Inner Forth

Guest speaker was Helene Courrieu, a Project Officer with Climate FORTH.

In an interesting and informative talk, Helene explained that Inner Forth Futures Initiative is the legacy of the partnership that was originally formed through the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI) in 2011. IFLI was developed by a partnership of eight organisations who came together to take coordinated action to conserve the important heritage assets within the Inner Forth area. 

The Inner Forth covers the estuary area from Old Stirling Bridge in the west to Rosyth and Blackness in the east.  They aim to create a greater appreciation and awareness of this rich heritage and make a better place to live and work in.  All this while increasing resilience to climate change.

Delivered 54 projects around the Forth between 2014 and 2018. This included habitat creation and footpath building.  As a result of the successes and benefits derived from the IFLI,  in 2018 eight members and one advisory member made up Inner Forth Futures with RSPB Scotland as the lead partner. The initiative involves four local authorities (Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Fife Councils), two public bodies (NatureScot, with Historic Environment Scotland as advisory member), and three NGOs (RSPB Scotland, Sustrans and the Green Action Trust).

Examples of projects in Fife area:-

Encouraged West Fife Woodlands Group to reinstate orchard at Valleyfield Woods with interpretation panels. 

Charlestown limekilns improvements. Worked with HES to clear and replace stonework. RSPB got brickwork installed for bats. 

Telling the Inner Forth Story by installing interpretation panels at Wallace Monument, Clackmannan Tower, Bo’ness and Limekilns harbour. 

Climate FORTH (Furthering Our Resilience Through Heritage) is a three year project funded by Heritage Lottery.

Climate FORTH aims to:
• Promote the value of local heritage, and use it to inspire positive action towards societal and climate change, particularly towards Scotland’s net zero climate targets.
• Increase the resilience of the Inner Forth’s natural and built heritage assets to societal and climate change.
• Increase resilience to change for people and places within the Inner Forth through heritage supporting the economy, healthy lifestyles, sustainable choices, and a just transition.

Climate FORTH is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is currently in it’s development phase. The Delivery Phase is from August 2023 to July 2026 if successfully funded.

Examples of potential work are:-

* Work to restore gardener’s cottage at Valleyfield walled garden. 

* Revitalise the Round the Forth Cycle Route. Plans to promote National Cycle Route 76, including heritage signage for bikes. 

* Pilot an Inner Forth bike bus, a seasonal bike trailer service free one day per week in the summer. 

The club’s formal vote of thanks was given by Neil Spriddle.

More information at www.innerforthlandscape.co.uk