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River restoration works progress at Balbirnie Park

Design consultants CBEC eco-engineering and construction contractors McGowan Environmental Ltd have been at work on site since early May, in the historic designed landscape of Balbirnie House, now a valued public greenspace. Work has started upstream of Balbirnie Park Golf Course, where hard banking and small weirs are being removed, and nature-like rock ramps are being constructed over larger weirs.

The project will progress downstream and works planned for the other side of the golf course include removing gabion baskets and other hard engineering on the riverbank, weir removal, construction of rock ramps, and improving the ford and footbridge. These are expected to be complete by October 2026.

The works at Balbirnie Park follow the completion of Phase 1 of the Restoring the Back Burn project at Coul Den in October 2025. With spring bringing vegetation growth, the site is now starting to look green again, and the restoration features such as nature-like rock ramps are starting to settle in.

A pair of otter have been seen in the re-aligned channel above Coul Reservoir, native brown trout have been seen swimming in the delta underneath the new boardwalk, and abundant frog spawn has been observed in the old artificial channel which now provides pond habitat.

A total of six impassable fish barriers were removed or otherwise mitigated by the restoration works at Coul Den, opening a much larger stretch of habitat for fish species including the resident trout population. The work at Balbirnie Park will remove a further five barriers.

Lynda Gairns, River Restoration Specialist at SEPA, said: "SEPA are delighted to see the second and last phase of the Back Burn restoration project get off to a successful start so early in the summer. The improvement works being carried out are a great addition to the successful works carried out at Coul Den and it's wonderful to see the river and surrounding greenspace thriving again."

A community survey carried out by project managers Fife Coast and Countryside Trust showed that 85% of respondents felt positively about the works at Coul Den.

One respondent said: "I appreciate the efforts made to enhance the ecological balance at Coul Den. It's a great asset to our community.”
A total of 70% of respondents said the works made them more likely to visit the site, and 81% said their access to the site had been improved. Some respondents were happy to see the heritage features of the site retained: “Given the importance of Coul Den to the industrial heritage of Glenrothes it is nice to see that historic features of the site have been kept."

While others commented on the changes in biodiversity they are noticing, with one commenting: "Didn't see any migrating toads trapped below the path at the outlet this spring, which was a feature over past years - that was lovely to see” and another saying “…to be honest I wasn’t sure about the changes… but as time has progressed and nature has fought back, I’m beginning to love the changes."

Councillor Jan Wincott, Fife Council spokesperson for environment and climate change, said: "The positive feedback from the Coul Den phase shows just how much these projects are valued by local communities, and we’re pleased to see that work now continuing downstream. We’d like to thank visitors for their patience while these important improvements are carried out."

The Restoring the Back Burn project is part of a landscape-scale vision for river restoration in Fife. The River Leven Restoration project was completed in 2024, and the Rosyth River Restoration project has received funding for its design phases. The projects are being delivered in partnership by SEPA, Fife Council and FCCT.

Diversions are clearly signposted and visitors are asked to please adhere to them. 

Notes to editors

This is a partnership press release. For further information please contact Audrey Peebles at FCCT on Audrey.Peebles@fifecountryside.co.uk / 07742 400421 or Marjory Wood on Marjory.Wood@fifecountryside.co.uk / 07485 395419.

Back Burn River Restoration Project Page

A similar river restoration project is being developed for the Whinny and Brankholm Burns in Rosyth. Read more about that project on the FCCT website.

Further Information on Fife Coast and Countryside Trust

The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust is an independent charity working with partners for a healthy environment that supports wellbeing and sustains the balance between people and nature.
Spread across more than 65 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 where it manages a coastal visitor centre.

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.

Further Information on SEPA

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.
 
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.