Diamond Jubilee Stirling Flotilla
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Forth Sight www.forthestuaryforum.co.uk Summer 2012 Diamond Jubilee Flotilla The Helix Update Forth Replacement Crossing Levenhall Forum Update photo: Fidra Island 2 2 Welcome Content 3 Forthsight Welcome 4 Forum News 2 MarineWelcome Planning from inRuth Scotland Briggs, Chair of the One of the pieces in this full and Forth Estuary Forum varied edition of Forthsight re- 5 The ForthQuarter minds us that the Firth of Forth 3 Forum News is Scotland’s most urbanised and 6 Invasives 4 Forum Activities industrialised firth. Wherever we may be around the firth we cannot 7 RSPB Futurescapes 5 Beach Cleans & Waterfront Signage fail to notice this, with established 8 6 VisionWhitlock for Energy Marine Collaboration Leisure industry of national economic Centre significance, new developments 7 Sectoral Interactions on the Forth such as the fifth bridge now rapidly appearing on the scene, shipping 9-108 LevenhallFocus on Newhaven - A Local Nature Reserve? and major defence facilities, our 119 NationalThe Battle Marine of Inverkeithing GIS Interactive Map capital city and other key towns and settlements lying alongside the Firth. 10 The Forth Naturalist and Historian ‘Forth Sight’ is a bi-annual publication on all matters 11 The Forth Replacement Crossing We also know that the Firth is a key landscape feature of south-east concerning the work of the Forth Estuary Forum and Scotland. These waters and coastline are of national and international sustainable development of the Firth of Forth. 12 The Diamond Jubilee Flotilla, Stirling biodiversity significance, notably for nesting, passage and wintering The13 next editionThe Helix is due Trust out in Winter 2011. News, reviews birdlife. It supports fish, shellfish, invertebrates and vegetation of impor- and articles are welcome - as too are sponsorships. Contact tance and provides leisure opportunities for many. staff for copy deadline. 2 Welcome from Ruth Briggs, It is important, therefore, that our Forum engages with the range of Chair of the Forth Estuary national as well as local projects described here, compiling and sharing ‘Forth Sight’Forum is a bi-annual publication on all information, raising awareness and delivering ideas and recommen- matters concerning the work of the Forth dations. The study of interactions, described on page 7, may at first 3 Forthsight appear complex and a touch academic, but it is the result of frank con- Estuary Forum and sustainable development versations with many key users of the Forth. It will contribute much to 4 of the FirthForum of News Forth. Marine Planning in Scotland current understanding and future collaborations towards maintaining the natural values of the busy Forth. This work is part of a national pic- 5 The nextThe edition ForthQuarter is due out in Winter 2012. News, ture and was instigated by our Government sponsors, Marine Scotland. reviews and articles are welcome - as to are The proposed National Marine Plan and future planning partnerships 6 Invasives must build on this approach. sponsorships. Contact staff for copy deadline. 7 RSPB Futurescapes Locally, activities such as beach cleans, site visits and interpretation led For more information please contact: by Forum staff are also highly valued and deliver practical benefits for 8 Whitlock Energy Collaboration other members, communities and the environment of the Forth. Centre Forth Estuary Forum 9-10Exmouth Focus Building on Newhaven Maintaining a balance of strategic and local work is a prime objec- Port of Rosyth tive of the Forum; though sometimes challenging for the staff we feel 11 The Battle of Inverkeithing Rosyth it best provides for the varied interests and backgrounds of Forum Fife members and for the Forth. The following pages illustrate some of the many initiatives being led by members, from Stirling to the sea. ‘ForthKY11 2XPSight’ is a bi-annual publication on all matters concerningTel: 01383 the420104 work of the Forth Estuary Forum and sustainable development of the Firth of Forth. e-mail: [email protected] The next edition is due out in Winter 2011. News, reviews andwww.forthestuaryforum.co.uk articles are welcome - as too are sponsorships. Contact staffEditor: for copy Sam deadline. Roger Welcome 2 Welcome The viewsfrom in thisRuth newsletterBriggs, represent those Management Group: City of Edinburgh Council Julie Dewar, The Crown Estate Paul Chair of the Forth Estuary Bancks, Falkirk Council Richard Broadley, Fife Council Geoff Moy, Forth Estuary Forum of the authorsForum and not necessarily those of the Forum. Chris Cutts, Forth Ports Ltd Derek McGlashan, RSPB Toby Wilson, Scottish Coastal Forum Rhona Fairgrieve, Scottish Natural Heritage Niall Corbet, Scottish Power Moira Campbell, Stirling Council Robert Hunter, Ineos Rachel Morrell, Leisure Use Graham Cover photo: by C Cutts Russell ISSN: 1472-4057 Directors: Ruth Briggs Chair, Iain Rennick, Derek McGlashan, Ian Howarth, Robin Hamilton, Hugh Henderson. 2 Forth Estuary Forum News If you were at our last annual conference in up to Stirling to commemorate the Jubilee, on January (details in this issue), you will be fully which this issue has an article. up to speed with coastal and marine plan- ning issues on the Forth. At The Forum we are The complex relationships between industry pleased to present an article in this issue on our and biodiversity are also highlighted in an ar- recent research project investigating sectoral in- ticle on the Levenhall lagoons, which are built teractions in the Forth. We have looked at how on the ash spoil of Cockenzie power station and the sectors or activities manage their access to are vital for local nature conservation. Planning resources around our coastline and offshore, must also be mindful of the history of an area, given that some activities will have overlapping which the Forth Naturalist and Historian Society requirements. Such work is considered vital in does well to promote. Information on the Soci- advance of local marine planning. ety is on page 10. Investigations will naturally produce further re- Last but not least, since marine planning will search requirements, so we also include a short be a sophisticated tool, it will require sophisti- article on a new Forum project investigating the cated Information Technology. An article in this current plans and aspirations of the Forth ma- issue details a new web-based GIS package, rine leisure sector. This will include a workshop developed by Marine Scotland, called National on the topic to be held later this year; further Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi). Over time, this details are in this issue. resource will be a comprehensive marine atlas of activities and conservation designations etc, Staying with recent Forum activity, education from which the user can extract and submit and communication will be vital for any future relevant information. marine planning, so we are pleased to report that the Edinburgh Waterfront Signage Trail is I hope you enjoy this issue. For further infor- currently being installed. This has been a suc- mation on any of the following articles, please cessful collaboration between the Forum and contact the Forum Manager at 01383 420104 City of Edinburgh Council, and photographs of or [email protected]. some of the new panels in situ are presented here. There is also an article on this summer's programme of beach cleans, which has got off to a great start. Looking back to the conference and its' plan- ning theme, Forthsight 23 brings together many disparate strands which must all be considered collectively if marine planning is to succeed: large scale infrastructure develop- ments are in progress on the Forth and some are highlighted here. Namely, the Helix Trust at Falkirk and the Forth Replacement Crossing. Moreover, leisure activity will increase; this is exemplified by the popular flotilla which sailed 3 Forum Activities 2012 Forum Conference Investigates Planning on the Forth The Forth Estuary Forum held its annual confer- ence on Thursday 19 January 2012 at The Whitlock Energy Collaboration Centre. Open to all, this year’s conference theme was ‘Planning on the Forth.’ The meeting was addressed by local and national speakers, and was sponsored by Mainstream Re- newable Power and the Whitlock Energy Collabo- ration Centre. Delegates were welcomed to the venue by Jim Brown, Director of Scotland’s Colleges Energy Skills Partnership, with a presentation on the energy skills challenge. Aspects of marine and coastal planning included The conference provided a chance to meet with presentations on the National Marine Plan by Anna many key bodies and users of the Forth, to learn Donald from Marine Scotland and offshore renewa- about and contribute to some key decision making, bles by Zoe Crutchfield from Mainstream Renewable and to receive updates about future development Power. The complex interplay between the new planning arrangements”. marine planning process and terrestrial planning was highlighted in presentations on invasive spe- Zoe Crutchfield, Environment Manager at Main- cies in the Forth by Patrick Fothringham of the Forth stream Renewable Power, said ‘Mainstream was Fisheries Trust, developments on the Forth & Clyde delighted to sponsor the Forth’s annual conference. Canal by Richard Millar of Scottish Canals, and the We are actively developing the 450MW Neart na Forth River Basin Management Plan by Shona Mc- Gaoithe offshore wind farm in the Outer Forth Estu- Connell from SEPA. Speakers from St. Andrews and ary and welcomed this opportunity to meet stake- Aberdeen Universities updated delegates on recent holders interested in all aspects of developments in research into measuring the success of manage- the Firth.’ ment on the Forth (by Timothy Stojanovic), and on valuing the Inner Forth landscape (by Jasper Onno There was also plenty of time for conference del- Kenter) respectively. egates to network and discuss other issues affect- ing the Firth of Forth. All conference presentations The Chair of the Forth Estuary Forum, Ruth Briggs, are available to view on the Forum website.