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Forth Estuary Forum E-News Bulletin
March 2018
Members’ Event at RSPB Skinflats Reserve
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There will be a Forum members’ visit to the RSPB Skinflats Reserve at 1:00 on Thursday 12th April, with a presentation and tour of the reserve.
Please note that you will require private transport to the reserve; the reserve lies next to the Kincardine Bridge. Full directions to the tour meeting point are below.
In 2009 RSPB Scotland installed a regulated tidal exchange scheme at their Skinflats reserve near Falkirk. This allowed inundation of part of a field at high tide, enabling the establishment of inter-tidal habitat. Saltmarsh plants colonised the site quickly and a range of bird species began to use the area as a high tide roost. However, despite this initial success, the infrastructure used to bring water onto the site did not function as planned meaning the site did not have the regular inundation required to allow the continued establishment of saltmarsh vegetation.
RSPB Scotland have now re-visited the options for this site and examined the most sustainable methods of delivering high quality inter-tidal habitat. Managed realignment has been identified as the best option for achieving this. This would involve creating a small breach in the old sea wall and upgrading the secondary sea wall inland. This would allow water to flow on to the site at every high tide and replace the existing regulated tidal exchange system. The output of this project would be an exciting and dynamic area of inter-tidal habitat that would benefit wildlife in the Inner Forth landscape.
RSPB Scotland is now taking this project forward and has recently submitted a planning application to deliver the scheme.
The reserve boundary extends out-with the seawall onto an area of mudflats, which are internationally important for wintering ducks, geese and waders, and which are covered by the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for these species.
The Forum last visited the reserve during a members event in November 2011, during the original tidal exchange scheme, so it will be fascinating to see how it has changed in the last six years and receive an update.
Please note, if you wish to attend, please e-mail or contact us at info@forthestuaryforum.co.uk or 01324 473760 by 11th April 2018. We will need this confirmation to inform the RSPB of numbers attending on the day. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be ready on your arrival. Please wear stout shoes or Wellington boots, and wet weather gear may be needed!
We look forward to seeing you there. The Forum would like to thank David Anderson of the RSPB for helping arrange this event.
Getting to RSPB Skinflats – FK2 8PP
Take the M876 signed to Kincardine Bridge off the M9. Leave the motorway at the Bowtrees roundabout – A905 (signed Grangemouth). Take the A905 south towards Grangemouth. After 100m turn left where signed to the Powfowlis Hotel. Follow this road until a T junction/offset crossroads is reached where the hotel is to the right. Turn left and then right down the lane with a 15mph speed restriction, a mossy centre and an avenue of trees. Follow this to the end, over the speed bumps. Bothkennar research station is at the very bottom.
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Any problems getting there on the day, please contact Chris Cutts (mob: 07584 817479).
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