Pictured: Countryside Rangers monitoring new tern nesting rafts installed on the Bothkennar lagoons.

Nearly £700ks has been spent to tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change in the Falkirk Council area.

Ten projects were delivered in 2021/22 to restore nature, safeguard wildlife and improve local biodiversity across the area.

Funding of £289k was secured from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, with a further £407k committed by Falkirk Council and partner organisations including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, and Scotland Loves Local.

Rafts for the common tern

One of the projects has increased nesting sites for the common tern thanks to three new tern nesting rafts installed on the Bothkennar lagoons costing just under £10k.

The common tern is on the UK Amber list for birds of conservation concern. Falkirk Council worked with the RSPB, Falkirk Wildlife Volunteers Group to install the rafts which are monitored by the Countryside Rangers.

Other projects include:

• Zetland Park pond (pictured above), £350k - creation of a naturalised pond benefitting a wide range of species
• Kinneil Local Nature Reserve, £4k – restoration and enhancement of  grassland habitat critical for pollinators and other wildlife
• The Rumlie, Slamannan, £101k – creation of new areas of meadow habitat and access improvements
• Invasive non-native species control, £8.5k – removal of cherry laurel and rhododendron at Kinneil Estate and South Bantaskine Estate
• Polmont urban woodland project, £62k – creation of over 4 hectares of new woodland habitat in Council owned woodlands around the Polmont area
• Been Goose conservation, £2k – thermal night imaging equipment to improve monitoring data to improve local, national and international conservation efforts
• Inchyra Park, £9k – new meadow habitat, water features and tree planting
• Avonglen wildlife site enhancement, £17k– new pond habitat created to support the great crested newt population
• Zetland Park rain garden (pictured below), £132k – Rejuvenation of a historic rose garden within the park to make it more resilient to increased rainfall.

Helping nature and improving conditions for biodiversity

Councillor Paul Garner, spokesperson for Economic Development said:

“There has never been a more crucial time to help nature and improve conditions for biodiversity to thrive and flourish against the very real threat of the global climate emergency. These positive and important projects support, restore and enhance wildlife and habitats throughout our area and everyone involved should be very proud of their involvement and contribution to giving nature a helping hand.”

The ten projects were supported by a number of organisations including: the Green Action Trust, the Friends of Zetland Park, the Zetland Park Rose Garden Action Group, Scottish Wildlife Junior Rangers, TCV, Falkirk Wildlife Volunteers, RSPB, Bean Goose Advisory Group, the Friends of Inchyra Park, volunteers from Forth Valley College, and The Woodland Trust.