Current projects

BOOLS

All the nest boxes that have been erected as part of the BOOLS project and previously with Landfill Tax funds have been inspected. In 2007, 4 of the 14 boxes were used by barn owls to successfully rear young. In total 16 chicks have been ringed. Overall 2007 was an exceptional year for barn owls.

Monitoring of the nest boxes and ringing of chicks is continuing, with the LBAPO and rangers working with the Central Scotland Raptor Group. This year 5 boxes have been used and we are hopeful that a good number of chicks will fly the nest.

Fish go to School

The 'fish go to school' project has been developed by the Clyde River Foundation in partnership with Biodiversity Partnership for Clackmannanshire's primary schools, to provide a practical learning opportunity. The project aims to raise the children's awareness of river ecology (hydrological processes, fish life cycles etc) and the impacts of human intervention on the aquatic environment (pollution, engineering etc).

This project has just completed it’s third year and is as popular as ever. Another 8 schools were involved this year. Over the 3 years of the project all of the primary schools in Clacks were invited to participate. 18 of the 19 schools chose to be involved in the project, with a total of 535 pupils from 22 classes taking part.

Funding has been secured that will enable the project to continue for 2 more years. The project and it’s funding will be reviewed after this time.

Ochils and Hillfoots Landscape Partnership

The application is due to be submitted to the HLF on 1st April. The three themes identified for the project are; hills and glens; rivers and wetlands; discover the Ochils. Approximately 27 projects in total with an estimated cost of £1.3 million. There is a lot of potential for biodiversity projects as part of the bid and there will be a lot of linkages with the proposed LIFE+ bid.

WIAT (Woodlands In and Around Town)

In 2005 Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils were successful in their initial bids to the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Woods In and around Towns Challenge Fund. Both councils received grants to prepare long-term management plans for Council owned and / or managed woods. In Clackmannanshire, five woods are included, these are Woodland Park, Alva; Woodlea Park, Sauchie; Headwall and Cowpark Woods at Gartmorn Dam Country Park and Quarrel Dean, Dollar.

The aims of the Woods In and Around Towns Initiative are to bring urban woods back into active management and also to increase the area of urban woodland. It also aims to improve woodland recreation opportunities near cities and towns and to provide opportunities for greater community involvement in their local woods.

Golf Course Project

A meeting has been arranged with the Clackmannanshire Golf Union with regard to all the courses within Clackmannanshire participating in biodiversity projects that will help them work towards Scottish Golf Environment Group Awards.