Biodiversity areas in Renfrewshire

1: Linwood Road - Roadside Wildlife Corridor. Completed

Why? The previous roadside verge vegetation of this site was of low biodiversity value. Creating long stretches of native wildflower meadow along roadsides provides the habitat our insects need to thrive and work their pollinating magic for us throughout Renfrewshire.

What? Grass was replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow vegetation to create a habitat corridor which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects, birds and bats.

How will it work? It will be necessary to cut and remove the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer to limit the growth of faster growing plant species. Each time this is done, the nutrient value of the soil will reduce, increasingly favouring growth of our hardy Scottish meadow plants to outcompete the existing amenity turf.

2: St James' - Greenock Road - Roadside Wildlife Corridor. Completed

Why? The previous dense turf at this site was dominated by a few grass species and frequent mowing reduced availability of flowers for pollinating insects.

What? Grass was removed along the roadside verges and planted with wildflower seeds to create a colourful, diverse native vegetation.

How will it work? As with traditional hay meadows, cutting and removing the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer will limit the growth of faster growing plant species. This will also remove nutrients from the soil, encouraging fine-leaved grasses which do not smother some of our less robust native flowering species.

3: A726 Erskine - Roadside Wildlife Corridor. Completed

Why? A lack of plant diversity and waterlogged soil conditions along this stretch of road presented an opportunity to increase the range of vegetation types and link up meadow habitats along the route.

What? Grass was replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow vegetation to create a habitat corridor which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects, birds and bats. The mix of perennial seeds sown will become increasingly colourful in summer 2023 and beyond as several species reach flowering age in the year after planting.

How will it work? At the end of the summer, cutting and removing the mix of grasses and flowers will encourage a greater diversity of plant species, in turn supporting a wider diversity of wildlife.

4: Paisley - Glenburn Road Banking - Wildflower Area. Completed

Why? The naturalised area had become dominated by a few species of rough grasses which hamper the growth of a wide range of native wildflowers. This project offers the opportunity to increase the number of species at the site.

What? Native wildflower seeds and grasses were sown in sections along the bottom of the banking. This includes plants which flower at different times of the year, providing food for pollinating species such as bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies, and a variety of perennial wildflowers will return and flower each year.

How will it work? The wildflower sections and parts of the grass banking will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed. The short grass margin along the edge of Glenburn Road will continue to be mown as normal.

5: Johnstone - Spateston Road Burn - Wildflower Area. Completed

Why? The previous short-mown vegetation of this site was of low biodiversity value. Residents from Spateston mentioned the positive benefits of having wild flowers in open spaces.

What? Turf was removed and planted with a wildflower seed mix to attract a wider range of insects and birds to the meadow and provide a breeding habitat for several species.  An area of ground sloping down to the burn will be kept as rough grassland as this is a good habitat for field voles. Enhanced wildlife habitats will have multiple community benefits including additional well-being and outdoor learning opportunities for children attending the adjacent Spateston Early Years Centre.

How will it work? Due to the heavy clay soil of the site, plants adjacent to the Early Years Centre have been slow to establish. To encourage full coverage of the site, this central meadow area will be left to grow this year. Remaining parts of the site will be cut in September or October. The entire project area will be cut as part of the grass cutting programme in September 2023 to maintain the habitat favoured by a range of insects and birds.

6: Inchinnan - Freeland Drive - Tree Planting. Completed

Why? This site was an underused area with potential for tree planting.

What? Nine specimen trees were planted with an understorey of scrub/small trees to provide an additional autumn food source and nesting habitat for birds. Inchinnan Primary School pupils were involved in planting the trees. Species planted include Hawthorn, Crab apple and Scots Pine.

How will it work? Planted specimen trees will be monitored and replaced if any natural failure occurs.

7: Paisley - Newark Drive - Tree Planting. Completed

Why? This site was an underused area with low amenity value.

What? Eleven new specimen trees were planted including Field Maple and Silver Birch.

How will it work? Planted specimen trees will be monitored and replaced if any natural failure occurs.

8: Lochwinnoch Recreational - Biodiversity Area. Completed

Why? Previous area of cut grass supported low biodiversity. We received approaches from the local community with many positive comments and suggestions from local residents agreeing the potential for enhancing the biodiversity of the site.

What? At the recreational playing fields an area of grass 5m wide was removed and this material used to create a small embankment alongside the River Calder. The site was then sown with a native wet meadow seed mix.

How will it work? A much more varied, open vegetation structure will be established by cutting and removing the grass and flowers at the end of the summer each year.

Update: Clyde Muirshiel Rangers along with volunteers during February have sown yellow rattle seed at the embankment. Yellow rattle acts as a parasite on grass and this helps the flowers to grow.

9: Erskine - Pool Embankment - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? This short-mown amenity turf site has great potential for enhanced biodiversity and visual appeal. Common Spotted Orchids are scattered around the less intensively managed edges of the site, indicating that the right approach will encourage a fantastic hay meadow in Erskine town centre flickering with a wide range of butterflies and bumblebees.

What? Allowing the existing grassland plants on the banking to grow tall and flower throughout the year will enable the maximum number of species to squeeze the most resources out of this mini meadow. Cutting and removing existing vegetation in the late autumn will open the vegetation structure to favour less robust native species. In some areas amenity turf will be replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow seeds to create a colourful, diverse native vegetation which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects, birds and bats. Three native trees will be planted to further increase the variety of available microhabitats.

How will it work? At the end of the summer the tall mix of grass and flowers will be cut and removed. Each time this is done, the nutrient value of the soil will reduce, increasingly favouring growth of our hardy Scottish meadow plants – including orchids - to outcompete the existing amenity turf.

10: Knockhill Park - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? The previous amenity lawn vegetation of this site was of low biodiversity value.

What? At key areas across the site, turf will be replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow to create a colourful, diverse native vegetation which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects. To increase the diversity of habitat resources for birds, bats, moths and lichens, thirty trees will be planted. Species will include Scots Pine, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Holly, Yew, Sessile Oak and Field Maple.

How will it work? As with traditional hay meadows, cutting and removing the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer will limit the growth of faster growing plant species. This will also remove nutrients from the soil, encouraging fine-leaved grasses which do not smother some of our less robust native flowering species.

11: Johnstone - Auchenlodment Road - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? This site was an underused area with low amenity value.

What? Grass will be replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow to create a colourful, diverse native vegetation which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects. Tree planting will provide nesting and roosting opportunities for birds and bats.

How will it work? The wildflower sections will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed.

12: Kilbarchan - Cuninghame Road - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? This site was an underused area with low amenity value.

What? Two Oak trees will be planted for the high variety of species they support, and a shade-tolerant woodland meadow seed mix will be planted under tree crowns.

How will it work? It will be necessary to cut and remove the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer to limit the growth of faster growing plant species. Each time this is done, the nutrient value of the soil will reduce, increasingly favouring growth of our hardy Scottish meadow plants to outcompete the existing amenity turf.

13: Langbank - Station Road Playing Fields - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? The existing amenity lawn is of low biodiversity value. This project offers the opportunity to increase the number of species at the site whilst maintaining the existing recreational facilities.

What? Native wildflower seeds and grasses will be sown in sections along the banking. This includes plants which flower at different times of the year, providing food for pollinating species such as bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies, and a variety of perennial wildflowers will return and flower each year. Removal of Japanese Knotweed, Bracken and Himalayan balsam will clear space for scrub trees including Hawthorn, Hazel, Rowan and Guelder Rose to create additionalhabitat for nesting birds.

How will it work? The wildflower sections and parts of the grass banking will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed. The short grass of the playing fields will continue to be mown as normal.

14: Linwood - Shaw Place - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? The vegetation at the edges of the site bounding properties provide low biodiversity value and are not of high amenity value. This project offers the opportunity to increase the number of species at the site whilst creating a stronger sense of place for residents.

What? Native wildflower seeds and grasses will be sown along path sides, providing visual appeal which changes with the seasons for the local community to enjoy whilst walking around and through the site. Fourteen trees will be planted including Wild Service and Yew to further enhance an area which has developed into a fantastic range of habitats including wet grassland habitat.

How will it work? The wildflower path edges will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed.

15: Linwood - Mill Lade - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? The existing amenity lawn is of low biodiversity value. This project offers the opportunity to increase the number of species at the site.

What? Native wildflower seeds and grasses will be sown along the path verge parallel to the road. A grassland clearing among the existing wooded areas will be managed to enhance woodland ground flora.

How will it work? The meadow vegetation at the path edges and within the woodland glade will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed.

16: Paisley East and Whitehaugh - Barshaw Park Verge - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? This site presents a wide variety of habitat enhancement opportunities including mounded banking for insects, wooded meadow and potential for a nursery to produce wildflower turf.

What? Grass will be replaced with Scottish wildflower meadow to create a colourful, diverse native vegetation which provides food and nesting resources for a wide range of pollinating insects, birds and bats. A shade- tolerant woodland meadow seed mix will be planted under tree crowns. Seven trees will be planted to link up the existing stands of trees into a more coherent block of woodland.

How will it work? It will be necessary to cut and remove the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer to limit the growth of faster growing plant species. Each time this is done, the nutrient value of the soil will reduce, increasingly favouring growth of our hardy Scottish meadow plants to outcompete the existing amenity turf.

17: Paisley West and Central - Woodside Park - Biodiversity Area. Upcoming site

Why? Adjusted management of grassland areas will complement the diversity of woodland habitat types present at this site.

What? Grassland clearings among the existing wooded areas will be resown with native woodland seed mix to enhance woodland ground flora.

How will it work? As with traditional hay meadows, cutting and removing the mix of grass and flowers at the end of the summer will limit the growth of faster growing plant species. This will also remove nutrients from the soil, encouraging fine-leaved grasses which do not smother some of our less robust native flowering species.

18: Arkleston Road - Roadside Wildlife Corridor. Upcoming site

Why? The existing amenity lawn panels along the roadside edges are of low biodiversity value. This project offers the opportunity to increase the number of species at the site.

What? Native wildflower seeds and grasses will be sown along roadside verges. This includes plants which flower at different times of the year, providing food for pollinating species such as bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies, and a variety of perennial wildflowers will return and flower each year. Approximately ten will be planted to extend the area of open woodland.

How will it work? The wildflower roadside verges will be cut in autumn to allow the wildflowers time to seed, and the cuttings will be removed.