Introducing Black Devon Wetlands

Okay, this is very exciting, a new RSPB reserve right in the heart of the Inner Forth Futurescape! I have been working on this project for four years now (I know, I don’t even look a year older......) and I reckon this is the biggest step forward we have taken so far. We will now have a place where you can come and experience the fantastic wildlife of the Inner Forth and learn about what makes this landscape so special. As this is such an important site for us, I thought you would like to hear a little more about it and what our plans are.

RSPB Black Devon Wetlands Credit: David Palmar (www.photoscot.co.uk)

RSPB Black Devon Wetlands is located just south east of Alloa, within walking distance from the town centre. You can access the site is from the path at the end of Riverside View, however don’t expect many signs just yet, these are all in our plans for the next couple of years which I will tell you about a bit later. First of all, let me tell you about how the site was formed.

About 15 years ago the landfill site next to the Forthbank recycling centre was capped using soil from the surrounding fields. The areas from where the soil was taken then filled with rainwater, to form a series of pools which provided a haven for local wildlife. Since the pools were created they have mainly been left alone, with the wildlife hidden away from people so much so that you would be forgiven for not even knowing the wetlands existed! If you have ventured down there however, you may have seen swans floating along the tranquil pools, colourful shelduck searching for food below the surface of the water, or short-eared owls hunting as dusk falls. All in all, quite a magical place for wildlife.

So what do RSPB want to do with the site? Well first of all we want to make it even better for wildlife! While the pools still hold good numbers of swans and ducks, they could provide a home for many more species. Currently a lot of the pool edges are covered in reeds and other vegetation making it difficult for birds to find food. We are going to get cattle grazing the site again to open up the pool edges and make the wetlands even more attractive for wildlife. You will see the first signs of this with the new fences that have been put up and within the next couple of years you will be seeing livestock roaming the site.

However, we don’t just want to make the site better for wildlife, we also want to make it better for people as well, giving everybody a chance to get closer to nature and experience the fantastic wildlife of the area. The first stage of this is already underway, with our partners, the Central Scotland Green Network Trust, constructing new paths that will lead people towards the wetlands. This will allow us to build a new viewing structure to allow people so see the ducks, waders, swallows martins, buntings, warblers, swans..... (I’ll stop there) that use this site through the year. We are already designing this structure, take a look at the concept design below, what do you think?

We will also be putting in place a new family area from where grown ups and children alike can explore the natural world. There will be a new wetland where you will be able to search for insects that live in the water, seasonal paths that change over the year allowing you to explore the site and a viewing mound from where you can get a view of the wetland system!

All in all there will be some very exciting things happening at Black Devon Wetlands over the next couple of years and we hope as many of you as possible will come down for a visit. Keep an eye out on this blog, on social media and on the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative website for information on events and activities, and take your chance to get closer to the wildlife of the Inner Forth.

Have you been down to Black Devon Wetlands? What wildlife have you seen there?