Falkirk Council

The Falkirk area contains large areas of natural habitats and many places of wildlife interest. A selection of these sites are listed below. Information on other sites where you can discover wildlife can be found in our Nature Trails leaflet (PDF, 1.1MB)|.

A list of the Ecological sites can be found in the Falkirk Council Local Development Plan: Appendices 1 - 5 (PDF, KB)|.

Blackness Shoreline

The Blackness shoreline provides an important winter feeding ground for large flocks of wigeon, shelduck, redshank and knot. There are also areas of salt marsh, which contain locally rare plants such as sea milkwort and sea arrow grass. On the grassy shore you can find plants such as lady's bedstraw, meadowsweet and creeping buttercup. You may also see small copper butterflies or the elusive six spot burnet moth.

Carron Dam|

A large disused reservoir in the heart of Stenhousemuir, the reservoir has developed into the largest area of rich fen vegetation in Central Scotland. The area is important for a number of locally uncommon plants including gipsywort, water plantain and celery-leaved crowfoot. Over 50 species of birds have been recorded from the site including bullfinch, goldcrest and water rail, which has been known to breed here. 

Carron Glen|

An area of semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the sides of the River Carron near Denny. The glen is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is home to several locally rare plants such as wood crane's-bill and wood melick. The woodland is also important for birds such as green woodpeckers and spotted flycatchers, whilst kingfishers and dippers are often seen along the river.

Muiravonside Country Park|

70 hectares of policy woodlands, parkland and gardens which once formed the Muiravonside Estate. The woodland consists of a wide variety of trees and shrubs including oak, ash, hazel, yew and birch. The ground flora includes species such as primrose, bluebell, dog's mercury and cuckoo-pint. The park is home to numerous birds including pied flycatcher, green woodpecker and most recently, nuthatch.

Wallacebank Wood|

A wonderful example of lowland oak woodland, which also contains fine specimens of Scots pine, alder, hazel and rowan and a variety of woodland plants. The bird life is especially good with tree creepers, dunnocks and green and great spotted woodpeckers. Wallacebank Wood is also one of the few places in Scotland where you can see Purple Hairstreak butterflies.