The newsletter of the Tweed Forum SUMMER 2014 No16

Now summer is upon us it is easy to forget the extraordinary flooding in the South of England earlier this year, but many will still be dealing with the consequences: loss of land and crops, refurbishing properties, negotiating insurance claims and the like. Whether you believe in climate change or not, it is difficult to argue with the fact that we have made ourselves more vulnerable to such extreme events.

One of the only benefits of this shed water that much more efficient. prolonged flooding was that it did Unfortunately, whilst it can help in the propel the work we are doing on natural immediate vicinity, it has the effect of flood management into the national amplifying the flood wave as it travels headlines for the first time ever. Whilst downstream and the damage that goes there was the usual blame game and with it. frenzied calls for dredging, there was Restoring riparian habitat, woodland recognition from most that, in an event and wetlands all have the effect, after of that size, with many hundreds of acres storage, of slowing down the flow and covered in water, making the river a little increasing storage which can help flatten deeper was really not going to solve the the flood peak if done in the right place, problem. at the right scale. However, the scientific The importance of land management understanding and knowledge base behind in the headwaters was frequently cited this is poor and this is why the Eddleston as being part of the solution and this is a Water project (see page 10) is so important considerable step forward. Centuries of in that it attempts to evaluate the effects land drainage, channelisation and habitat of such measures definitively through

photo © Laurie Campbell loss has made the ability for the land to comprehensive hydrological monitoring. u u Whilst teasing out the exact effects conservation, carbon sequestration to name of land use change will take many years, but a few. there are some benefits that are derived With the ever-increasing pressure on almost immediately and are more tangible our land we need to work in a smarter way on Tweed. 65 ha have been planted to maximise what we get from our natural with 70,000 native trees on over 15 resources. The Land Use Strategy Pilot different farm units. Ponds and wetlands (see opposite page) has shown how we have been restored and sections of the might target opportunities for doing just channelised main stem have been re- that. But what is clear is that you need a meandered, increasing the quantity and trusted intermediary, with a detailed local quality of habitat for designated species knowledge of the physical, social and fiscal such as salmon and otter. What it has landscape to convert these opportunities also shown is that it is possible to bring into tangible assets on the ground, and about significant changes into a working this is where the Forum approach has agricultural landscape with little, if any, loss been shown to be effective. By working of production. closely with landowners and farmers we All this work cascades to a plethora of have shown that it is possible to introduce benefits many of which society has taken measures into the working landscape with for granted in the past – clean water, no loss of production. Indeed, in many cases flood attenuation, recreation, fishing, soil it actuallly improves the situation n

n Fallago Environment Fund support to Friends of Coldingham Priory for archaeological work, Chirnside Community Centre for redevelopment, Borders Forest Two rounds of funding have now been awarded amounting to some £170k. Tweed Trust for ecological surveying, Westruther Forum is running the Fund on behalf of Village Hall solar panels, an historical Roxburghe Estates and EDF Renewables account of a Kelso experience in the Great War and a feasibility study for an education The Fund received a good number and centre at Springwood Park in Kelso. The variety of applications in the opening round, deadlines are biannual - on the 1st far more than it could ever fund in full. March and September n However, after careful deliberation, the Fund Management group awarded funding to the following projects and groups: new gates for Coldstream Football Club; repairs/ upgrade of Redpath and St Boswells village halls; new instruments for Hawick Saxhorn band and support for Gunsgreen House. A further sum was earmarked (pending further detail) for an important and iconic sculpture in Eyemouth to commemorate one of Scotland’s worst fishing disasters. The Fund was launched last year. Pictured: Bob Kay (Chair of Tweed Forum), the Duke of Roxburghe, In the latest round the Fund offered Christian Egal (CEO EDF Renewables) and Andrew Douglas-Home (Chair of the Fund Management Group). 2 n Scottish Borders Land Use Strategy Pilot

Tweed Forum has been working in tandem with Scottish Borders Council to engage stakeholders in this national pilot

The Scottish Borders has been selected by the Scottish Government as one of two pilot areas for the Land Use Strategy (LUS) for Scotland. The LUS seeks a more integrated approach to land management in recognition of the increasing number of pressures and demands placed upon the LUS Stakeholder Engagement workshop in Ettrickbridge Village Hall countryside. The objective is to produce a common flexible framework which 2 - Opportunities and Constraints (to March will guide different ‘users’ to make more 2014); Stage 3 - Production of a draft informed land use decisions. We are now Framework (to March 2015); plus regular half way through the 2-year programme. meetings of the LUS pilot management The main audience for the Framework team and LUS key stakeholder group to will be people who make decisions about keep everything on track. how we manage our land. The Scottish The key stakeholder group is made up Government is keen that there is ‘buy-in’ of representatives from a range of land from local communities, therefore Tweed management organisations, who provide Forum is assisting Scottish Borders Council valuable feedback on how the process is (the main project managers) in engaging developing, a key factor in successfully local stakeholders. There are 3 stages to delivering the pilot. Over the 6-month the LUS process: Stage 1- Baseline and winter period (October 2013 to March Policy Mapping (to September 2013); Stage 2014), Tweed Forum implemented their u

3 u Stakeholder Engagement Action Plan In association with SBC staff and Dundee by engaging with key representatives of University staff, 14 workshops were held (2 in most of the relevant Land Use sectors in each catchment). As a result of issues raised the Borders. Of the 512 people engaged at the introductory meetings, GIS Mapping through various meetings comment was specialists ‘Environment Systems’ generated received from 240, which is a respectable 8 land use Opportunity Maps for the Borders. figure given the complexity of the subject Key land use issues raised at workshops matter. All key Government Agencies and included: woodland expansion, biodiversity land-based non-Government organisations, enhancement, flood management, food along with farming and land owning security, water pollution, carbon storage and bodies, were contacted and LUS meetings recreational enhancement. The hope is that or workshops held with them. the framework will be designed to be simple Seven case study catchments (Yarrow, and accessible for a wide range of users Ettrick, Leet, Gala, Ale, Eye, Eddleston) were including farmers, local authority planners identified for closer public engagement. and the wider public n

RIVERWORKS n River Till Restoration Strategy

River Till implementation phase as Restoration Strategy We have recently appointed a Project Officer Till RRS Project Officer. to coordinate the delivery of this long-term strategy Tracy will be managing the initial delivery of the The River Till is of high conservation and Strategy with funding ecological importance; about 130km is support from Natural designated as SSSI, as well as a Special England and the Area of Conservation (SAC), in recognition Environment Agency A of this. However, the SSSI is classed as amongst others. being in ‘unfavourable condition’ and, in Concentrating on priority some areas, the condition is ‘declining’ areas, which have been already been (i.e. worsening) due to the physical state highlighted in the Strategy, Tracy will be of the river channel. supported by a steering group consisting The Till River Restoration Strategy of the main agencies (the Environment (RRS) was published last year after Agency and Natural England) together with widespread consultation and will guide representatives from local communities and restoration efforts over the long-term (the key landowners. next 30 to 50 years). We are delighted The full Strategy document is available that Tweed Forum’s own Tracy Hall will at www.tweedforum.org/projects/ be overseeing the recently launched current-projects n

4 WATER QUALITY n Eye Water Diffuse Pollution Project

Two farms in the Eye Water Catchment are the Eye’s watercourses. Working with Eye trialling innovative stock watering techniques Catchment farmers to reduce this diffuse pollution from grazing livestock, Tweed The work that has been undertaken in Forum has been fencing off streams and recent years to fence off livestock access rivers. However, limiting access can mean to the Eye Water seems to have paid off as that poaching becomes a serious issue at the bathing water at Eyemouth has recently various spot locations and several systems gone from a ‘pass’ to ‘recommended’ in the to remove water directly into troughs Good Beach Guide. are now being trialled. Three systems SEPA and SRUC have recently installed a were installed in November 2013: a triple series of innovative stock-watering solutions pasture pump (operated by cattle) for cattle on two farms in the Eye Water Catchment. watering, a solar-powered system and a Tweed Forum has been working with gravity-fed ram pump system (PAPA pump). Eye Catchment farmers over the last few Each of these systems have their relative years to reduce diffuse pollution and, in merits and this first winter will have put particular, reduce faecal indicator organisms them to the test. Each valuable, practical of ruminant origin (FIOs). These FIOs are demonstration showing how to get water directly responsible for failures in bathing to livestock without causing pollution to water quality further downstream and there rivers, can be visited on request. Please is a clear need to reduce the amount of contact [email protected] for faecal matter being deposited directly into more details n

Solar lift pump at Brockholes

5 HABITATS & SPECIES n Tweed Invasives Project

Our long-term control of Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed continues

Above Norham bridge 10 years (l) and today (r). A detailed botanical survey last year showed no Hogweed plants present whatsoever.

Our 11th year of invasives control and is proving an excellent addition to our once again proved challenging due to control programme. the hugely variable weather in 2013. If you think you have seen Following 2012’s very wet conditions, 2013 any Giant Hogweed or Japanese saw an exceptionally long, cold spring Knotweed, please do not hesitate followed by some very warm weather. to let us know on 01896 849723 or The prolonged cold weather meant that [email protected] n plant growth was very slow until relatively late in the season and when the Giant Hogweed plants started to grow, they grew The Tweed Invasives Project receives quicker than we have ever known. In fact, significant funding through the CIRB project – an INTERREG IVA Cross- they started producing flowering heads border Programme involving partners almost immediately and our contractors from Scotland, Northern Ireland and struggled to keep on top of the rapidly Ireland. (The CIRB is part-financed by maturing plants. However, all the ground the European Union’s European Regional was covered in the end, though there was Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme, managed by a much higher degree of flowering head the Special EU Programmes Body.) decapitation rather than the preferred scenario of spraying the emerging European Union vegetation. We have also been using a European Regional new piece of kit this year, a remote control Development Fund aerial ‘drone’, to survey the river corridor. Investing in your future The drone can capture video or still footage 6 HABITATS & SPECIES n Ettrick and Yarrow Riparian Improvements

Work is ongoing to improve riparian habitat be dammed and filled in with brash, to in the Ettrick and Yarrow Catchments restore the peatland hydrology and make the moors safer for sheep, who tend to Tweed Forum is continuing to work become trapped. At Annelshope, on the with the Scottish Borders Council Ettrick Marshes, 1500 willow setts, cut from (SBC) flood team on natural flood local bushes, have been planted to help management aspects of the Selkirk to bind the eroding banks of the river and Flood Scheme. 10ha of SRDP part- extend the floodplain restoration work done funded new native woodland have been upstream by Borders Forest Trust in 1998.

Extent of riparian planting along the Whitehope Burn, Yarrow

planted on the headwaters of the Long At Bowanhill Farm, where the Teviot Philip Burn, matching funding from Black emerges from the hills onto the river Grouse conservation work coordinated floodplain, 400m of new channel and 4ha by Borders Forest Trust. In addition, SRDP of floodplain woodland have been created. contracts have been agreed with 3 farms The new channel (constructed to a SEPA- (Whitehope, Kirkhope and Singlie) for a approved design, courtesy of cbec eco- further 10ha of streamside woodland in engineering) and woodland (part-funded by the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys and this was SRDP) were both carefully designed to solve planted in April 2014. A 4ha block of deep a major problem on the farm. Gravel build- peat with (dangerous) eroding ditches has up in the main river was causing two small been dammed and fenced in the upper streams, draining the upper silage fields, to Ettrick, and a further 3ha of deep peat will become blocked, which would lead to u 7 Bowanhill new channel backwater and floodplain planting

u them being unusable. A short-term which the new meandering channel solution would have been to remove the runs, has been planted up with native gravel from the main river but this would trees, predominately Alder and Willow. only have lasted until the next flood, so an This work has not only created a greatly alternative design was put forward by the enhanced length of channel for fish farmer and refined by consultants under the but will also provide flood storage leadership of Tweed Forum. upstream of Hawick; new woodland The resulting ‘natural’ design of the habitat; carbon sequestration; sediment new channel is taking the flow of the two storage and consolidation; and ensure small streams and letting them exit below drainage for a vital silage field. Funding the gravel blockage, so that the ‘fall’ for the for this work was also provided by field drains remains operational. The end Scottish Borders Council, the tenant result is that vital upper silage fields have farmer, Buccleuch Estates and the been saved. The 4ha wet field, through Woodland Trust n

Work in progress in creating the new channel 8 FLOOD MANAGEMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE n Cheviot Futures

Cheviot Futures has now come to an end after 3 years of targeted resilience planning and adaptation works, leaving an important legacy for the future

Over 800 individual people engaged with Cheviot Futures (CF) over its 3-year The new PAPA pump system at Mowhaugh which lifetime, a fantastic achievement for offers the means to water stock away from project officer Tracy Hall and the CF team. the river Tracy and colleagues supported100 small businesses, delivered12 training events, can be adopted to reduce negative impacts oversaw 28 capital works projects, ran 50 and maximise positive opportunities for awareness raising events and produced 18 the farm. During the course of CF, we publications. By increasing the resilience have completed 19 detailed farm resilience of farming and land management to the plans as well as providing broader resilience effects of climate change across the cross- advice to a number of additional farm border Cheviot Hills’ landscape, the CF businesses. team have had a tangible, positive impact Cheviot Futures has implemented on local communities. a range of resilience capital works Cheviot Futures has been at the projects across the project area, including forefront of developing the innovative natural flood management work, such Farm Resilience Planning (FRP) approach, as the ambitious Netherton Burn Runoff a technique which is now being taken Management project at Elilaw Farm, and forward by Natural England. The FRP the innovative range of Engineered Log Jam approach takes predicted climate change works on a number of sites throughout the effects and considers them at the individual Bowmont Valley. Resilience to wildfire has farm level. It identifies the impacts on been explored through the development a farm business in addition to potential of a major wildfire pond in the Breamish resilience and adaptation measures that Valley and the installation of a novel u

9 Trailer-mounted solar-powered watering system

u wildfire detection system in the Debdon a changing climate. We have attended and Simonside Hills in Northumberland. This many shows and events over the last work was led by Cheviot Futures partner three years, and have hosted a number organisation Northumberland National Park of practical demonstration and workshop Authority. events ourselves around the themes Other areas of work have included of grassland management, sustainable increased resilience to drought conditions water management and alternative water through alternative stock watering solutions supplies, as well as case study visits to view (whilst also reducing diffuse pollution). a range of project sites and works. This has also seen the development of a The project has left a strong legacy - a prototype all-in-one trailer-mounted, solar- network of demonstration sites as well as powered watering system, currently being a substantial range of publications. Please trialled at West Fenton Farm near Wooler. see www.cheviotfutures.co.uk or contact CF has also promoted proactive grassland Tweed Forum if you would like further management to increase water retention information n in drought conditions and manage field drainage in wet conditions, alongside advice Cheviot Futures has been part-financed on climate-resilient native tree planting by Defra, the Scottish Government and for flood management, habitat creation, the European Community through the windbreak and shade and shelter provision. Northumberland Uplands and Scottish The CF portfolio is bursting at the Borders LEADER 2007-2013 programme. seams with examples of a wide range of resilience and adaptation approaches. Alongside the resilience planning and capital works, CF has also played a key role in disseminating the critical effects, impacts and opportunities presented by

10 FLOOD MANAGEMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE n Eddleston Water Project

The Eddleston Water Project, funded by Scottish Government and SEPA, aims to restore natural habitats and reduce flood risk to Eddleston Village and Peebles

A great deal of work has taken place in the catchment over the last year to help restore degraded habitats, increase water storage and slow down flows. The majority of this has occurred in the headwaters where extensive riparian and hillslope planting has taken place, as well as the installation of flow restrictors. However, the biggest work package has taken place on the main stem of the Eddleston Water at Cringletie and Lake Wood. The Eddleston Water was straightened over 200 years ago throughout most of its main stem - this was to make The Eddleston at Lake Wood prior to works. This channelised section is typical of much of the main stem way for a new turnpike road but the railway quickly followed the poker straight course. Unusually, there has been virtually no recovery in sinuosity over this time and it is for this reason that the river has been assigned ‘bad’ status under the Water Framework Directive classification system. In July 2013, Tweed Forum, together with cbec and Glendinnings, began the process of putting the bends back into the river. Given the size of the river, this was a considerable job, and we were lucky that the weather held to enable the works to be carried out with little disruption. The works withstood the significant floods in December very well and the force of water has now started to sculpt a more natural pool-riffle sequence that will provide much improved habitat for native flora and fauna. It is not only the quality of habitat that is improved but also the quantity. The works have led Extract from Roy Military Survey of Scotland (1747-1755), clearly showing meandering nature of to a 15% increase in channel length at Eddleston Water at Cringletie and Lakewood Cringletie and a 50% increase at u 11 Remeandered section of the Eddleston Water at Lakewood - looking downstream to Cringletie

u Lake Wood. This has implications for farm activities including sheep farming, a host of species, not least fish, thereby horse grazing, clay pigeon shooting protecting and enhancing the economically and a 4WD school. Next door at Wester important salmon fishery. Whilst fish Deans and North Cloich, a series of monitoring is challenging in channels of this wide, transverse hedges is planned, with size, it is not inconceivable that salmonids riparian planting and more ponds with will increase by the same multiple as extra floodwater capacity. channel length. And crucially this extra All this work is being comprehensively amount will now be produced in perpetuity. monitored by Dundee University, SEPA, More works of this nature are in the the British Geological Society and the pipeline for this summer. Forestry Commission. Whilst it is too Higher up in the catchment at early for any results, this now represents Ruddenleys farm, a whole suite of Natural one of the most monitored catchments in Flood Management measures have just the country and a very detailed baseline been completed. This includes 14ha of picture has been established. This is native riparian woodland, 12 flow restrictor essential if we are to accurately measure logjams, and 3 wildlife ponds with extra what sort of effect these measures are capacity for floodwater. The planting has having on flood events and the ecology of been designed to integrate with the other the river n

Remeandered section just after implementation 12 EDUCATION & AWARENESS n Priorsford and Eddleston Primary Schools

Tweed Forum continues to work with Cringletie and Lake Wood restoration sites, schools adjacent to the Eddleston Water really does drive home the message. 45 Restoration Project. Using the Natural Flood pupils were able to see at firsthand how re- Management models to demonstrate how meandering an artificially straightened river positive changes to the landscape can can benefit salmon, dippers and otters, as deliver multiple benefits, plus visiting the well as reducing flooding downstream n

The Cringletie restoration site

Eddleston Primary School project

13 EDUCATION & AWARENESS

n Royal Scottish Forestry Society Visit to the Eddleston catchment

Over 20 professional foresters visited new and potential planting sites on the Eddleston water, with some interesting and forthright opinions on the value of riparian tree planting. The design of floodplain woodland was addressed in detail, along with herbicide use, cell grown plants and protection from herbivores. The perennial question of grant funding and new sources of funds, such as payment for carbon sequestration, was also discussed n Eddleston floodplain planting n Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Schools Event

Tweed Forum was one of six organisations The combination of these topics with taking part in a 2-day ‘Food and Farming’ presentations on precision farming, soils event for secondary school pupils at and fertilisers, animal breeding, upland Springwood Park, Kelso in November land management (the deer carcass stole 2013. Integrated Catchment Management the show!) and cereal production, meant was the Tweed Forum theme, with Tracy that over 200 S2 and S3 pupils were able Hall, Cheviot Futures Project Officer, to experience a taste of what is really covering farm resilience in the face of happening in the countryside and the climate change, and Hugh Chalmers skills, knowledge and expertise which demonstrating the benefits of landscape underpin food production and other scale enhancements for natural flood ecosystem services n management.

n Dublin Institute of Technology Visit to Eddleston

A joint visit of students from Dublin were made, hundreds of years ago. and staff from Dundee and Edinburgh Students were able to see for themselves Universities toured the Eddleston Water to extensive areas of upland riparian native see the latest phase of completed practical tree planting, high-flow restricting log-jams, works to restore the river and the natural ponds with extra flood capacity and 800m flood reduction attributes which existed of restored river channel n before extensive changes to the catchment

14 OTHER NEWS

Minister Opens Eddleston Water Project

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, visited the Eddleston Water Project last summer and got actively involved in the physical works. He met key people from the project partnership whilst walking the stretch being restored. Furthermore, under the expert eye of Scott McColm of Glendinning Groundworks, the Minister also had an opportunity to drive the digger and carry out the final cut that introduced the river to its new course. Given the amount of media attention this was not without a degree of pressure, but fortunately he showed a natural talent Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, opens the new meandering for this sort of work n channel.

The project team – Paul Wheelhouse MSP (in the cab), from left, Scott McColm (Glendinning Groundworks), Hugh Chalmers, Luke Comins (Tweed Forum), Hamish Moir (cbec), Chris Spray (Dundee University), Debi Garft, Bob McIntosh (Scottish Government), Bob Kay (Tweed Forum).

15 OTHER NEWS

n Hedge-Laying Training Event

In November 2013, 8 local participants Scott who has a real passion for promoting took part in a hedge-laying training day traditional countryside management skills. which was facilitated by Tweed Forum. The course was led by Mr Mike The training took place at Kirklands Farm Wade, a retired professional hedge-layer, which is owned and farmed by Mr Jamie and assisted by Mr Graeme Walker, an experienced local hedge-layer. Good weather and the opportunity to learn more about a worthwhile skill, one in danger of dying out, made an enjoyable day for everyone. The Scottish Borders has a huge hedgerow resource which provides a range of functions such as barriers to livestock, shelter for animals, habitats for wildlife and significant landscape features. It is important that these landscape features are managed as part of seasonal farming operations in order to maintain their original function and this training event was aimed at helping local land managers Hedge laying in action achieve this outcome n

The Scottish Rivers Handbook: A guide to the physical character of Scotland’s rivers This excellent publication is aimed at the regulating flow, interested layperson and river manager, managing sediment and presents information in clear text and providing and illustrative photos. Of particular cover for fish. The note is a chapter entitled ‘Wood in rivers’ riparian woodlands as this gives the context for much of themselves input a great the river restoration work which Tweed deal of food for fish in the form of leaves Forum has been involved with recently (to be broken down by riverine creatures) on the Bowmont, Gala, Teviot, Eye and and terrestrial invertebrates, as well as Eddleston Waters. It explains how the loss providing shade to prevent excessively of riparian woodland over the last 5000 high temperatures. (Charles Perfect, years has led to the loss of dead wood Stephen Addy and David Gilvear, 2013. material in rivers, material which has very Available online at: important functions in habitat provision, www.crew.ac.uk/publications) n 16 OTHER NEWS n Wetland Futures 2013: The Value of Healthy Wetlands

Professor Chris Spray (Tweed Forum Trustee) was invited to open the conference ‘Wetland Futures 2013: The Value of Healthy Wetlands’ held in York in October 2013. He chaired the first session, before returning later on to speak on the work he and Tweed Forum have been doing on ‘Working with wetlands - catchment benefits for wetlands and land managers on Tweed’ n Prof. Chris Spray, presenting at Wetland Futures 2013 n Working the Tweed

Working the Tweed is a collaboration between artists Kate Foster (visual artist), Jules Horne (writer), Claire Pençak (choreographer), James Wyness (composer), Tweed Forum and the Southern Uplands Partnership with the aim of connecting people who work on Tweed with the local artistic community. A series of riverside ‘meetings’ were scheduled along the river focusing on different diverse aspects such as water supply, salmon netting and the Land Use Strategy. In November, an exhibition was held at Harestanes Countryside Centre and featured some Tweed Forum-related The artists helping with electrofishing projects and artefacts, in particular, field drains! Whilst excavating the new course This gave a tangible link with past people of the Eddleston at a key re-meandering who had worked on the land, draining site, Scott McColm, our digger operator, boggy ground. The artists and friends were uncovered at least 4 different types of also fascinated by the fish rescue which clay drainage tile, representing at least 4 was part of the work to create the new separate attempts to drain the low-lying channel. Tweed Foundation staff skilfully ground. One in particular caught his eye, electrofished the pools in the old channel, a simple ‘n’ shaped profile, handmade tile whilst volunteers carried the young trout, with delicate finger marks inside where it salmon, eels and lampreys downstream had been lifted from a mould before firing. to safety n 17 OTHER NEWS

n Spreading the word – natural flood management

NFM catchment model at the Peebles show

Tweed Forum continues to have a key the BUAS bicentenary schools day and role in promoting the natural flood Glendale Children’s Show Day. The models management (NFM) agenda and wider also featured at the annual SNIFFER Flood integrated catchment at a national Risk Management Conference in January level. This work is supported by Scottish 2014 in Edinburgh. Government and is being done through Tweed Forum is also working with a combination of hosting sites visits for Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) on their practitioners and policy makers, mentoring ‘Farming for a Better Climate Programme’, other projects outwith the catchment, developing an information sheet on NFM contributing to workshops, conferences, measures as well as featuring Crookston and policy groups. as a case study. Tweed Forum shares a Our NFM catchment models were clear link with SRUC’s remit and we are displayed at many key agricultural shows now helping their Education Department during 2013, including the Royal Highland facilitate NFM and integrated catchment Show, Black Isle Show, Scottish Game Fair, management site visits as well as assisting Glendale Show, Yetholm, Peebles, Yarrow with undergraduate courses. and Border Union Shows. Over 3,000 We have also been inputting to schoolchildren learned more about NFM via Scottish Government on the Scotland these innovative catchment models during Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 18 OTHER NEWS

2014-20 “biodiversity and water related land management options”. Many of the SRDP team visited recently to see how we have implemented catchment-scale projects on the ground and how this might be encouraged in the new Programme. They were particularly interested in our collaborative, landscape-scale projects as ‘cooperation’ will be a key element within the next SRDP n

n Peatland Action Fund

Tweed Forum is assisting Scottish Natural Heritage in promoting the Peatland Action Fund. The primary objective of the fund is to restore peatlands (over 50cm deep) to maintain them as carbon stores and to encourage carbon sequestration. Secondary objectives include raising awareness of the role of peatlands and their ecosystem service function. In essence, it is to help inform society about the valuable role that peatlands have with respect to enhancing wildlife conservation, combatting climate change and assisting with water flow regulation. It is also about facilitating Ditches are often not that obvious and can be practical restorative action on site. surprisingly deep! This one, recently blocked in the Items that may be eligible for funding Upper Ettrick, drains 4 hectares of deep peat and has claimed the life of many a sheep in its time. include such works as: ditch blocking, tree removal on deep peat, site monitoring, Annual area payments for ongoing peatland restoration and advisory support. management are not eligible. Habitats for restoration include: blanket Tweed Forum has taken on Maggie bogs, raised bogs and fens which are at Magee (who will be known to many least 60% organic material and comprise at as an ex Borders FWAG advisor) least 50cm deep peat. to help coordinate the project and Funding of capital costs up to 100% develop applications. Please do get in may be eligible but a cash or in-kind touch if you have any sites in mind – contribution will be looked upon favourably. [email protected] n 19 n Networking, raising awareness, education and communication

Tweed Forum staff were very active in the last year and hosted or gave talks at 70 different events including: • presentations at conferences • demonstrating our models at shows and education events • hosting site visits for a variety of policy and special interest groups • school trips including Citizen Science events • organising community meetings, workshops and other stakeholder events on a variety of subjects from riverworks to wider land use management

Tweed Forum Funding Due to the complexity and number of project funders we are unable to list all the contributing bodies in the relevant sections of the newsletter. However, the following have contributed to Tweed Forum, and associated projects, over the last year:

- British Geological Survey - Natural England - Scottish Environment Protection - Dundee University - Northumberland National Park Agency - EDF Renewables Authority - The Scottish Government - Scottish Natural Heritage - Environment Agency - Northumbrian Water - Scottish Power - Forest Carbon Ltd - River Tweed Commission - The Water Environment Fund - The Rivers Trust - Forestry Commission Scotland - The Woodland Trust - INTERREG IVA Cross-border - Roxburghe Estates - Tweed Foundation Programme - Scottish Borders Council and a large number of farmers - Northumberland Uplands LEADER - Scottish Borders LEADER and landowners

European Union European Regional Development Fund Investing in your future The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas

Tweed Forum, South Court, Drygrange Steading, Melrose, TD6 9DJ T 01896 849723 E [email protected] www.tweedforum.org

AT THE HEART OF LAND & WATER MANAGEMENT ON TWEED