Latest News and Events

CBAP review underway

The current edition of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP) ran from 2003-2008 and is coming to an end.

A review process is underway to produce a revised CBAP that will provide guidance and set targets for biodiversity conservation over the next 3 - 5 years.

The revised CBAP will provide direction and aspirations for biodiversity protection within the county and will work to put Clackmannanshire at the forefront of biodiversity conservation.

This website will grow and evolve throughout the review of the CBAP and will provide regular updates on progress.

The plan will take a more holistic approach to biodiversity conservation by focusing habitat connectivity on a landscape scale. This approach will work to establish functioning ecosystems that allow nature and wildlife to adapt as required in response to our changing climate.

The long-term visions of the LBAP are to create and/or maintain:

• A fully functioning habitat network, comprising woodland, grassland and wetlands.

• An catchment wide network of high quality water courses incorporating a series of measures for natural flood management.
• A landscape which provides a mosaic of habitat types and supports a rich diversity of wildlife.

The involvement of local communities is key to the review process and to the implementation of the revised CBAP. If you would like to know more about the biodiversity of Clackmannanshire and how you can help then read on or contact the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Coordinator.

National Nest Box Week

Valentine's Day marked the start of National Nest Box Week. To celebrate this event the Clackmannanshire Ranger Service held an event at Gartmorn Dam and the public came along to build bird boxes. The day was a resounding success with the rangers and their volunteer assistants rushed off their feet.

The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend, such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. Since National Nest Box Week was launched in 1997, thousands of enthusiastic naturalists across the UK have put up boxes to compensate for this loss. It is estimated that there are now 5-6 million boxes in gardens across the UK.

Fish go to School

This project is in its fourth year and every school in Clackmannanshire has now taken part. This year eight schools are participating. They have attended the launch event at the Glasgow Science Centre and the hatcheries have been installed in their classrooms. Over the next eight weeks the pupils will have to care for the fish, make sure that the water is kept cool, that they have enough oxygen and that any dead eggs/fish are removed.

The children will then release the trout into a local burn when the fish are old enough.

Clackmannanshire Walking Festival

The first Clackmannanshire Walking Festival will be held from 18-22nd September 2008. The festival contains a variety of walks, from short family events to long hill walks, covering biodiversity, local history and other topics. The programme of walks will be available shortly. For more information visit www.clackmannanshiretourism.com

Bobby’s Bank open for business

‘Bobby’s Bank’ was officially opened on 3rd March by Sir Robert Stewart of Arndean. The bank was named in recognition of his work in forming the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership and chairing the group for it’s first 12 years.

The bank is based on a successful design used at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, is 17m long and 2.5m high at it’s highest point. The wooden structure holds 65 tonnes of sand and gravel and it is hoped that the bank will provide a safe home for sand martins. A number of volunteers and staff involved in the construction of the bank received John Muir Trust Awards for their work. These are the first awards to be achieved in Clacks.

The bank was constructed with funding from the Clacks & Stirling Environment Trust, Clacks Heritage Trust, SNH and Clacks Council. The next stage of the project will look to provide interpretation at the site and at the Gartmorn Dam visitors centre.

CATCHMENT Bid Submitted

A project proposal has been submitted to the EU-LIFE+ programme for a 5 year, £2 million project. The project will look to implement action for multiple benefits at catchment level on the River Devon and Black Devon with a total project area of 270 km2.

The proposal is currently being assessed by the EU. If successful this demonstration project will be a first in the UK and will be the single most significant river catchment project ever undertaken in Scotland.