Bainsford & Langlees will benefit from half the funding (£70k) which will be invested to co-create a plan with local residents.

The plan-making process will help communities to research and better understand the heritage of their local area and identify the actions needed to make their area more resilient to climate change. In addition:

• A youth panel will be recruited from the local community to feed into and support plan-making decisions.
• A funding pot will be handed to the community for them to decide on which heritage projects should be prioritised for delivery
• A separate youth micro-grant fund will be administered by the youth panel to fund their distinct priorities.

The remaining £70k will be invested in Rannoch Park, Grangemouth (pictured) to:

• Run a project focussing on reducing the impacts of heavy rainfall and supporting climate adaptation and resilience.
• Strengthening the environmental buffer between the park and roads to the southern edge with woodland expansion to mitigate negative impacts of noise/air pollution reduce visual movement of vehicles and reduce flood extent area.
• New orchard planting.
• Wetland scraping in the western part of the site to accommodate surface water flooding and additional habitat.
• Provide more diversity in planting and seasonal interest.

Funding for the projects, which is part of a wider £1.6m investment in the Inner Forth area, has come from Climate FORTH (Furthering Our Resilience Through Heritage) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said:

"Both these projects will undoubtedly support local communities and enhance their understanding of their heritage as well as mitigate for climate change happening right now. It's great to see how young people will have a direct say in how funding can be used to help meet their priorities moving forward."

Falkirk Council will work with the Climate FORTH project team on the two projects which are expected to start in 2024.