A project to restore and improve the local biodiversity of two rivers in Rosyth has taken a step forward.
Fife Council has approved an award of £16,250 from the local community planning budget 2024-25 which will be used to carry out an initial feasibility study.
The project vision is to create climate resilience in the area of the rivers while also making significant ecological improvements, enhancing biodiversity and expanding the natural habitat of the Whinny/Brankholm Burn.
The work aims to restore the physical condition of 3km of river. This could potentially include two stage channels, backwaters, reconnecting floodplains, wetlands and developing riverwoods, Fife Council said.
Convenor of the south and west Fife area committee, councillor David Barratt, said, “This is a really positive step towards a programme of work which won’t just improve the area, increase biodiversity and create a variety of different habitats for wildlife, it should also go a long way to reducing flood risk. I’m pleased that as a committee we are able to contribute to something which should have such a positive impact on a really wide area and I look forward to seeing this project progress.”
This initial stage of the project is to undertake a feasibility study to provide a clear justification for initiating a project on the Brankholm/Whinny Burn in Rosyth. The aim is to restore river processes, build climate resilience and create a wide variety of habitats to benefit wildlife.
The project will be led by Fife Council in partnership with Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, with the support of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
