East Lammermuir Rivers Project -Advisory Group Launch

East Lammermuir River Catchments Restoration Project - Invitation to the launch of a project advisory group

Wednesday 11th February, 5-7pm, Spott Village Hall

We would like to invite you to this meeting to:
 

• Hear more about the project and our aspirations  

• Learn about the work of the Tweed Forum and discuss what lessons we can learn (presentation from Tweed Forum) 
• To discuss what form a Project Advisory Group could best take as we move forward to develop detailed plans for some initial restoration projects whilst also developing longer-term, catchment-wide restoration plans
  

Over the past six months, Sustaining Dunbar and Forth Rivers Trust have been partnering in a small pilot project which has the ambitious aim of seeking to help kickstart landscape scale restoration of nature across East Lammermuir.

Through this project we are starting to explore how best to develop a collaborative working relationship between local landowners, farmers, community groups and volunteers. Can we create a shared vision of what is possible and of the benefits that catchment-scale restoration could bring? How can we best mobilise and coordinate volunteer effort, knowledge and enthusiasm whilst building mutual understanding between landowners, farmers and the wider community?

In parallel with a programme of community engagement, the initial project focus has been on surveying the five main coastal burns which, whilst providing the main, current, seminatural links, are themselves constrained and modified, with many barriers to fish migration and limited room to function ecologically or hydrologically in a natural way. We are building up a long list of potential restoration opportunities, including remeandering, wetland creation, riparian tree planting, creation of leaky dams, removal of barriers to fish migration, creation of buffer woodlands etc..as well as establishing wildlife corridors across the landscape to connect currently isolated habitats.

A small, mainly volunteer, steering group has overseen the project to date but we are keen to find ways to tap into the huge amount of knowledge and expertise that we know exists across our community amongst: farmers, land managers, ecologists, geologists, archeologists, artists, nature enthusiasts, historians, teachers etc…….