NRN PARTNER: Ury Riverside Park

URY RIVERSIDE PARK

Location:
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Area Committed:
135 acres

Inverurie’s Ury Riverside Park is true community initiative and highlights the potential for driving nature recovery in close proximity to an urban environment. Fields on the floodplain to the north of the town have been transformed into a space for human amenity but where wildlife thrives. There is a clear vision to develop a mosaic of species-rich habitats with naturally functioning ecosystems and with minimal human intervention. Missing native tree species have been returned to some areas of the site, while other areas have been left for natural regeneration to occur. Ury Riverside Park was the winner of RSPB Nature of Scotland 2022 Community Initiative Award 2022 and holds a 5-star certificate from Keep Scotland Beautiful

Key rewilding commitments:

  • MORE NATIVE WOODLAND: Enrich existing woodland planting with shrub- and ground-layer vegetation.
  • RETURN MISSING SPECIES: Sow local provenance wet and dry meadow wildflower seed mixes and plugs to add diversity and expand wildlife habitat.
  • LET NATURE LEAD: Remove non-native giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam along the riverbank.
  • REINSTATE NATURAL GRAZING: Explore introducing limited natural grazing of wildflower area with native breeds.
  • CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES: Continue to hold volunteer sessions for

“Ury riverside park is being used by the local community, and at the same time nature is returning. We have created a space for people and wildlife together” 

Martin Auld, Chair