Funding for two biodiversity conservation projects was facilitated by the Langhope Rig Wind Farm development – a biodiversity offset scheme secured by Scottish Borders Council from the developer SSE Renewables
Upper Teviot Native and Riparian Woodland Planting Project
This project ran for seven years (2017-2024) in conjunction with the Hawick Flood Scheme objectives of reducing the impact of floodwater downstream. Over the lifetime of the project Tweed Forum worked with farmers and landowners to help facilitate over 110 ha of native tree planting in the headwaters of the River Teviot, vastly more than the 17.5 ha target.
Facilitation Funding
In addition to the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme and the Forestry Co-operation (Fo-Co) Fund, biodiversity offset funding from Langhope Rig wind farm and Woodland Trust Scotland was utilised to help bring these woodlands to fruition with Tweed Forum as the trusted intermediaries and facilitators. The linear nature of riparian woodlands often means that native woodland planting schemes near rivers can be relatively high-cost items. The long-term public benefits they deliver however (i.e., water flow regulation, water quality enhancement, habitat connectivity, carbon storage and enhanced landscape appeal), far outweigh the higher capital costs involved in riparian woodland establishment.
Ale Wetlands Grant Scheme
This project created 10 new wildlife ponds created in the Central [Scottish] Borders area. Open water is now a rare habitat in the Scottish Borders, as centuries of drainage works has seen the bulk of our ponds and wetlands drained for agricultural improvement.
This project has helped create habitat for a whole range of wetland wildlife including frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and ducks such as teal.
Project target areas include the Ale catchment and the Teviot catchment (upstream from Hawick)
Contact details
Tweed Forum, South Court, Drygrange Steading, Melrose, Roxburghshire, TD6 9DJ
01896 849723
info@tweedforum.org
