A small project steering group guides the coastal burns pilot project.
To better interface with the wider community we are convening an advisory group – to pull in local expertise and get more out of volunteer efforts.
We expect this to comprise local people with professional expertise in ecology and nature based solutions as well as other community members, who are already involved with the East Lammermuir Biodiversity Liaison Group, the East Lothian Climate Hub’s biodiversity working group and emerging groups such as Wild About West Barns. It will include local landowners, farmers and large business interests.
If you are interested in taking part please get in touch. Initially we do not expect too many meetings – in fact whenever possible we will try to meet on a site and use these opportunities to share our learning about the difficult challenges that nature restoration at scale presents.
Through the project, volunteers will be supported to enhance both their theoretical knowledge and understanding as well as practical skills.
We also have a group of River Guardians on the river Biel, who have attended a short online and a practical training course focused on invertebrate indicator species. More volunteers means we can extend the monitoring a little further afield.
Over the life time of the project we would like to see development of opportunities for creating catchment-scale restoration plans, woodland establishment and management, hedge rejuvenation, wetlands creation, and habitat surveying and monitoring etc.
A key element of the project will be site visits and practical workshops involving local community groups, individuals and stakeholders, including farmers and other landowners.
These will draw in local and external experts to share their knowledge and understanding of our local landscape and habitats and start building a shared understanding of what is possible and of the benefits that restoration of the local landscape could bring.
