Invitation to the launch of a Project Advisory Group
Wednesday 11th February, 5-7pm, Spott Village Hall
We would like to invite you to this meeting to hear more about the project and our aspirations and to discuss what form an advisory group could best take as we move forward to develop detailed plans for some initial restoration projects whilst also developing longer-term, catchment-wide restoration plans.
Over the past six months, Sustaining Dunbar and Forth Rivers Trust have been partnering in a small, pilot project which has the ambitious aim of seeking to kickstart landscape scale restoration of nature across East Lammermuir.
Through this project we have been starting to explore how best to
- develop a collaborative working relationship between local landowners, farmers, community groups and volunteers.
- create a shared vision of what is possible and of the benefits that catchment-scale restoration could bring?
- mobilise and coordinate volunteer effort, knowledge and enthusiasm whilst building mutual understanding between landowners, farmers and the wider community?
In parallel with a programme of community engagement, the initial project focus has been on surveying the five main coastal burns which, whilst providing the main, current, seminatural links, are themselves constrained and modified, with many barriers to fish migration and limited room to function ecologically or hydrologically in a natural way. We are building up a long list of potential restoration opportunities, including re-meandering, wetland creation, riparian tree planting, creation of leaky dams, removal of barriers to fish migration, creation of buffer woodlands etc..as well as establishing wildlife corridors across the landscape to connect currently isolated habitats.
A small, mainly volunteer, steering group has overseen the project to date but we are keen to find ways to tap into the huge amount of knowledge and expertise that we know exists across our community: farmers, land managers, ecologists, geologists, archeologists, artists, nature enthusiasts, historians, teachers etc…….
If you are able to come to this meeting, please reserve a space HERE
If you are not able to come to this meeting but would like to keep in touch, please email us.
Please forward this invitation to anyone who you think may be interested. Many thanks!
Kind regards
Philip Revell
Trustee