Biodiversity Challenge Fund - Round 2 Project Summaries

Tweed Forum

Upper Yarrow Landscape Initiative

To restore a previously straightened part of the Little Yarrow tributary of the River Tweed, creating a natural, meandering river channel, within a 12 ha floodplain, restored to a mosaic of natural wetlands and native woodland. 

RSPB Scotland

Enhance, Create and Pollinate - creating pollinator friendly habitats across Scotland

The purpose of this grant is to create approximately 91ha of pollinator friendly habitat in various locations across Scotland. 

Galloway Fisheries Trust

Water of Luce and Tarf Water headwaters climate resilience fish project

To undertake a range of in stream works, riparian planting and planting of willow stakes at the headwaters of the River Luce and upper Tarf Water tributary to improve instream habitats, reduce erosion and sediment washout and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. 

Woodland Trust Scotland

Loch Arkaig – Glen Mallie Forest Edge Restoration

Fell-to-recycle all non-native trees across 88ha at Glen Mallie, Loch Arkaig to enable the recovery of the native woodland habitat, through creating space for regeneration and reducing the shade and persistent litter created by non-native conifers.

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Protecting and enhancing species rich grassland

The purpose of the project is to deliver tangible biodiversity benefits to species-rich grassland and other priority habitats through appropriate management techniques. This will be achieved through purchase of materials and improvements to infrastructure to allow more effective site management. 

Spey Fishery Board for the Spey Catchment Initiative

Re-wooding the River Calder

Establish up to 20ha of riparian woodland along 3.5 km of the River Calder, an upland tributary of the Spey (SAC), by installing deer fencing to remove grazing pressure, planting with native tree species and encouraging natural regeneration.

Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA)

Cairngorms Wetlands

To deliver key wetland habitat and species conservation actions from the Cairngorms Nature Action Programme, particularly: improving breeding and foraging habitats of red and amber listed waders, mammals and invertebrates and restoring Freshwater Pearl Mussel populations within the River Spey catchment trialling host fish encystment. 

Trees for Life

West Affric Montane Woodland Habitat Expansion

Extend three existing native woodland exclosures by a total of 61 hectares on the NTS West Affric estate to secure the seed sources they have generated, plant 15ha with appropriate, native, montane tree species at a density of 500 per ha to increase the seed source for montane species and improve montane woodland habitat connectivity. 

Dee District Salmon Fishery Board

Garbh Allt & Upper Muick River Restoration Project

To restore and enhance instream and riparian habitats along two sub-catchments of the River Dee through removal of artificial embankments, reconnection of backwater channels and reintroduction of woody structures to create habitat for a range of aquatic species and reduce flooding impact.

Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust

The Endrick Legacy Project

Undertake control measures for Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and American skunk cabbage, American mink and American signal crayfish in the Endrick catchment. 

Undertake a number of small scale riparian tree planting schemes in key spawning / juvenile habitat areas. 

Improve access for migratory fish to spawning habitat through improving/replacing water gates, unblocking streams and removing other man-made restrictions.

RSPB Scotland

Clyde Valley Waders - Enhancing Landscapes in South West Scotland

The RSPB led project in partnership with 17 Landowners and SAC Consulting Solutions will give direct action to improve habitat and species management and improve the survival rates of upland waders as well as study these successes to allow promotion of better practice.  The project will result in increased connectivity between breeding sites in the landscape scale in the area around Crawfordjohn.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority

Inversnaid Invasive Non-native Plant Species Control Project

The initial treatment principally of invasive Rhododendron as well as small populations of Japanese knotweed and American skunk cabbage around Inversnaid on east Loch Lomond. As part of this the Park will train volunteers in the safe use of herbicides and will purchase appropriate equipment, PPE and herbicide.

RSPB Scotland (on behalf of Inner Forth Futures Partnership)

Inner Forth Futures Wetland Habitat Network

Wetlands at five sites around the Forth will be improved with new habitats created, degraded habitats improved, hydrology and saline lagoons managed, and invasive species removed.

North Isles Landscape Partnership

North Isles Habitat Management and Restoration

The project has enhanced and restored some of the key natural habitats of the North Isles. 

10 hectares of grassland on Egilsay has been restored to benefit breeding waders (including curlew, snipe, lapwing and redshank) and improve the botanical diversity of the grasslands to benefit pollinators (including the great yellow bumblebee). The work involved cutting and removing rank vegetation that had little biodiversity value, and implementing appropriate grazing regimes to maintain the habitats in the future. 

22.3 hectares of grassland and wetland improvements have been undertaken on Papa Westray to benefit breeding waders (curlew, snipe, lapwing, redshank) and corncrake, and to improve the botanical diversity. The work involved cutting and removing rank vegetation that has little biodiversity value, digging scrapes and implementing appropriate grazing regimes to maintain the habitats in the future. 

2.3 hectares of habitat improvements have been undertaken on Sanday to benefit breeding waders and wildflowers. The work involved digging scrapes, fencing and implementing an appropriate grazing regime.

Forth Rivers Trust

Revive the Allan

To undertake an initial phase of the Revive the Allan project that will enhance the riparian corridor between Milton of Panholes and Deaf Knowe, reconnecting the floodplain to the river using a pre-railway channel, creating new wetlands and undertaking green banking in support of natural flood management solutions.