River Restoration begins in Leven
On Saturday 3 Sept, along with the Forth-ERA team, our Programme manager Fiona Millar headed to the Levenmouth Fayre, a community day sponsored by sponsored by SGN, Diageo, Network Rail, Fife Council, Creative Carbon Scotland and the Leven Programme. In this blog she reflects on her time at the Fayre and the restoration of River Leven more generally.
It was a fabulous FREE fun day with music from ABBA, an inflatable fun run and lots of activities to keep kids and adults entertained. It was so good to see the community coming out, despite the bad weather, to enjoy the festivities and learn more about their local area.
The Fayre saw stakeholders from across Leven, and Fife more generally come together to share their involvement and opportunities. Stall holders ranged from SGN promoting their Hydrogen power, network rail encouraging safety near rail tracks (did you know it’s a £1,000 fine and criminal record if you trespass on a railway line!) and Leven connectivity project asking for opinions on “Doon the dam”. There are many actors involved in the current developments of Leven and surrounding area and it was a delight to witness conversations between stakeholders and to see commonality between agendas.
Forth-ERA were there to promote the capabilities of their digital observatory, demonstrating the strength of the satellite images over Loch Leven and the indication of chlorophyll levels that help us to understand water quality (I know right, all that information from a machine in the sky!). They had some great conversations with budding scientists, including my youngest who was fascinated by colours in the satellite images (& hopefully the science behind it too).
Being at the Fayre and seeing all the stakeholders, with their differing views, responsibilities and priorities come together so positively and cohesively got me thinking.
Thirty three years I’ve been coming to Leven. My grand father, Obie Maw, ran the local Veg van and shop down by the golf course & I enjoyed many a weekend, week and summer holiday here. That’s continued into my adult life and now my two boys also enjoy coming to “Grandma’s beach house”. Thirty three years I’ve enjoyed playing at the beach, the flume in the swimming pool, whittling away pennies at the amusements and many a trip to Stuart’s the Bakery. Thirty three years and I’ve never known there was a river! (I know, shame on me right - that’s what I thought till I spoke to Brenda who in 70+ plus years has never been over the iron bridge and my mum, until last week, born and breed in Leven, hadn’t even walked along the river!).
The River Leven runs from the beach, through a number of local towns to Loch Leven. It’s pretty run down, has pollution and is largely inaccessible - as our anecdotal evidence above presents. It’s about 6 miles long, and despite all the negatives above is popular for Salmon fishing.
The Leven programme is going to change that. It’s a regeneration programme with a purpose and an ambition. To open up the river, to connect communities and to drive social and economic benefit to an area that so deserves it. The rail way line (see picture below) due to open in 2024 will see a direct service to Edinburgh every 30 mins, bringing opportunities, tourism and a chance to be proud of this seaside town on the East Neuk.
Don’t just listen to me though, Fife Coast & countryside trust explains why it’s a good idea here and find out more about the Leven programme here and keep up to date through their socials.
The Leven programme, along with the Hydro Nation Chair programme has enabled me to reconnect with this sentimental wee town, it’s opened my eyes, just as research should and does and it’s shown me a different way of seeing. I see water differently and not just as easily coming from the tap. I see communities differently and not just as people that live in one town and I see hope. Hope for Leven, it’s town and people and hope for change.
I can’t wait to keep coming back to Leven, and seeing the development and to myself, one day, walk the river alongside the railway line and think “I was part of this”
