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The 2003 habitat enhancement awards will take place on Thursday 11 December at Battleby near Perth. The awards, organised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, will be presented by Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, and will recognise the efforts of those who have protected or improved wildlife habitats
The following initiatives have been shortlisted for the awards:
- Murton Wildlife Trust for Environmental Education, Forfar
- Skares bing and brickworks restoration site, Cumnock, Ayrshire
- Drumbow, Caldercruix (phase 1), North Lanarkshire
- The Ythan project, Aberdeenshire
- RSPB Nigg Bay coastal realignment project, Cromarty Firth
- River Eden conservation and management, Fife
- Dunsiston Road wetland, Shotts, Lanarkshire
- Allanfauld farm (Garrel Burn), Kilsyth, Glasgow
- The White Burn initiative, Whitburn, West Lothian
There are five categories of awards and an overall winner's award. For information and contact details for each project please see below.
The award presentation is a morning event about habitat enhancement at the Battleby office of Scottish Natural Heritage. The presentations will begin at 11.00am and finish around 13.30pm. Each entry has been assessed by a technical group and then a judging panel that included: Jack Fleming, Advisory Manager, RSPB Scotland; Steve Sankey, Chief Executive, Scottish Wildlife Trust; Dr John Markland, Chairman, Scottish Natural Heritage; Simon Pepper, Director, WWF Scotland; Duncan McClaren, Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth Scotland.
SEPA's Habitat Enhancement Initiative aims to support individuals and groups that work to protect, improve and enhance aquatic and brownfield habitats.
Project details
Murton Wildlife Trust for Environmental Education, Forfar
Contact Mr & Mrs Michael Hill - 01307 818376, hilltw@sol.co.uk
The Murton wildlife nature reserve is the restored part of a quarry worked by aggregate industries over the past 15 years. Four lochans, wetlands and areas of planted trees and open grass have been created.
Skares bing and brickworks restoration site, Cumnock, Ayrshire
Contact David Simpson, Portcullis Developments Ltd - 01563 550111, info@portcullisuk.com
This project has used an innovative approach to reclaiming a derelict brownfield site, to create community woodland. Sewage sludge was used to regenerate poor quality soil, which was then planted with mixed woodland and grass, providing a rich habitat for a wide range of animals and birds.
Drumbow, Caldercruix (phase 1), North Lanarkshire
Contact David Simpson, Portcullis Developments Ltd - 01563 550111, info@portcullisuk.com
This project has also used sewage sludge to regenerate a derelict brownfield site, in this case an opencast coal mine, which had been abandoned in the 1960s. The site has been transformed into a community mixed woodland with footpaths, wetlands and view points.
The Ythan project, Aberdeenshire
Contact Tamsin Morris, Project Officer - 01358 726411, info@ythan.org.uk
The project has a taken a collaborative approach between eight organisations and local people to restore, protect and enhance the river Ythan. Work so far includes helping farmers to create habitats and do nutrient budgets, creating wetlands, building a fish pass and planting broadleaved woodland areas.
RSPB Nigg Bay coastal realignment project, Cromarty Firth
Contact Kenna Chisholm - 01463 715000, kenna.chisholm@rspb.org.uk
This is the first coastal realignment project in Scotland. It aims to re-create salt marshes and mudflats, important to a wide range of birds, by breaching a sea wall to allow the sea to flood a low-lying field. Areas like this also create buffer zones absorbing the energy of storm and rising sea levels to protect our communities from the threat of flooding.
FWAG River Eden conservation and management, River Eden catchment, Fife
Contact Shirley Macgowan 01334 656546, fife.kinross@fwag.org.uk
This project aims to improve water quality of the main river and its tributaries by encouraging sensitive agricultural practice and pollution control through managing riverside habitats, raising awareness of water quality problems and reducing nutrient levels entering the Eden estuary.
Dunsiston Road wetland, Shotts, Lanarkshire
Contact Mike Batley or Andrew Mackie, Central Scotland Forest Trust, 01501 822015 mike.batley@csft.co.uk
The project has been designed to offer a wetland habitat suitable for waders, notably lapwings, a priority species in North Lanarkshire.
Allanfauld farm (Garrel Burn), Kilsyth, Glasgow
Contact Mike Batley or Andrew Mackie, Central Scotland Forest Trust, 01501 822015 mike.batley@csft.co.uk
This project is enhancing an area of ancient woodland on a riverbank in the foothills of the Kilsyth hills. Techniques including natural regeneration, stock exclusion and enrichment planting are being used to extend the wooded area and contribute to the local forest habitat network.
The White Burn initiative, Whitburn, West Lothian
Contact Dr John Sheldon, West Lothian Council, 01506 775278, john.sheldon@westlothian.gov.uk
The objective of this project was to transform the White burn from an urban drain to a clean and safe watercourse that brings wildlife and enjoyment to the Whitburn communities.
ENDS
Contact
Joanna Gardiner, public relations officer, 01355 574226
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