Biodiversity Challenge Fund (BCF) - Round 3 Project summaries

The 13 projects below were successful in the third round of the Biodiversity Challenge Fund. Project summaries are updated as funding contracts are finalised.

Lockett Agri-Environmental for the River Peffery Restoration

To re-meander a historically straightened and deepened 800m section of the River Peffery, connecting it back to its floodplain, creating and enabling an increase in wetland habitat and rewetting 8 ha of the floodplain.

Forth Rivers Trust for the River Teith Catchment Project

To improve riparian and in-stream biodiversity of the River Teith SAC, through riparian tree planting, green bank protection and woody debris placement.

Dee District Salmon Fishery Board for the Glen Muick - River and Wetlands Restoration

To restore the middle and lower parts of the River Muick, a major tributary of the River Dee, and its floodplain, by implementing a range of practical measures such as native riparian tree planting, reconnecting a backwater channel and installation of dams and instream structures to enable wetland creation and enhancement. This will have a transformational cumulative positive impact for the river, the catchment and the wildlife that depends upon it. 

Glasgow City Council for the Glasgow's Green Urban Connectors

To integrate biodiversity into the fabric of the urban environment in south east Glasgow through the reconfiguration of amenity landscape management and maintenance,  uniting the designated Local Nature Reserve and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation with the green river corridors, parks, amenity managed open green spaces and woodlands to form ‘active travel’ corridors for wildlife.

Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust for the Wild Blane Water Project

To widen and improve the structure of the riparian corridor, treat a range of Invasive Non Native Species (INNS) and increase biodiversity, achieved through riparian fencing to manage stock grazing, small scale planting of trees, restoration of eroded riverbanks and establishing hedgerows.

Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust for the restoring of pearl mussel habitat in a tributary of Loch Shin

To help support the fragile freshwater pearl mussel population within a tributary of Loch Shin. The project will help to restore riverine habitat by introducing gravels and installing large wood structures to provide habitat diversity and act to maintain the introduced gravels in-situ.

Heriot-Watt University for the Oyster Ark - brood stock to bolster wild oyster habitats and secure Scottish supply for restoration 

To seek-out remnant wild Scottish oyster habitats, assess their population sizes, disease status, presence of aggressive Invasive Non Native Species (INNS), and, where appropriate, move a portion as brood-stock to Scotland’s biosecure hatchery to spawn future generations.  Tens of thousands of oysters will be returned to bolster the remnant wild populations. The native oyster Ostrea edulis is a Priority Marine Feature (PMF) for conservation.

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust  Shawfair Connections to create a new biodiverse park next to Wisp in Midlothian. 

This will include creating native meadows, planting trees, scrub and hedges, making bee bank habitats and planters for butterflies.  The project aims to create green corridors between the city of Edinburgh, through Craigmillar Castle Park, Little France Park, on to Wisp Park, and the surrounding countryside, including Woolmet Bing.

University of St Andrews creating Urban Meadows for Pollinators

To create a linked network of urban meadows managed for biodiversity with supporting woodland and scrub, running through St Andrews’ main wildlife corridors of the Swillken Burn and Kinness Burn and along the southern banks of the Eden Estuary to Guardbridge. 

Orkney Islands Council to transform Papdale Park

To transform an open grassed area with low biodiversity value into a vibrant biodiverse public park with trees, shrubs, wildflower meadow and meandering burn.

Seawilding for the Seawilding community-led Seagrass Restoration Project - Loch Craignish

To create Scotland’s first community-led seagrass restoration project with the aim of reinforcing the fragmented seagrass meadows of Loch Craignish. The project will develop best-practice, low-cost methodologies using a mobile seagrass seed processing unit, and develop a “how-to” practical guide, with the aim of rolling-out community-led seagrass restoration to other coastal communities.

Local land manager working with the Scottish Chough Forum for the provision of a safe communal roosting site for red-billed choughs

To provide a safe, communal roost site for red-billed chough on Islay adjacent to key feeding areas.

Arkaig Community Forest SCIO for the Loch Arkaig Pinewoods - Landscape Scale Native Woodland Restoration

Landscape scale native woodland regeneration to increase the resilience and carbon sequestration potential of the native woodland at Loch Arkaig Pine Forest over the next five years (2021-2026). 

The focus will be on managing grazing pressure, re-establishing new nature-rich habitats and training and skills development. Specifically: establishment of a deer larder and processing unit combined with the development of a community venison scheme and associated programme of training and skills development; establishment of a native tree nursery and plant propagation unit, to produce local provenance trees for native woodland expansion projects in Lochaber. This will also include an associated programme of training and skills development focused on tree seed collection, processing, and propagation; establishment of pontoon facilities plus shelter and welfare facilities to enable safe and inclusive working conditions for deer management and forest management activities within the remote forests at Loch Arkaig.