We want to kickstart action to implement landscape scale restoration of biodiversity. We believe that landscape scale regeneration is essential for restoring biodiversity as well as for adaptation to climate change and reducing flood risk to downstream settlements, West Barns in particular.
Vision
We have a vision of a regenerating landscape in which:
- Uplands form a dynamic mosaic of habitats including wetland and bog, heather moorland, scrub and woodland…
- Rivers are free-flowing, without barriers to fish migration and able to meander and flood to form pools and marshy wetlands….
- Riparian woodland is able to flourish and regenerate, shading and cooling watercourses and forming an active part of the river ecosystem….
- Large areas of actively regenerating native woodlands are connected across the landscape by woodland and scrubby hedgerows to form wildlife corridors…..
- Coastal dunes and salt marshes are dynamic and resilient whilst offshore, seagrass meadows are regenerating and kelp forests are flourishing…
Pilot Project
We want to explore how landowners and members of the wider community can work together to restore biodiversity, to create a local landscape that is better adapted to climate change and in which opportunities for nature recovery are increased significantly. As a pilot for landscape scale restoration of habitats across East Lammermuir and beyond we will map one or two river catchments to assess the range and condition of current habitats, the main challenges facing biodiversity and river water quality from source to sea and develop action plans to take forward practical enhancement projects.
We want to plan and kickstart practical action and collaborative working between local landowners and community groups and volunteers. The intention is to develop a shared vision of a regenerating landscape and a methodology that can then be replicated across the whole of the East Lammermuir Community Council area and potentially more widely. We want to explore and demonstrate how best to mobilise and coordinate volunteer effort, knowledge and enthusiasm whilst building relationships and understanding between landowners, farmers and the local community and explore opportunities for bringing new assets into community ownership and management. The initial river focus will be the first crucial step towards devising an integrated approach to restoring the ecological and hydrological functions of the coastal burns cooperatively. We want to develop an approach that gives local people a strong stake in the protection and enhancement of their immediate local environment.
Through having an action plan, combined with a shared vision for landscape scale restoration, we hope that a much more coordinated and joined up approach will become possible leading to better collaboration between farmers and others in our community and to more efficient use of the ‘biodiversity net-gain’ investments required by new energy infrastructure. We think this will form a good foundation for implementing the aspirations of the East Lammermuir Local Place Plan.
Funding
We have just (June 2025) received a small amount of funding from the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund to enable us to work in partnership with Forth Rivers Trust to make a start with mapping and to develop a programme of community engagement activities over the coming months. Forth Rivers Trust who have a lot of knowledge and expertise that we can draw on.
We are currently seeking further funding to expand the scope of this initial piece of work and will provide regular updates as this work progresses.
