A CHURCH has played a crucial role in implementing flood defences in rural Clackmannanshire, helping to boost the area’s biodiversity.

Natural flood prevention measures have been installed on Church of Scotland glebe land at Pool of Muckhart to help protect properties over the next 10 years.

The project is a partnership between Clackmannanshire Council, Pool of Muckhart Flood Group, Muckhart Parish Church, Forth Rivers Trust and members of the community.

Flooding problems in the area are linked to heavy rainfall and a decision to divert a little burn coming down from Seamab Hill, increasing the water catchment area by around 20 per cent.

This resulted in major flooding in the back gardens of properties that had the burn running through.

To alleviate the issues, Forth Rivers Trust designed and delivered the natural flood management project, with funding from NatureScot.

A series of leaky barriers have been installed in a bid to slow the water down during periods of high flow while allowing the channel to flow as normal during regular flows.

Two water deflectors and channels designed to deflect some water from its course during high flows and directing it towards some wetland scrapes to be stored for a short period of time have also been put in place.

Claire Cowell and Morag Menneer are heads of land and estates for the general trustees who manage properties including glebe land on behalf of the Church of Scotland.

They recently visited the “very inspirational” project which also includes four scrapes, designed to increase habitat variability in the wetland area.

Some bird species have already been attracted to the area to use it as feeding grounds.

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Ms Cowell said: “The general trustees are delighted to be able to help alleviate the risk of flooding to houses by giving permission for natural defences to be installed on glebe land.

"The council's first proposal was to do a lot of hard engineering, installing large pipes on the steep hill and diverting the water away from the village.

"When this proved impractical they came up with the idea of a more environmentally-friendly project."

All the pupils at Muckhart PS participated in a series of environmental engagement games where they learned about ecosystems, invertebrates, and flora.

They scattered native flower seeds in the glebe field and they have since bloomed.

John Anderson, treasurer at Muckhart Parish Church, said: “We were pleased to be actively involved in a partnership with our local community to install natural flood measures in the glebe field, which will significantly contribute to reducing the flood risk within the village.

"Whilst the project delivers an effective solution to a flooding problem, it also promotes and improves local biodiversity with enhanced local habitat within the local area."