Biodiversity in focus, locally and beyond
The University is collaborating with a range of partners including Fife Council, Kinkell Byre, Abbeyford Leisure, Forest & Land Scotland, Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews Botanic Garden, local farmers and estate managers, to support biodiversity at 30 sites along the Fife coast.
Activities include planting trees and hedgerows, creating wetlands and meadows, restoring dunes and introducing conservation grazing to manage coastal grassland on part of the coastal path at Craig Hurtle, south of East Sands beach in St Andrews.
Managed by NatureScot, the Helping Nature fund is an element of the Scottish Government’s flagship £65 million Nature Restoration Fund. The fund supports practical nature restoration projects with grants of £25,000 to £250,000. In this latest round of awards, the University was one of 27 projects to have been offered grants totalling £4.1 million.
Experts from St Andrews Botanic Garden are undertaking design work to ensure the new habitats will support biodiversity whilst also improving the appearance of the area. Students, staff and local residents will be encouraged to support the project through regular practical volunteering opportunities that include tree planting and meadow management.