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Funding milestone reached for Rosyth’s ‘struggling’ river habitats

SEPA’s Water Environment Fund has committed £270,000, and Fife Council has allocated £50,000 from the Nature Restoration Fund. 

The project aims to restore two degraded watercourses, the Whinny and Brankholm Burns, to support wildlife, climate resilience and community wellbeing.

Last year a feasibility study identified significant opportunities for restoring the burns’ freshwater habitats in several areas of the town, including in Rosyth Public Park. This total £320,000 funding will support the project through its entire design phase, including concept, and developing technical designs. 

The project is set to appoint a design consultant this summer, and the full three phases of design work are expected to take two to three years.  

SEPA River Restoration Specialist Lynda Gairns said: “SEPA and Fife Council’s funding commitments demonstrate strong belief in this project and its ability to deliver benefits for both habitats and communities.

“We’ve seen amazing outcomes from similar restoration in Fife such as at the River Leven and Back Burn, and the Rosyth project has huge potential as well.”

Prior to human settlement, Rosyth was a floodplain with slow flowing burns and wetland habitat. Over time, humans converted the area for agriculture. Eventually the dockyard and township were built, resulting in the watercourses being artificially straightened, constrained, culverted and modified.

As a result, the rivers and wetland habitats’ capacity to hold water and support wildlife has been reduced. Today, the Whinny and Brankholm Burns’ ecological potential is significantly degraded, but the community are keen to do something about it. 

Project managers at Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) have been exploring and discussing ideas with the community. FCCT’s River Restoration Project Manager, Maddie Deacon, explained: “These rivers are struggling, but local people have a strong connection to their environment and their identity as Scotland’s only Garden City. So, community support for this project, and for wider restoration work, has been outstanding so far.

“We’ve had bird and bat boxes built by the EASYP Camdean, Rosyth Girl Guides and the Men’s Shed. Several community litter picks have happened along the burns and EATS Rosyth have been leading tree planting. We’re excited to see what more can be done for these rivers with the community’s support.”

Some of the restoration options at the Whinny and Brankholm Burns include re-meandering artificially straightened sections, grading the steep banksides, improving riparian habitat, creating seasonal ponds and wetland areas, and improving the path network and accessibility so that people can better enjoy the rivers as part of their greenspace. 

Such changes can bring a wide range of benefits: better habitat for species biodiversity (fish, mammals, invertebrates, birds and amphibians); and improved water quality and potentially improved climate resilience.

Notes to editors

This is a partnership press release. For further press information, please contact FCCT: Marjory Wood / 07485 395419 or Audrey Peebles / 07742 400421.

The River Leven Programme

The River Leven restoration project concluded in 2024 and was monitored last year. This monitoring has concluded that the river responded to different flow conditions as expected and as the design intended, including during significant rainfall. Fish have been observed upstream of the old Kirkland dam, which was removed. This means the project has successfully expanded habitat for species like brown trout and eels that call the River Leven home. The River Park Programme, supported by FCCT, kicked off in June 2025. A partnership led by Green Action Trust, it will deliver projects around the River Leven over four years.

The Back Burn Restoration

As part of the Leven Programme, phase 1 of the Back Burn restoration project was completed at Coul Den, Glenrothes, last year. The works included re-aligning the burn to its natural channel, creating rock ramps for fish passage, removing hard banking and upgrading the path network. Phase 2 of the Back Burn restoration project is due to start at Balbirnie Park, Markinch, this summer. 

Further Information on Fife Coast and Countryside Trust

The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust are an independent charity working with partners for a healthy environment that supports wellbeing and sustains the balance between people and nature.

Spread across around 70 sites, FCCT maintains the Fife Coastal Path, Fife Pilgrim Way, the Lomond Hills Regional Park, local nature reserves, and award-winning beaches. The organisation has its headquarters at Harbourmaster’s House in Dysart.

Mission Statement

Connecting Environment and People.

Vision

We lead in the care of Fife’s outdoors. Working together with you, we create a healthier environment that supports wellbeing and sustains the balance between people and the natural world.

The Water Environment Fund (WEF)
 
SEPA administers the Water Environment Fund (WEF) on behalf of the Scottish Government and works in partnership with local authorities, land and structure owners, fishery trusts and conservation bodies to deliver an annual programme of river restoration projects.
 
The Water Environment Fund (WEF) delivers projects which will derive the greatest benefit to Scotland’s rivers and neighbouring communities.
 
Working in partnership with local authorities, WEF is used to create better river environments for wildlife and people. We do this by restoring damaged river corridors to enhance the ecological value of the river and improve public amenity and well-being opportunities, including the reduction of flood risk.

More information about the Water Environment Fund (WEF) is available.