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Semptember 2020 Inner Forth Futures e-newsletter
In this issue:
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Sign up for Wanderings & Windings Autumn walking and cycling challenge!
Anyone looking for some inspiration to help them get more active this autumn might be interested in the new, free walking and cycling challenges that we are running this October.
The Inner Forth Futures Wanderings and Windings Autumn Challenge is open to anyone who’d like to explore this fascinating part of the country on foot or by bike. IFF worked with local communities to create nine new trails around the Inner Forth area in 2019, called Wanderings & Windings, and the challenges are encouraging people to use them for their walks and cycles. Participants who complete their challenges will receive a free bespoke medal and certificate to celebrate their achievement.
The Inner Forth is a beautiful part of the world all year round, but in autumn it’s even more special as the woodlands turn golden, the skies fill again with the wild geese returning, and our coastal saltmarshes and mudflats are home once more to the many thousands of waders and wildfowl that spend their winters with us.
The challenges are part of the Scotland-wide celebrations for the Year of Coasts and Waters, highlighting the fantastic seas, rivers and lochs that are a big part of what makes this country so special.
There are five distances to choose from in both the walking and cycling challenges. Choose the distance you’d like to take on – whether you’re looking for a couple of family strolls, a few afternoon bike rides, a good leg-stretcher every weekend, or a mega challenge to do all the routes over the month! You can start any time from 1 October, and you need to finish by 31 October. The deadline for new entries is 21 October.
Young people under the age of 18 are also welcome to join the challenge, but an adult over the age of 18 must register on their behalf, and be responsible for them as they walk or cycle during the Challenge.
Once particpants have completed their challenge mileage they will need to submit some form of evidence to receive their medal and certificate. It can be a screenshot of any tracking app they use on their phone or other device, photos of views they’ve taken on the routes, or even simply a log of the distance they’ve covered. There’s a downloadable sheet to use.
To find out more and sign up for the challenge, visit the website at https://www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk/wanderings-windings-october-challenge
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Inner Forth Futures Wetland Network wins funding
Black-tailed godwits flying over the Forth. Image courtesy of David Palmar/www.photoscot.co.uk
An ambitious new project, worth nearly £120,000, is set to make five areas around the Forth better connected for our wetland wildlife.
The Inner Forth Futures Wetland Network has been awarded £119,415, thanks to a grant from the Nature Scot Biodiversity Challenge Fund, to create and improve wetland habitats at five sites around the Inner Forth between now and 2021. A total of over 15ha of new habitat will be created, with more than 155ha made better for wildlife. As wetlands also help increase flood resilience and store carbon, it’s great news for local people too.
The work is focussed at Kildean in Stirling, Black Devon Wetlands in Clackmannanshire, Bluther Wetland in Fife, and Carron Dams and Bothkennar Pools in Falkirk. Plans include creating new pools, scrapes and hedgerows; cutting back reeds and scrub to open up clear water areas; removing invasive species like giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed; installing new fences to manage grazing pressures; and carrying out surveys to assess what future work could be done.
Commenting on the award, Inner Forth Futures Wetland Habitat Network project lead Toby Wilson, of RSPB Scotland, said:
‘The Inner Forth is incredibly valuable for its wetland habitats, with some parts of international importance. This is especially true as we have lost an estimated 35% of our wetlands in the UK over just the last 40 years. This project will not only create much needed new wetland habitat, but most importantly help link existing wetland areas. This means wildlife will be able to move more easily through the landscape using a network of pools and hedgerows, allowing it to spread and thrive. We hope this project will provide a blueprint for others, so that eventually we will have a nationwide network of habitats that will help tackle the biodiversity crisis, and benefit both wildlife and people.’
The project is led by RSPB Scotland on behalf of the Inner Forth Futures Partnership. RSPB Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Falkirk, Stirling and Fife Councils will manage work at individual sites.
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Farewell to IFF
Sue talking to a group of Braveheart walkers at RSPB Skinflats Nature Reserve
on one of her first walks of many with them in 2015!
Inner Forth Project Officer Sue Walker, who has worked with us since Inner Forth Landscape Initiative began its delivery phase in 2014, is moving on to pastures new at the end of September.
Sue, who is going to work for the Scottish Wildlife Trust on the Cumbernauld and Coigach & Assynt Living Landscapes projects, commented:
'It's been a fantastic six years working in the Inner Forth. It's not only a unique and amazing landscape, but over the years I've been here I've met and worked with some of the friendliest and most helpful people you could imagine. There are so many folk who are incredibly proud of the area, and work extremely hard in all sorts of ways to make the Inner Forth special. They have made my time here a real pleasure, and I will miss them all. Thank you everyone!'
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The Great Place Walk 2020
Walking near Callendar House, in Falkirk. Image Doug Shapley Photography/IFF
Great Place Falkirk has announced it is launching a series of live and online events to celebrate the Falkirk area, as Britain's Best Walking Neighbourhood!
From Saturday 26 September until Sunday 11 October they will be a celebrating Falkirk's local heritage and natural environment through walking.
Whatever your age, ability, or time commitments, there will be lots of opportunities and activities to get outdoors, go for a walk and enjoy the local area! Keep your eyes peeled on social media for more details on events and trails.
More details will be released soon, so keep a look out on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreatPlaceFK/ for further info.
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