – an overflow channel was created on the floodplain to allow excess water to successfully be stored and held back for longer before continuing downstream. A deflector board was installed so that during normal flows, water will continue to use the existing channel and then during higher flows, excess water moved across the floodplain. A large bunded scrape has also been created as a way to store water on the floodplain for longer. This will provide wetland habitat during the periods it is in use.

Leaky log dams – Three leaky log dams were installed to help slow the flow. This will catch water behind the log dams and allow it to percolate through the structure and surrounding ground. Three have been installed.

Overflow channel 2 – Due to the large quantities of sediment that come from the Ochils, parts of the existing channel had filled in completely. Some of this sediment was removed to allow the burn to move water away from the floodplain during normal flows and the floodplain being used during higher flows. A second overflow channel was created to allow this to happen.

Scrapes – 3 large scrapes have been created in a wet and marshy area. These scrapes were created to create open water habitat and increase the available retention ability of this part of the field.

Living leaky dams – Living willow weaved leaky dams will be created between the three scrapes in the lower portion of the field to help hold water back for longer and slow the flow downstream.

Funder

This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. Match funding was provided by the MERLIN project, funded by the EU.