St Andrews environmental project to focus on ‘green corridors’

A new environmental project aims to tackle non-native invasive species and improve wildlife habitats along two popular St Andrews ‘green corridors’.

The project, which is being managed by the St Andrews Botanic Garden in partnership with Fife Council and the University of St Andrews, will focus on the Lade Braes and North Haugh.

The St Andrews Green Corridors initiative aims to protect habitats and improve biodiversity, while also removing the non-native invasive species, such as Japanese Knotweed, and replacing them with native species.

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“It is also a mechanism for the Garden to reach beyond its boundaries and engage with the community,” explained Professor Thomas Meagher, chairman of the St Andrews Botanic Garden Trust.

“It is one of several initiatives we have going. We have been moving towards more engagement with the university and the community.

“This project has the potential to improve the conditions for wildlife and improve the stability of these environments.”

The Garden wants to build a network of volunteers, who can work on the project and help maintain the two sites in the future.

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However, Aisling Wallace, ecological projects officer at the university, explained the project had been held up by coronavirus: “Originally it would have started a few weeks ago. The project timeline has now been extended to March 21, 2021. The North Haugh would be the key thing to start with, but it depends how far into the year we are.”

Prof Meagher said that preparation work has been taking place in the background, adding: “We’ll be primed and ready to go.”

To keep up to date with the project and other events at the garden, visit www.facebook.com/standrewsbotanicgarden.

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