Environment

PROPOSALS: The plans would see a substation constructed near Hawkhill Farm.

Public meeting on Kincardine substation proposals going ahead

COMPLETED: Scottish Water have finalised maintenance works in Dollar.

COMPLETED: Scottish Water have finalised maintenance works in Dollar.

Dollar residents may experience discolouration during Scottish Water works

(l-r) Councillor Gerry McGarvey, Professor Simon MacKenzie, Head of the Institute of Aquaculture, Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Eileen Schofield, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary, David Cairns

(l-r) Councillor Gerry McGarvey, Professor Simon MacKenzie, Head of the Institute of Aquaculture, Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Eileen Schofield, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary, David Cairns

Stirling University facility reaches next stage of construction

A new battery energy storage system is to be built in Devilla Forest near Kincardine.

A new battery energy storage system is to be built in Devilla Forest near Kincardine.

Woodland to be cut down to make way for West Fife energy storage facility

IN ACTION: Work to install the barriers was key to the project's success at the awards.

IN ACTION: Work to install the barriers was key to the project's success at the awards.

Project to reduce flooding in Pool of Muckhart scoops up top award

BESS: The project would be built on land on either side of Tillicoultry Quarries.

BESS: The project would be built on land on either side of Tillicoultry Quarries.

Plans drawn up for battery storage units in Kennet

PROPOSALS: An illustration of the planned Kincardine BESS

PROPOSALS: An illustration of the planned Kincardine BESS

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Battery energy storage system proposed for Kincardine

PROPOSALS: The new substation would be built 700m north of Hawkhill Farm.

PROPOSALS: The new substation would be built 700m north of Hawkhill Farm.

West Fife residents 'will fight' plans for electricity substation

INNOVATORS: The pupils met at a launch event at Forth Valley College.

INNOVATORS: The pupils met at a launch event at Forth Valley College.

Clacks pupils to take part in Young Pathfinders 2024

ECO-WARRIORS: The kids at Flying Start Nursery during the monthly litter pick.

ECO-WARRIORS: The kids at Flying Start Nursery during the monthly litter pick.

Sauchie nursery kids take part in monthly litter picks

ENGAGEMENT: The club, which holds a flower show each year, has been recognised for its community efforts

ENGAGEMENT: The club, which holds a flower show each year, has been recognised for its community efforts

Clubs and societies

Clacks garden club recognised for community engagement

CLOSURE: The refinery is set to shut down in quarter two of 2025.

CLOSURE: The refinery is set to shut down in quarter two of 2025.

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Hundreds of jobs lost as Grangemouth oil refinery to close

RECOGNITION: Keep Scotland Beautiful chief executive Barry Fisher, Aberdeen Lord Provost Dr David Cameron, chair Caroline Clarke and Joanne Taylor of Dollar Horticultural and Garden Club with Tom Brock, chair of Keep Scotland Beautiful

RECOGNITION: Keep Scotland Beautiful chief executive Barry Fisher, Aberdeen Lord Provost Dr David Cameron, chair Caroline Clarke and Joanne Taylor of Dollar Horticultural and Garden Club with Tom Brock, chair of Keep Scotland Beautiful

Clacks groups scoop accolades at Beautiful Scotland awards

THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY: Meri and Eden were cared for in Fishcross before being transferred to Devon and later back to Scotland for release

THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY: Meri and Eden were cared for in Fishcross before being transferred to Devon and later back to Scotland for release

Orphaned otter cubs make 1,000-mile rehabilitation journey

AWARD: Clacks Good Food Partnership has won a prestigious UK-wide Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award

AWARD: Clacks Good Food Partnership has won a prestigious UK-wide Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award

Award for healthy food partnership

Image: Jan van der Merwe

Image: Jan van der Merwe

Call out to photographers along the River Forth

RESCUED: Alvor, the original wooden carving of a Neolithic man at Alva Glen, has been found months after going missing

RESCUED: Alvor, the original wooden carving of a Neolithic man at Alva Glen, has been found months after going missing

Wooden carving Alvor recovered just in time for Alva Glen Illuminations

DRAMATIC RISE: Water levels rose quickly in a short period of time at Alva Burn with volunteers out until midnight to monitor the situation

DRAMATIC RISE: Water levels rose quickly in a short period of time at Alva Burn with volunteers out until midnight to monitor the situation

Volunteers spring into action after dramatic rise in water levels in Alva Burn

ACTION: The Local Place Plan has set out areas of improvement for Kincardine and suggestions on how to work on it.

ACTION: The Local Place Plan has set out areas of improvement for Kincardine and suggestions on how to work on it.

Improvement on the way as Kincardine Local Place Plan produced

Morag Menneer with Greer Conroy, Muckhart Parish Church session clerk, and Claire Cowell on the glebe near to Muckhart Parish Church.

Morag Menneer with Greer Conroy, Muckhart Parish Church session clerk, and Claire Cowell on the glebe near to Muckhart Parish Church.

Church plays crucial role in rural flood defence initiative

RESTORATION: The team was made up of OMRT, Forth Valley Orienteers and Edinburgh University staff.

RESTORATION: The team was made up of OMRT, Forth Valley Orienteers and Edinburgh University staff.

Ochils MRT members assist in Dumyat path restoration

MINDLESS: People are being urged to report antisocial behaviour at the wastewater treatment works outlet on the Devon

MINDLESS: People are being urged to report antisocial behaviour at the wastewater treatment works outlet on the Devon

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Vandals attempt to block flow at wastewater treatment plant outlet

Workers in waste services during past industrial action at the Kelliebank depot

Workers in waste services during past industrial action at the Kelliebank depot

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Rubbish to 'pile up' in Clacks with waste workers set to strike

REFORESTATION: The Future Forest Company have planted more than a million trees.

REFORESTATION: The Future Forest Company have planted more than a million trees.

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Dumyat leading reforestation project as 300,000 trees planted

FARMHOUSE WITH A VIEW: Solsgirth Home Farm has been shortlisted in the Scottish Thistle Awards

FARMHOUSE WITH A VIEW: Solsgirth Home Farm has been shortlisted in the Scottish Thistle Awards

Farm to fly flag for Wee County at Scottish Thistle Awards

BIO-DIVERSITY: Redwell came second out of thousands of votes cast.

BIO-DIVERSITY: Redwell came second out of thousands of votes cast.

Redwell PS comes second in Pocket Garden online vote

SPECIES CHAMPION: MSP Brown pictured with the plant at Holyrood Park in 2017

SPECIES CHAMPION: MSP Brown pictured with the plant at Holyrood Park in 2017

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Numbers of one of Scotland's rarest plants trebles in the Ochils

LITTER PICK: Crew from McDonald's in Alloa recently collected 13 bags of rubbish in a bid to help clean up the town

LITTER PICK: Crew from McDonald's in Alloa recently collected 13 bags of rubbish in a bid to help clean up the town

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Alloa McDonald's staff roll up sleeves for litter pick

WORKS: Asbestos has safely been removed at King George V Park in Clackmannan following the discovery of the hazardous material during works for the pump track

WORKS: Asbestos has safely been removed at King George V Park in Clackmannan following the discovery of the hazardous material during works for the pump track

Asbestos safely removed from Clackmannan Pump Track site

SUSTAINABILITY: Redwell pupils organised a successful swap event on Thursday.

SUSTAINABILITY: Redwell pupils organised a successful swap event on Thursday.

Redwell pupils focus on sustainability during swap event

A Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign billboard in Stirling.

A Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign billboard in Stirling.

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Clacks eco-warriors hailed for keeping Scotland litter free

DIPLOMA: The course has been launched by FIDA

DIPLOMA: The course has been launched by FIDA

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New FIDA qualification to be trialled at Alloa Academy

This site off the A876 near Kincardine could house a 400kv substation in the future.

This site off the A876 near Kincardine could house a 400kv substation in the future.

Plans to build energy substation on farmland near Kincardine

VISIT: Cllrs Steele and Downie visited the quarry before the meeting in Kincardine

VISIT: Cllrs Steele and Downie visited the quarry before the meeting in Kincardine

Centre packed as meeting takes place over Bogside quarry

NO PEAK FARES: The pilot removing peak rail fares has been extended to the end of September

NO PEAK FARES: The pilot removing peak rail fares has been extended to the end of September

MSP welcomes extension to pilot scheme removing peak rail fares

A flood alert has been issued for the area

A flood alert has been issued for the area

Flood alerts in place as sunny spell comes to an end

CONSULTATION: Màiri McAllan was in Alva to meet volunteers and launch a consultation on Scotland's first flood resilience strategy

CONSULTATION: Màiri McAllan was in Alva to meet volunteers and launch a consultation on Scotland's first flood resilience strategy

Màiri McAllan visits Alva to launch flood strategy consultation

DATA BUOY: A similar buoy with scientific equipment in place at Carron Valley Reservoir

DATA BUOY: A similar buoy with scientific equipment in place at Carron Valley Reservoir

Appliance of science at Gartmorn Dam with 'ambitious project'

PRICKLY PALS: The Scottish SPCA is urging people to keep an eye out for hedgehogs, especially when using netting in gardens

PRICKLY PALS: The Scottish SPCA is urging people to keep an eye out for hedgehogs, especially when using netting in gardens

'Prickly pals': Scottish SPCA issues advice on hedgehogs

An example of a battery storage site for illustration

An example of a battery storage site for illustration

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Plans for Fishcross energy storage system approved

COMMUNITY ACTION: FEL Scotland will be empowering communities to tackle climate change

COMMUNITY ACTION: FEL Scotland will be empowering communities to tackle climate change

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Hub to lead the charge against climate change in Forth Valley

PLEA: Residents in Bogside have launched a petition with their concerns

PLEA: Residents in Bogside have launched a petition with their concerns

Bogside villagers issue call over 'environmental disaster'

SOCIAL IMPACT: Two Clacks businesses were keen to help test the toolkit by measuring their social impact

SOCIAL IMPACT: Two Clacks businesses were keen to help test the toolkit by measuring their social impact

Toolkit developed to measure food and drink industry social impact

BIN IT ON THE GO: The billboard on Stirling's Cowane Street was part of the messaging for the project

BIN IT ON THE GO: The billboard on Stirling's Cowane Street was part of the messaging for the project

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Project sees reduction in on-the-go litter in Forth Valley

ACTIVE TRAVEL: FEL is marking five years of school-based active travel hubs - pictured are pupils from Bannockburn High School where a hub rolled out last year

ACTIVE TRAVEL: FEL is marking five years of school-based active travel hubs - pictured are pupils from Bannockburn High School where a hub rolled out last year

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School-based active travel scheme pioneered in Clacks marks five year milestone

BIKE BUS: The free service is primarily aimed at cyclists but walkers are also welcome

BIKE BUS: The free service is primarily aimed at cyclists but walkers are also welcome

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Bike bus to offer free transport in the Inner Forth

Tree bumblebee. (Image: Keith Broomfield)

Tree bumblebee. (Image: Keith Broomfield)

Butterflies and bees bring sparkle to Clacks countryside

MAPS: The NRS has made available thousands of plans of coal mines - pictured is workings around Glenochil Colliery

MAPS: The NRS has made available thousands of plans of coal mines - pictured is workings around Glenochil Colliery

Maps of former coal mines made available for researchers

Keith Brown has praised the scheme in Clacks

Keith Brown has praised the scheme in Clacks

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Hundreds of Clacks households supported by Scot Gov heating scheme

LORDLY MANSION: The former Alva House pictured in a 20th century postcard

LORDLY MANSION: The former Alva House pictured in a 20th century postcard

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Plans for two houses at former Hillfoots estate agreed in principle

CONCERNS: Friends of the Ochils believe further wind farms would lead to loss of attractiveness in the popular hills above Clacks - pictured is the existing Burnfoot Hill Wind Farm

CONCERNS: Friends of the Ochils believe further wind farms would lead to loss of attractiveness in the popular hills above Clacks - pictured is the existing Burnfoot Hill Wind Farm

Renewable energy

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Plan for 80m mast approved to collect data for proposed wind farm in Ochils

RESTORATION BID: Forth Rivers Trust will be developing opportunities for habitat restoration along the River Devon before applying for further funding to deliver the works

RESTORATION BID: Forth Rivers Trust will be developing opportunities for habitat restoration along the River Devon before applying for further funding to deliver the works

Opportunities to be developed for restoration works along the Devon

CHARGE: Stirling resident Stephen Gordon is the first in Scotland to have the through-pavement channel solution trialled for home EV charging

CHARGE: Stirling resident Stephen Gordon is the first in Scotland to have the through-pavement channel solution trialled for home EV charging

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Home EV-charging solution installed in first-of-its-kind trial

ALERT: Residents are urged to take care with a flood alert in place - Image of flooding in Alva in 2020 when the community resilience group sprung into action for illustration

ALERT: Residents are urged to take care with a flood alert in place - Image of flooding in Alva in 2020 when the community resilience group sprung into action for illustration

Flood alert issued for Wee County with heavy rain expected