River Park Nature Network

The next step is for Green Action Trust to look for more funding to pay for these designs to be developed in more detail, as shown by the green arrow in this diagram. In the meantime, Green Action Trust would love to hear your feedback on the designs within this StoryMap, and can be contacted via their website  here. 

If you would like an overview on how to use the StoryMap, head to the Using Story Map section to watch a short video.

You can use your mouse to click on the menu items across the top of your screen at any time, however, it is recommended that you simply scroll through the whole story using your mouse wheel from start to finish.

The Nature Network forms an important part of the Leven Programme - a series of connected projects along the River Leven in Fife, supported by the Leven Partnership - a group of public, private and voluntary bodies.

This programme of change along the River Leven is expected to take 10 years to deliver on the ground. 

The Leven Programme’s vision is that …by 2030, our partnership will have contributed to, and delivered a number of projects that will have helped to breathe life back into the River Leven, improving the areas surrounding it and making them great places to live, work and visit. 

You can read more about the wider Leven Programme by following this  link. 

The River Leven flows into the sea at Leven in Fife. Its valley divides Leven on the north bank from Methil to the south. The river flows eastwards out of Loch Leven, through the centre of Glenrothes, past Windygates and to Leven.

The project area for the Nature Network lies between Cameron Bridge and the Bawbee Bridge across the river at Levenmouth. It is almost 3 miles in length.

The River Park, in which the Nature Network designs sit, is an ambitious plan for the River Leven valley in Levenmouth, following the course of the River Leven, and providing a green setting for the new railway line and new active travel paths. 

The Nature Network project builds on the Levenmouth Active Travel and River Park Concept Design Masterplan, produced in 2021 for the Leven Programme by Iglu Studio. This provided an aspirational masterplan as a framework for the more detailed design now developed in the Nature Network masterplan.

The other projects in the River Park area include:

• Levenmouth Rail Link. Reconnecting Levenmouth to the national rail network. 
• River Park Routes. Active travel routes through the River Park and connecting to surrounding communities. 
• Restoring the River Leven Project. Improvements to the river channel, banks and floodplain habitats. 
• River Park Projects. This currently encompasses seven projects, including: Leven Hidden Heritage, River Accessibility, Community Hub, Community Empowerment Plan, which bring people to the River Park and create different spaces (or ‘gardens’) to explore, enjoy and learn about the past and present.

Past and ongoing work, along with current events relating to the Leven River Park can be viewed at  The Leven Programme website .

As you follow this StoryMap through, you will build up a picture of the design of the Nature Network. 

We have mapped out designs for the Nature Network, but have also included elements of other projects which are relevant or connect to the Nature Network. These include pollinator corridors, active travel routes, river restoration and the new railway. We detail them throughout this StoryMap.

Previous work on the River Park has also informed the Nature Network proposals and been integrated into this StoryMap and the datasets connected to it.

This means that this StoryMap can serve as a home for data and proposals concerning all things nature and habitats in the River Park.

The project area covers the existing farmland, public greenspace and areas of abandoned ex-industrial or railway land that straddle the river along this urban reach before it meets the North Sea.

It is an area with a rich history of farming, watermills, coal mining, steel foundries, industry and railway lines. 

Today, it is a green valley with varied woodlands, grasslands and marsh vegetation, all within easy reach of the places where local people live.

The proposed River Park provides a great opportunity for adapting to our changing climate through nature-rich Blue-Green Infrastructure, which will benefit people and nature. 

Blue-Green Infrastructure refers to green spaces, such as parks, that are designed to soak up and direct water. 

Such spaces can help to:

• Reduce flooding.
• Improve water quality.
• Provide attractive green spaces for people.
• Secure space for nature. 

Connected Blue-Green Infrastructure form part of a wider ecosystem network that is bigger than the sum of its parts and allows movement – of water, animals, plants and people.

The ambitions of the Nature Network project are to:

• Make the River Park an attractive, welcoming place for people.
• Link existing areas of semi-natural habitat.
• Enhance biodiversity - the range and variety of living things (including people) - and habitat connectivity, linking green places for wildlife to live.
• Improve natural drainage, using rain to water plants and slow down water flow to reduce flood impact downstream.
• Support local food growing and provide foraging fruit in the landscape.
• Encourage healthy physical activity for a healthier life.
• Contribute to an attractive active travel network.
• Showcase how restoring nature can benefit our community.
• Enhance the sense of place of the Leven valley.

It might be surprising to learn that, although beautiful, Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Click  this link  for more information on NatureScot's work relating to Scotland's Nature Network.

Wildlife has been harmed by the loss and breaking up of habitats caused by changes in land-use such as farming; by growth in towns and cities; and by the roads and infrastructure that cross the landscape. 

This breaking up, or fragmentation, means that the habitats left are often isolated and less resilient to change as they lack connecting links.

The Nature Network within the River Park aims to contribute significantly towards addressing this loss of nature, as well as the climate emergency. 

There are a variety of existing habitats along the River Leven valley, and you can read more about these in 'The Current Picture’ section of this StoryMap.

The Nature Network will capitalise on the existing habitats along the River Leven valley, further increasing the diversity, connectivity and robustness of the habitats.

Ecological research and community knowledge have informed how The Leven River Park can best contribute to a Scotland-wide Nature Network, and begin to repair this fragmentation.

The River Park currently has a variety of habitats which together form a place that is a valuable home and movement route for wildlife.

These habitats include woodland, wetlands, grassland with wildflowers, and open vegetation of disturbed and vacant industrial land. These different habitat types are intermingled to form a strong green network along the river valley.

In contrast, many of the neighbouring green spaces and agricultural land are more intensively managed and of much lesser value for nature. Improving these habitats will boost their potential to become stepping stones for wildlife moving from the River Park into the surrounding countryside, and vice versa.

An ecological survey of the River Park has been carried out as part of the work on the Nature Network project. This has recorded different habitat types, which are shown on the adjacent interactive map.

The existing habitat types are:

• Broadleaved woodland along the riverside. A valuable place for wildlife, with large old crack willow, white willow, alder and sycamore and ground cover of diverse tall herbs.
• Broadleaved planted woodland. Varied tree species planted 20 to 30 years ago and now well grown. It is often rather simple, lacking different layers to the woodland.
• Scrub woodland. An open mix of small trees amongst brambles, raspberries, wildflowers and tall grass.
• Parkland trees. Mature trees growing in the grassland.
• Species-rich grassland. Grass with diverse wildflowers.
• Marsh and marshy grassland. Wet ground in the valley floor contains wet habitat that varies from wet meadow to reedbed. This is the most ecologically valuable habitat in the River Park due to its relative scarcity in the local area.
• Swamp. Open water and tall reedbed, with noteworthy herons and moorhens.
• Amenity grassland. Large areas of this grow on the south, fringing Methil; it has little for wildlife except daisy, dandelion and clover flowers.
• Derelict sites. The sparse soil encourages diversity of species, and there is natural succession to pioneer woodland occurring. This is an interesting habitat, especially for insects.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the existing habitats.

The proposals for the Nature Network aim to keep the existing ecological characteristics of value whilst extending them and introducing further habitat types.

The Nature Network will provide greater continuity of habitats and stronger links to wildlife habitats in the surrounding countryside.

The way the habitats found in the River Park are managed will help make them more varied and thus able to support greater biodiversity, with a particular focus on expanding habitats that feature in the  Fife Local Biodiversity Action Plan :

• Lowland fen, ponds and reedbed.
• Species-rich grassland.
• Field margins and hedges.
• Traditional orchards.
• Broadleaved woodland, including riparian and wet woodland.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

• Click on the map to expand to full screen.
• Drag the centre arrow from side-to-side to explore 'existing' and 'proposed' information.

Buglife, the insect conservation charity, produced a  report  with proposals to create and manage a new pollinator corridor centred on the River Leven valley. 

This corridor interconnects with a wider network of B-Lines, a nationwide web of flower-rich grasslands that provide nectar and pollen for insects so that more insect species and numbers can thrive. 

The pollinator corridor proposals have been incorporated into this Nature Network masterplan and management recommendations. 

Tip! Using the interactive map:

• Scroll to see different areas when viewing the map.
• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the proposals.

The River Park contains non-native species that are highly invasive, rapidly blanketing an area and replacing native plant communities. 

All are prevalent in riverside areas, partly because they enjoy damp soils but also because they are readily spread in the river flow and by floodwaters. Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam often form dominant stands alongside our rivers, spreading rapidly thanks to abundant seed or vigorous root systems.

The Forth Rivers Trust have surveyed the extent of these species and proposed eradication methods to remove them from the River Park.  The hogweed and knotweed infestations are quite intense in places, while the balsam is more spread out in its distribution.

Giant hogweed areas have been treated in recent years using weedkiller, applied in June when the plants are grown but not yet flowering.

Japanese Knotweed has been treated with weedkiller in the Autumn so the chemical is drawn down into the roots ahead of winter.

Himalayan balsam by contrast is an annual plant that is easily pulled up, but this must be done in June before the seeds develop and any plants left nearby will quickly seed into the vacated space.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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Topsoil samples were taken from several locations in the site to help the design team's proposed species selection. These show that the soil is a sandy loam, having a naturally crumbly consistency not prone to water-logging.

The soils have good levels of organic material and are generally slightly acidic, which is common in this part of Scotland. 

The floodplain soil has much more organic content and very high level of phosphorous, which reflects the fertilising effects of polluted floodwater running off agricultural land and carrying sewage overflow water during storms.

Habitat creation and management in the floodplain will be targeted on those distinctive vegetation types of damp and periodically flooded ground – swamp, aquatic marginals, marshy grassland and wet woodland.

The intention is to expand these habitat types where possible, in place of the more common deciduous plantation woodland in some areas.

Tip! Using the interactive image:

• Click on the image to expand to full screen.
• Drag the centre arrow from side-to-side to explore 'existing' and 'proposed' information.

There are great opportunities to bring rainfall from surrounding housing areas into the park, sustaining river floodplain vegetation and creating threads of wetland ecosystem through the landscape.

Such measures would take rainwater from local roads, diverting it away from the combined sewer network and so reducing the risk of polluting sewer overflows. This water will help the park stay green during future summer droughts.

The proposals will:

• Create a linked network of surface water swales to capture road drainage and reduce load on the existing combined sewer network.
• Use wet meadow swales to contribute to the wetland grass habitat network.
• Introduce basins which store water and provide wetland habitat away from the River Leven floodplain.
• Explore the potential to reinstate historic lades to maintain water levels in wetland areas; acting as collectors at the base of slopes from Methil and Mountfleurie, using sustainable drainage to increase natural water supply to the swamp, marsh and wet woodland habitats.
• Provide opportunities for dipping ponds at the site of Methil Mill and Dam Wood.
• Increase the area and diversity of swamp, wet woodland and marshy grassland.

The proposals for water within the River Park will form a network of connected natural habitats extending from riverbank to doorstep.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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Much of the existing woodland that was planted in the recent past lacks diversity and the trees are in straight rows. Proposals include selective felling of trees to give more space to long-lived native species, coppicing to allow light in and create dense bushy thickets, planting of native shrub species, and floor plants where conditions are shaded.

Native woodland planting will be focussed on the valley sides to form woodland habitat connections along and across the valley, in place of grasslands of low biodiversity value. Along the edges, a mix of denser tree and shrub species will be planted; in some places woodland will be supplemented with a hedge to provide a strong and tidy boundary.

Open tree groups, lines and avenues will be planted alongside residential streets and paths where a more open character is desirable, blossom trees will be planted to bring seasonal emphasis of the lines of path and lade.

Orchards are an important final part of the woodland jigsaw, forming a characteristic wood-pasture habitat that is of great value to invertebrate and bird life.

The woodland strategy will:

• Enhance existing woodland with understorey planting and selective felling to create space for the trees which have a better chance of long-term success.
• Expand the woodland network, planting swathes of native broadleaf woodland.
• Develop diverse habitats, woodland bordered by scrub and meadow to create transitional zones and improve edge ecology.
• Connect fragmented tree groups along the river banks.
• Develop rides and glades.
• Enhance woodland habitats through coppicing, thinning and planting native shrubs, to create a more open canopy and a more diverse understorey layer.
• Enhance woodland edge habitat by creating scalloped edges and a graded transition from woodland to open meadow habitats.
• Encourage engagement with woodland habitats, through improved paths and opportunities for natural play.
• Incorporate educational and community involvement throughout the process.
• Create orchards as part of the local orchards network.
• Introduce species-rich native hedgerows alongside pathways in order to reduce the disturbance from public presence on adjacent woodland habitats whilst also introducing suitable nesting and foraging habitat for birds.
• Create “dead hedges” to enrich habitats for insects and small mammals and make use of deadwood.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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Through the map you can find out how each woodland unit (compartment) will be managed to best achieve the conservation objectives, which are as follows:

• Riparian broadleaved woodland. Native woodland of flood-tolerant tree and understorey shrub species with diverse ground flora of waterlogged ground. Standing and lying deadwood will be increasingly present. Osier willow will be coppiced in rotation to provide willow wands and diverse woodland floor conditions.

• Broadleaved woodland. Native broadleaved woodland with diverse species mix and canopy structure - a canopy of large trees, understorey of smaller trees, a shrub layer and a a natural woodland ground flora. Some of the understorey trees or large shrubs may be coppiced to create dense thickets of young stems growing from the cut stump. Native woodland is a valuable habitat especially for birds; the growing trees absorb carbon dioxide and air pollution, as well as cooling the air. In selected locations there will be some heritage conifer groups as features and for habitat value. Planted woodland will have an edge of more densely planted smaller trees and shrubs to maximise wildlife value for birds and insects and create sheltered and shady conditions in the woodland behind.

• Pioneer woodland. Native spontaneous birch and willow woodland left to undergo natural succession, with selective felling only where crowding effects stability.

• Osiers. Willow coppice cut to produce ‘wands’ used traditionally for basket weaving and hurdle fence making. The very dense stems form a good habitat for certain birds, such as warblers.

• Coppice. A native tree or understorey shrub, such as alder, lime or hazel, can be cut back to ground level and will then produce several new stems from the stool (or stump). This allows light to reach the woodland floor, which stimulates woodland flowers, and makes the woodland canopy structure more diverse, providing more cover for wildlife. The ‘poles’ produced were traditionally used for firewood and for woodland products such as furniture and tool handles.  Coppiced oak was used for charcoal and tanning. Coppice is cut on rotation, on a 7-12 year cycle depending on the size of pole desired.

• Agroforestry woodland. Productive woodland growing amongst pasture or cropping fields. It is intended to provide a crop of timber, firewood or tree fruit whilst also sheltering livestock. Both of these aims can support wildlife and help the landscape character and quality.

• Scrub mosaic (with fruiting species). Keeping an intimate mix of open grass, wildflower and bramble groundcover with scattered and thickets of small trees of fruiting species that are really good for birds and insects – providing shelter, nectar-rich flowers in spring and winter fruit for when times are hard for birds.

• Riverside trees. Large native trees forming broad canopy specimens overhanging the river, with roots in the riverbank providing crevices for mammals, as well as bank stability.

• Parkland trees. Large, long-lived broadleaved specimen trees growing amongst meadow grassland in groups or lines, providing shelter and framing to the spaces,  home for birds and commuting routes for bats to follow.

• Blossom trees. Flowering trees growing as formal lines to provide visual emphasis and spring nectar for pollinating insects. 

• Orchard. Formal grid of fruit trees managed by local community groups for fruit production. Pruning optional, to improve fruit yield.

• Native fruiting hedges. Provide structure, blossom and foraging. 

Ash dieback disease is affecting this species in the River Park. Where affected specimens lie next to paths and there is a danger of collapse, the tree should be felled.

In other cases, standing deadwood, or natural collapse, may be appropriate (and for older specimens will form nesting habitat for insects and bats). Scottish Forestry recommendations should be followed.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the proposals.

Explore the sections below by clicking on the images to expand the content and see more detail.

The Nature Network proposals will:

• Protect nutrient-poor crushed material associated with demolition sites, which is good wildflower habitat.
• Create swathes of species-rich grasslands to provide linked pollinator habitat across the site.
• Improve the wetland meadow networks associated with floodable/damp areas beside the River Leven, and create new habitat adjacent to new rainwater features.
• Create new species-rich meadow habitat using topsoil scraping, which will be reused for woodland planting.

• Tidy edges to the proposed path network in order to make the park look cared-for.
• Diversify wetland areas; increase species diversity.
• Protect important open areas for butterflies and other insects through carefully selecting tree and scrub species to prevent encroachment and enhancing these habitats through the creation of basking sites and hibernacula, especially on south-facing slopes.
• Improve rough grassland for small mammal habitat.
• Plant new native fruiting hedges that provide structure and foraging.
• Retain and improve field margins for farmland birds in the north-west of the project area.

Together these measures will form a part of the wider Pollinator Network, proposed by Buglife. This network will connect into suitable green areas beyond the River Park as part of the B-Lines covering Fife.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Wet Grassland. Where accessible, an annual cut in Autumn helps prevent woodland and scrub encroachment; but some areas should be left each year, for hibernating insects. If possible, cuttings should be lifted and removed to compost, so that nutrient levels do not build up and favour dominant species at the expense of diversity.

• Herb-Rich Meadow Grassland. Areas of existing species-rich meadow grass will be managed to retain and improve the species diversity. New areas will be created in 2 ways: 1. Where the soil is already low in nutrients, particularly Phosphorus, the existing grass cover can be killed using herbicide and then a grass/wildflower seed mix can be sown. 2. In most areas, the soil is too fertile and the top 100mm will be stripped and placed in areas for woodland planting; the deeper, less fertile soil can then be prepared for seeding.

• Maintenance. Grassland health relies on it receiving appropriate care. An annual cut in Autumn, once the flowers have gone to seed, with cuttings lifted and removed to compost so that nutrient levels do not build up and favour dominant species at the expense of diversity. Diversity can be increased by introducing yellow rattle either as plug plants or by seeding into scarified turf. Other native wildflower species can be introduced as plugs where conditions are suitable; this is a nice activity for community participation.

• Tall Grassland. To prevent this grassland cover becoming rank and tussocky, and prevent encroachment by trees, it will be cut as a minimum once a year; this cut should fall at the end of winter, so that it provides a ‘thatch’ cover for insects over the winter. A further cut can be undertaken in August, if desired. This allows the display of grass flowers to complete.

• Amenity Grassland. Rather than having a uniform grass appearance all year, these areas should be left uncut in Spring, after the first cut of the year, so that the daisies and clover can flower and provide for early emerging pollinators. The rule is now ‘No Mow May’; afterwards, the grass can revert to more regular cutting.

• Spring bulbs. Native wildflower bulbs (daffodil, bluebell, snowdrop, crocus) planted in scattered drifts into existing grassland under trees, for seasonal highlights and early pollinators.

• Pasture. Grazing land would ideally be seeded with a Timothy and Sweet vernal grass ley, for a diverse sward suited to a taller hay cut. Such a meadow would have added value in providing for the pet-food market, where Timothy hay is sold at a premium cost.

• Fruiting native hedgerows will be planted and grown to substantial size and maintained with annual trimming during the dormant season. The hedges should develop a native tall grass and phorb ground flora along their base, rather than being mown right up to them; this is an important habitat zone for invertebrates, amphibians and birds. The species mix will produce a dense and robust hedge that will provide shelter and food for a variety of bird, invertebrate and mammal species. The hedge will be planted with a post and wire fence in locations where it is necessary to prevent through-cutting by people. These hedges will include crab-apple, damson and apple trees amongst the more standard hedge species.

• Swamp. An open habitat of the wettest areas, often permanently wet ground. Tall reeds growing with standing water. Such areas are natural systems with minimal management except periodic measures to prevent tree growth impinging at the margins.

• Marshy grassland. A mix of reeds, sedges and wildflowers of wet ground, rich in shelter and food sources for insects and birds. Such areas are, like the wetter swamp areas, natural systems with minimal management except periodic measures to prevent tree growth impinging at the margins. They will be periodically cut to prevent tree and scrub encroachment that would make it a less attractive habitat for the target insect species.

• Open pollinator mosaic. Open ground on steep south facing slopes, with wildflowers and areas of bare soil, is a home to many pollinator insects and mining bees. Because of access difficulties, this would be cut on a 3 year cycle to prevent succession to scrub woodland.

• Herb rich pioneer community. This habitat is confined to derelict sites such as the old timberyard, with bare, stony soil that is similar to scree or moraine in nature. Wildflowers tolerant of poor ground form a diverse cover.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the proposals.

Explore the sections below by clicking on the images to expand the content and see more detail.

The Nature Network design aims to:

• Include informal paths that bring people closer to nature.
• Create opportunities for foraging, for both people and wildlife, which provide linked pollinator habitat across the site.
• Provide informal natural play opportunities for people of all ages.
• Establish fruiting orchards within the River Park.
• Provides opportunity for community involvement through establishment and management of the River Park.
• Suggest locations and designs for allotments and community gardens.

Include informal paths, foraging, play, community involvement

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the proposals.

Along with the River Park Routes', there will also be unsurfaced paths through woodlands and paths mown through grassland areas.

These will generally be aligned to run alongside landscape features such as swales, wildflower-rich verges, hedgerows and orchards, so that people can easily enjoy the variety of habitats.

In the swamp and wet woodland areas of the floodplain, new paths may be along raised boardwalks that can be submerged during times of flood. Work is being done on ideas for these paths through the River accessibility project, managed by  GAT .

When the River Park is developed in more detail, designers will plan to include attractive and durable waymarking along the path networks.  Interpretation will highlight wildlife and heritage features seen from the routes, as well as celebrate the distinctiveness of the area. Signage will be created working with local groups, and aim to be accessible and easily understood. 

The Nature Network will provide a variety of opportunities for people to find or grow food.

• Foraging – wild fruiting plants incorporated into the native woodland, hedgerow and scrub habitats e.g. raspberry and blackberry thickets, sloe and damson scrub, blackcurrant and blackberry understorey to woodland glades.
• Orchards – Local community orchards to expand upon the successful work already done in Methil and Buckhaven by CLEAR, creating attractive groups of fruit trees within wildflower meadow.

• Allotments - Formal growing spaces could be created as part of the Fife Allotment Strategy and Local Food Growing Strategy. These would help local people. these would help local people grow their own healthy fruit and vegetables as part of a supportive allotment group with shared tools and resources.
• Community Garden – As part of the Community Hub project, raised beds could support gardening as one strand of this initiative.

People of all ages and stages in their life should feel welcome to enjoy the Nature Network. The River Park will be woven with playful features that encourage interaction with nature.

These playful elements may include:

• Pond dipping platforms in the wetland zone.
• Woodland management to provide small wood for den building.
• Felled logs as habitat and for natural building play.
• Robust carved features such as wild animals, touchstones, play features.
• Woven willow arches, tunnels, mazes and chambers.
• Balance features, stepping stones across swales.
• Low-tech rope swings and slacklines on mature trees.
• Cycling circuit path on the old blaes pitch.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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Now that these Nature Network designs have been developed, they will be pulled through into the other projects within the River Park, all of these falling within the Leven Programme area.  The Leven Programme projects have a line-up of activities and opportunities to become involved in shaping the River Park area.  More information can be found on the Leven Programme’s website,  here .

Local people will be encouraged, in partnership with local community organisations, to participate in management of the River Park – guiding decisions and taking part in practical activities.

This aims to build a sense of ownership, empowerment and connection with nature in the park and build local care and stewardship.

Suitable activities would include:

• Tree planting – woodland, hedges and especially orchards.
• Orchard management.
• Wildflower management.
• Pond management.
• Annual maintenance of habitat features such as nest boxes.
• Renewal of sign information to be up-to-date on activities and wildlife sightings.
• Litter picking.

Explore the section below by clicking on the image to expand the content and see more detail.

The Nature Network will enhance the River Park, creating space for nature across a wide variety of habitats.

The adjacent interactive map collates all of the information that you have seen in the previous sections into a complete representation of the Nature Network.

Tip! Using the interactive map:

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• Use the zoom function to see a particular area in greater detail.
• Click on features to get more information about the proposals.