Flood schemes help to protect wildlife

The Braid Burn and Water of Leith flood prevention schemes are well under way to improve protection of properties and the community, particularly in notorious flooding trouble-spots.

The improvements have also been giving a helping hand to a variety of wildlife.

Environmental supervisors have been busy surveying each of the works areas along the Braid Burn for evidence of European protected species.

Otters have been found along much of the burn. Nightwatch-men have also reported that badgers have been seen in and around one works area.

Although no setts have been found, the sighting of these badgers is exciting news.

The environmental team is providing some lasting habitat improvements in certain areas of the corridor.

Within the Inch Park and Duddingston sections of the Braid Burn, natural meanders with associated wetland planting have been created.

These meanders allow the formation of new habitats within the burn, providing long term benefits to insects and fish.

These improvements will also help birds such as heron, dipper and kingfisher, all of which have been spotted along the burn corridor.

While the wetland planting should prove popular, nesting boxes attached to the floodwalls will provide new homes for dippers that live along the burn’s banks.

With the planting of new trees, native species are chosen that will best support the local wildlife and return the areas to their former glory.