Seven Lochs Scotland’s urban Wildlife Park

Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

1. Establish a project partnership to guide the development and implementation of the initiative. 2. Conserve and significantly enhance the area’s biodiversity interest with a specific emphasis on enhancing its wetland ornithological value. 3. Secure a wider range of landscape and environmental enhancements. 4. Raise awareness of the area’s biodiversity assets, its wider natural and cultural heritage and its range of recreation opportunities. 5. Encourage access to the area and understanding and enjoyment of its natural and cultural heritage. 6. Secure benefits for existing communities by encouraging involvement and creating pathways through volunteering, training, social enterprise and local business development. 7. Ensure the new development in and around the corridor contributes to, and benefits from, the area’s natural and cultural heritage. (Ref 1, 2)

The area includes 7 lochs, 5 Local Nature Reserves, a country park and 7 lochs trail as well as a house of historic site and beaches. Implementation plans include, establish four visitor gateways, linked by a network of walking and cycling routes, restoration of the medieval building, conservation of habitats to protect important wildlife, delivery of a range of events and activities involving the local community. Also, there are plans for the creation of 4300 new homes in the area are being carefully managed to support the green network vision. Followings are the already implemented activities. The number of species found in that locality is being preserved and protected. The authority is creating facilities for attracting more migratory species. Building some new infrastructural facilities to make it easily accessible to the visitors. The project also includes the development of walking and cycling routes linking the gateway sites and improvements to paths, signage, interpretation and management across the whole park, as well as a range of activities for people to enjoy and learn about the area’s heritage, including opportunities for training and volunteering (Ref 1, 2, 4). Integrating new green infrastructure into planned development and regeneration will protect and enhance the Green Network and support the creation of a major new visitor attraction. The Seven Lochs Wetland Park Vision and Masterplan (consultation draft) received a silver award in the ‘master planning’ category of the Roses Design Awards 2011 (Ref 3). A 5 year, £6.8million work programme is now underway, supported by a grant of £4.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, along with funding from Seven Lochs Partnership members and range of other funders. The park is still a 'work in progress', and over the next 4 years, we will restore and enhance heritage and nature, develop new visitor facilities, create new paths and cycle routes, and offer a range of heritage learning and engagement opportunities for people of all ages (Ref 1).

• Local government/Municipality
• Citizens or community groups
• Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities