Glebe field flood alleviation project scoops top award

A project backed by the Church to reduce the impact of flooding in a Clackmannanshire village and boost the area for biodiversity has won a top environmental award.

The Natural Devon, Pool of Muckhart Natural Flood Management Project near Dollar was presented with the Climate Community Award at the Climate Action Awards 2024 in Edinburgh.

Jonathan Bacon from Muckhart Community Council and Charlotte Neary from the Forth River Trust accepted the award on behalf of everyone involved in the project at Holyrood's annual Climate Action summit at Dynamic Earth.

The news was warmly welcomed by John Anderson, treasurer at Muckhart Parish Church, and Bill Lawrie, convener of the General Trustees' glebes committee.

Natural flood prevention defences have been installed on glebe land at Pool of Muckhart near Dollar to help protect adjacent properties from flooding and they will be maintained by the local authority for at least 10 years.

The project is a partnership between Clackmannanshire Council, Pool of Muckhart Flood Group, Muckhart Parish Church, Forth Rivers Trust (FRT) and members of the local community.

Flooding problems are linked to heavy rainfall and a decision to divert a little burn that comes straight down from the east side of Seamab Hill, increasing the water catchment area by 20%.

This resulted in the back gardens of properties that had the burn running through them being completely flooded.

FRT designed and delivered the natural flood management project and it was funded by a grant from Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot.

A series of leaky barriers designed to slow the water down during periods of high flow while allowing the channel to flow as normal during regular flows have been installed.

Three of them are made of untreated logs and five were made of willow spiling, an ancient technique consisting on living willow stakes with living willow whips planted and woven creating a willow hedge in a basket pattern.

Two water deflectors and channels designed to deflect some water from its course during high flows and directing it towards some wetland scrapes to be stored for a short period of time, have been put in place.

Four scrapes have been established.

The first one is a dry scrape, designed to be dry most of the year and to fill up during periods of high water flow while the other three are in the wetland area.

They hold some water all year round and are designed to increase the habitat variability in the wetland area, giving open water habitat to amphibians and waterborne invertebrates.

Some bird species have been attracted to the area to use it as feeding grounds.

Three willow barriers were made by FRT staff and community volunteers.

Improved habitat

Placed within the wetland area, south from the wetland scrapes, they slow any overspill and soak up some of the standing water in the wetland to help create a more dynamic ecosystem.

All the pupils at Muckhart Primary School participated in a series of environmental engagement games where they learned about ecosystems, invertebrates, and flora.

They scattered native flower seeds in the glebe field and they have since bloomed.

Mr Anderson said: "We are pleased to have been involved with the natural flood management measures undertaken in our glebe field, supporting our community's efforts to reduce the flood risk to adjacent homes, whilst at the same time delivering improvements to the local biodiversity.

"Our thanks and well done to all those people and organisations, including the Church of Scotland General Trustees who got behind the initiative and contributed to its success.

"It's certainly good to receive this environmental recognition after all the hard work."

Mr Lawrie said: "The General Trustees were delighted to have been able to contribute to this very worthwhile and inspirational project which has brought together many parts of the local community in a joint endeavour, utilising the Church glebe not only to reduce flooding but also to enhance the local environment.

"Many congratulations to all those who were involved in bringing this project to fruition."

Speaking in August, Mario Palomo, project officer at FRT, said: "The Church's role in this project was crucial for its success.

"Not only did they provide the working space that is the glebe field and allowed for the improvements to happen, but they also provided for FRT staff, volunteers and stakeholders a safe, dry space to shelter, have meetings and deliver engagement events at no cost.

"Through multiple events, Mr Anderson, assisted by Greer Conroy (session clerk at Muckhart Parish Church), have been very welcoming, accommodating and extremely helpful while also being involved as volunteers themselves."