Government funding for Angus nature restoration projects

The local authority has been granted £150,000 from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

The funding will help to deliver projects that are designed to support the restoration of nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle causes of biodiversity loss, notably the loss of natural habitat and climate change.

Around £65 million was set aside to be delivered through the Nature Restoration Fund over the course of the current parliament, with at least £13.5 million available in 2022-23.

Last year £3.5 million was allocated to support 46 smaller-scale projects to help support biodiversity in rural areas across the country and a further £6.5 million was allocated to councils and Scotland’s National Parks for local nature restoration projects.

Councillor Serena Cowdy, the council’s environment spokesperson, said: “This funding will be of great assistance as we seek to deliver on the Nature Restoration Fund’s priorities of making space for nature and helping nature to recover. By applying the nature-based solutions of mitigation and adaptation, we can play our part in tackling the climate emergency.”

The council’s aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 focuses on key themes including nature-based solutions, and working with businesses, land managers and communities to secure nature rich, resilient places.

A number of projects has been identified for support, and allocation of these funds was approved by the communities committee .

These include Space for Nature programmes of continued urban tree planting and hedgerow creation across Angus; saltmarsh enhancement at Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve; habitat enhancement at Borrowfield Pond and Curlie Pond in Montrose and the scoping study and design of naturalising urban watercourses.

The council has made a strong commitment, through the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-26 which sets out 140 projects, to protect the multitude of flora and fauna across the area. In addition to fulfilling requirements of the Nature Restoration Fund, these projects will also deliver Biodiversity Action Plan prioritie s .