Tuesday 5 Apr 2022
Grant supports community tree planting in Perthshire
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Network Rail has provided a grant of £16,000 to a local community tree planting initiative in Perthshire, enabling 2000 native trees and shrubs to be planted. The grant was made through The Tree Council – a national conservation charity.
The trees were planted as part of the Allan Water Improvement Project, a project hosted by Forth Rivers Trust, to revive the river and its associated habitats and to benefit the wider landscape. The planting involved local volunteers and businesses on land made available by Blackford Farms
The native tree and shrub species were planted on the Danny Burn, a tributary of the Allan Water, south of the A9 to create new habitats and link fragmented habitats, on the banks of the upper Allan River.
Not only did this project represent an excellent opportunity to plant native trees and shrubs with local people, planting native trees and shrubs will also improve water quality, and offer weather resilience and climate change adaptation benefits.
The work will help to address potential flooding issues downstream at the village of Blackford, where the A9 and Scottish Central Mainline railway are located, an area which has previously been subject to flooding.
James Morrison, Senior Asset Engineer, Network Rail Scotland said:
“This project offers a range of practical and environmental benefits – including helping to mitigate the impact of flooding on the railway further downstream.
“Replanting will capture carbon, add biodiversity and over time will improve bank stability on the water course. This will help improve water quality and enhance the habitat for fish, birds, insects and for beavers and other animal species like foraging bats.
“The initiative shows that planting in the right places, even on a relatively small scale can make a really positive impact and make a big difference.”
Sara Lom, Chief Executive Officer of The Tree Council, said:
“It is fantastic to support the community of the Upper Allan catchment to make a real difference to their environment. This is exactly what Network Rail’s pledge set out to achieve, and in this case has the added advantage of reducing the risks of flooding – something so important with the changing climate.
“The Tree Council has had relationships with volunteers in Perthshire for over 30 years, and it is a delight to be able to support this initiative’.
Notes to Editors
Notes to editors
The Allan Water Improvement Project aims to revive the river and associated habitats. This will provide multiple benefits as follows:
- Shade and cover for fish and other water life.
- Blossom in the spring and berries and seeds throughout the winter – extended forage for all manner of wildlife
- Slow the flow of water aiding natural flood management downstream
- Keep the water cool that will help mitigate against a warming climate
- Once the trees have grown leaves and detritus will fall into the water providing natural nutrient input to increase the invertebrates and in turn provide more food for fish, as well as slowing down water flow.
- Native trees and shrubs are best for native wildlife and will generally grow better than exotic species.
- The local landscape will be enhanced with more trees visible over time.
The Danny Burn arises in the Ochils and flows into the Allan Water near Blackford in Perthshire.
Forth Rivers Trust applied, advised, and organised the tree planting and worked with volunteers from local businesses.
Working with local volunteers means that they will take ownership of the trees into the future as many walk the tracks and informal paths along the Danny Burn.
The Tree Council
The Tree Council is a national charity (No.279000) which brings everyone together with a shared mission to care for trees and our planet’s future. We inspire and empower organisations, government, communities and individuals with the knowledge and tools to create positive, lasting change at a national and local level.
The Tree Council has a strategic relationship with Network Rail and is coordinating Network Rail’s £1million pledge to local community planting between 2020-24. Network Rail is committed to environmental sustainability and to achieving biodiversity net gain, with a commitment to conserving and improving biodiversity on their own land, as well as further afield in partnership with others.
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