Projects

Friends of the Forth was set up in 2005 to follow on from the very successful Coastal Litter Project, the Friends of the Forth project aims to:

• Raise awareness of coastal and marine issues especially the problems of litter
• Promote stewardship of the coast by groups, schools and local people
• Support and encourage communities to manage and improve their local stretch of coast

The Friends of the Forth Project Officer can help organise a beach clean, advise on grants and other support available to groups, visit schools and youth groups to discuss the issues around litter in our seas and on the coast.

For more information on Friends of the Forth project and to see details of events and the latest news visit the website www.friendsoftheforth.co.uk

The Project Officer is available to help schools planning a litter or coastal based project.

Teachers may wish to have a look at the Beach Litter education pack. This is a curriculum based education pack for practical advice on litter projects that are rewarding and fun. For more information visit the website www.beachlitter.co.uk

The Litter Campaign ran from 2001 to 2004. It aimed to development community involvement and awareness raising of marine and coastal litter in the Forth of Forth. It was one of the first projects of its kind and was successful in demonstrating best practice in tackling marine and coastal litter through clean ups, litter surveys and education and awareness.

The final project report is available to download as a .pdf (2.37 mb). (click here)

Hard copies are available – please contact secetary@forthestuaryforum.co.uk for a copy.

One of the themes in the Forth Integrated Management Strategy(1999) was to 'promote access to and enjoyment of the Forth'

In 2002 the Forum set up a project to look at strategic planning of Forth wide access for walking cycling and riding. All seven local authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Paths for all Partnership were involved. The Forum commissioned a major feasibility study to look at scoping, demand analysis, marketing and funding of a Round the Forth route. The study was completed in 2004 and has provided the framework for local authorities and others such as Sustrans to go on and develop routes for access around the Forth.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gave local authorities new duties to prepare a core path network.  Most of these include coastal routes. Additionally Fife and East Lothian Councils have developed the Fife Coastal Path and the John Muir Way respectively.

Sustrans has developed the Round the Forth cycle route as part of the National Cycle Network. (www.sustrans.org.uk)

FEF continues to attend Round Forth Group to help promotion of access

For more information contact the Forum Manager on s.manson@forthestuaryforum.co.uk

Managed realignment is a means of allowing sea water to flood low lying areas (usually by removing the sea wall) with the aim of protecting the coastline, reducing the potential of flooding in other areas and also creating new habitat.

In 1999 the Forum coordinated a project with Geowise and Glasgow University to look at the options for managed realignment on the Forth. A series of possible sites was identified in what was the first Scottish study of this type.

Further work was carried out on the feasibility of managed realignment at Skinflats near Falkirk in 2003. The study concluded that realignment could reduce flood risk locally but not for the wider estuary. However valuable saltmarsh and habitat creation could be created. The RSPB owns a reserve at Skinflats and is currently investingting the potential for a small scale managed realignment project, which will seek to create saltmarsh and saline lagoons on RSPB owned land.

For more information, please contact: Toby Wilson, Conservation Officer (Central Scotland), RSPB Scotland, Tel: 0141 331 9096, Email: toby.wilson@rspb.org.uk