Biodiversity
Enhancements
An integrated plan to build a sustainable, net zero future for the North East of Scotland.
As part of our future plans to develop a site within the south-eastern area of St Fittick’s Park, we are committed to achieving greater biodiversity than currently exists.
Biodiversity enhancements will form a key part of our phased programme of greenspace enhancements. Set out below are the planting plans proposed as part of the initial phase of improvements that will be delivered prior to any development taking place within St Fittick’s Park. These plans are linked to an initial proposed phase of recreational and access upgrades.
Biodiversity Enhancement Plans
St Fittick’s Park is a coastal semi-urban park that supports a range of habitats, including reedbeds, wet grasslands, dry grasslands and both wet and mixed woodlands.
The first areas where planting is proposed as part our environmental plans are the wetlands and areas of coastal and inland grasslands. They include improving wetland habitats and the development of coastal and inland grasslands within the park to attract additional species.
Full details of the biodiversity planting proposal can be found in the St Fittick's Park Biodiversity Protection and Enhancement Plan.
This report has been submitted as part of our latest detailed planning permission proposal.
Wetlands
Restoring the wetland is a key part of plans to improve biodiversity in the park. Whilst it supports a range of riparian species, the wetland is heavily stagnated and there is widespread silt build up.
Restoring flow to the wetland and realigning the East Tullos Burn will benefit the ecosystem by allowing new plant life to thrive. In particular the plans will look to increase the population of Gypsywort which is the only known population in the region.
The plans for the wetland also include the introduction of an otter holt to encourage passing otters to take up residence on a more permanent basis and an artificial sand martin bank to aim to reverse a recent decline in their population in the area.
Find out more about wetland restoration plans.
Coastal Grasslands
The existing higher quality habitat around St Fittick’s Park is primarily coastal grassland. This habitat supports a number of species that are at risk of extinction as habitats become fragmented. As part of the ecological enhancements within the park areas of coastal grass land will be established to help reduce fragmentation.
This will involve planting a range of wildflowers in particular pollinator plants that support insects, moths and butterflies. In particular to encourage growth in species such as dark green fritillary butterfly which sporadically breeds in the area.
Full details of planting mixes and proposals can be found in the St Fittick's Park Biodiversity Protection and Enhancement Plan.
Inland Grasslands
To complement the coastal grassland, inland grasslands will be planted in more sheltered areas. This will be a more traditional meadow mix also encouraging pollinator species and increasing the wildflower mix within the park.
Full details of planting mixes and proposals can be found in the St Fittick's Park Biodiversity Protection and Enhancement Plan.
These proposals are designed to increase the range of habitats within St Fittick's Park that support biodiversity, as well as enhance the biodiversity within the wetland. Biodiversity plans will be further developed as detailed plans for the development sites are brought forward and a site occupier is identified.
Read the latest on our detailed planning permission process.
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