Revive the Allan – Biodiversity Challenge Fund
The Forth Rivers Trust on behalf of the Allan Water Improvement project has been successful in securing just under £200,000 to undertake works to help restore the upper areas of the Allan Water.
The Revive the Allan project will work with the landowner and existing partners supporting the AWIP to dramatically change the landscape to start to re-naturalise the river between Greenloaning and Blackford. The project will use natural solutions such as reconnection to the flood plain, creating wetlands, removing embankments, reinstating gravels, installing woody debris, fences and plant trees, to encourage the river to link back with the flood plain take a more natural path by giving it space.
The first phase of this project is to support the riparian corridor between Milton of Panholes and Deaf Knowe and then to reconnect the floodplain to the river using pre-railway channels where available. This latter work will support existing wetland areas and link them to new seasonal wetlands creating and developing wetland biodiversity and natural flood management solutions. A new and amended fence line will be installed and the area will be grazed by cattle to manage the landscape.
The work will be undertaken by the Forth Rivers Trust, Water Gems and the landowner, Blackford Farms – each providing expertise into the main three elements, with support from Stirling Council on the hydrological modelling required for the flood connection.
The project partners thank The Biodiversity Challenge Fund which specifically encourages applicants with innovative projects that improve biodiversity and address the impact of climate change, by increasing the resilience of our most at-risk habitats and species and creating large areas of brand new habitat.
