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Allie M

The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI) was an exciting programme of work toward conserving and enhancing the unique landscape and heritage of the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth. The programme came to an end in September, but the partnership will continue as Inner Forth Futures, building on the great work which has already been done. In this blog Sue Walker, IFLI Communications Officer, reflects on the amazing achievements of the programme.

Goodbye IFLI, Hello IFF

The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative programme, of which RSPB was the lead partner, ended in September. Between 2014 and 2018 the eight members of the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative Partnership, invested around £1,215,000 in the Initiative as a whole. This combined with a grant of £1.75m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and match funding from a range of other funders, to provide almost £4m to be spent within the four years to achieve IFLI's vision to conserve, protect and celebrate the natural, historic and cultural heritage of the Inner Forth landscape.

The Inner Forth – a landscape of surprising contradictions. Credit David Palmar (www.photoscot.co.uk)

Over that time 54 projects have combined to deliver many improvements and benefits for the people, wildlife, heritage and landscape of the Inner Forth:

  • c1000 volunteers gave 3,680 days of their time to work on projects
  • Over 100 hectares of new habitat were created – including 48ha of woodland; 38ha grasslands; 12.5ha wetlands and reedbeds; 10ha intertidal habitat; 9ha wildflower meadows; 2ha invasive scrub was removed
  • 514 events were held, engaging over 4000 people
  • 438 people received heritage training
  • 153 school sessions engaged over 700 schoolchildren
  • 15.7km paths were created or improved
  • 4 new community orchards were planted at Valleyfield, Kinneil, Cambuskenneth and Kennetpans
  • 4 historic buildings were consolidated, at Kinneil Kirk, Kennetpans, Clackmannan Tower and Charlestown Limekilns
  • Supported the creation and infrastructure for a new nature reserve at RSPB Black Devon Wetlands, near Alloa
  • Over 30 videos about the Inner Forth were created and shared on IFLI's You Tube channel
  • An IFLI website that carries a wealth of information and inspiration about the Inner Forth, including an interactive map, wildlife guide, art gallery and walking and cycling guide to the area, as well as information about all the projects and the Initiative.
  • By the end of the programme 7 interpretive 'beacons', 11 'markers', a 16pp booklet guide to the area and an  Explore the Forth app were in place to help local people and visitors understand and appreciate the area's heritage, and to encourage them to visit new places within the Inner Forth landscape.

Darren Woodhead was appointed at the IFLI Artist-in-residence through its Like the Back of My Hand project, creating beautiful paintings of the area, and inspiring many others to do look at the landscape through new eyes. Credit Sue Walker/IFLI.

The programme and the projects have engaged people of all ages and all walks of life. Its HLF funding has allowed it to deliver events and activities free of charge, which made them accessible to a much wider range of people, whatever their means. This has included families with young children, primary and secondary school children, young people, those looking for opportunities to find work in the sector, amateurs and professionals looking to improve their natural or historic heritage skills, older people, and those with additional needs.

The scheme covered an area of 202 km² from the historic Old Stirling Bridge to Blackness and Rosyth along the banks of the Forth. The estuary, including IFLI’s area, is of European significance for supporting internationally important wintering and migratory waterfowl, with many designations including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA), and Ramsar site, which acknowledge the global importance of its wetlands.

IFLI’s mini-festival events in June 2018, like the Wood, Fire and Water event at Kinneil Estate, encouraged a new audience to enjoy the many attractions of the Inner Forth. Credit Ian Shearer.

Looking to the future, the IFLI partnership will continue to work together, in a new phase we are calling Inner Forth Futures, to manage and maintain the projects delivered through IFLI, and to build on that work so we can continue to make the Inner Forth a better place.

To find out more about the programme you can visit the IFLI website or follow @InnerForth on Twitter.

Nearly 100ha of new habitat has been created or improved, such as this new wildflower meadow at Grangepans Meadow, near Bo’ness. Credit Suzanne Burgess/Buglife.