boardwalks, wetlands and waterside erosion control

Water Gems is increasingly involved in the creation of boardwalk and wetland complexes, aquatic erosion control and aquatic habitat creation.  Some examples include :

Inverleith Pond

This involved the regeneration of a part of a long established public pond for the City of Edinburgh Council. The aim was to improve water quality, amenity and biodiversity. This was achieved by using the silt from the base of the pool to create beds that were planted with native wetland plants. All water entering the pool now passes through a gravel based reedbed, and a boardwalk system allows access and enjoyment of the area by the public.

Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park Edinburgh

Here biodiversity work included putting up boxes for barn owls, tawny owls and bats. Erosion of the burn banks was controlled using live willow revetment.
Dipping platforms were also constructed for use by the Countryside Ranger Service with local schoolchildren.

Island reconstruction at Blackford pond, Edinburgh

An island that had virtually disappeared was reconstructed with aggregates and stone. Rafts were used to ferry stone to the middle of the pond. A duck nesting box was also installed.

Scrape creation at Polmaise landfill site

This work was for Stirling Council and involved reprofiling large areas of land to create seasonally flooded zones (scrapes) as habitat for birds such as redshank, oystercatchers, lapwing and snipe.

Award winning!

Water Gems was selected as runner up at the SEPA May 2005 Scottish Habitat Enhancement awards at Stirling University. The award came for aquatic habitat creation at Broxburn, West Lothian for West Lothian Council and The Central Scotland Forest Trust, as well as other biodiversity work.