Bright Green Nature’s first project was the successful restoration of an ancient pondscape near Selkirk across two historically significant sites: Bright Green Nature’s Deer Park – a species-rich grassland – and part of the neighbouring Haining estate – an extensive woodland and parkland landscape.
Running from July 2023 to July 2024, this wetland restoration project, funded by the Nature Restoration Fund and managed by NatureScot, was a collaborative effort between Bright Green Nature and the Haining Charitable Trust.
Funded by the NatureScot Nature Restoration Fund (around £19k) plus £6k matched funding, we successfully restored three historical ponds across our Deer Park site and the Haining estate. There were three key components to the project:
- Hydrological Restoration: Recreating natural water depth and flow patterns to ensure a consistent and suitable habitat enabling native amphibians, including the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), a European protected species, to breed, feed and thrive.
- Vegetation Management: Protecting native flora and eradicating invasive species to improve habitat quality and support a diverse range of wildlife.
- Community Engagement: Involving local communities through educational programmes, volunteer opportunities and citizen science projects to foster a sense of stewardship and connection to the sites.
We continue to conduct routine surveys to understand the impact of the restoration of this wetland area. Some of the species we’ve recorded so far include otter, emerald damselfly, great diving beetle and caddisfly.
“Wetlands are incredibly diverse ecosystems that provide essential services such as water filtration, flood control, and carbon sequestration. This project underscores our commitment to preserving and enhancing natural habitats.”
— Tony Seymour, Project Clerk of Works and Owner of The Farm Environment