A new project is underway to improve areas of land around the John Muir Way at Bo'ness - and encourage more plants and species into the area.

A wildflower meadow will be created on vacant land to the east of the Bo'ness Station complex at Grangepans. The area is seeing more visitors thanks to the coast-to-coast John Muir trail, which opened in 2014.

The foreshore area at Bridgeness - another point along the Way - will also be improved. Invasive plants will be removed, scrub controlled and litter cleared.

Falkirk Council is working with Buglife Scotland and the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative on the project. The partners are now looking for local people to get involved and help support the project as volunteers.

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, the Council's spokesman for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: "The Council has been working hard to improve some of the paths along the John Muir Way. This complements that work, improving biodiversity and making a much nicer place to visit.

"At Bridgeness the plan is to remove invasive plants, control scrub and clear litter. There are also plans to sow yellow rattle seed - sometimes called 'the meadow-maker's helper'. It produces lovely yellow flowers in the summer months.

"At Grangepans, off Boundary Street, the plan is to sow and plant wildflowers and grasses - bringing much more colour and species into the site."

He added: "We want to get local people involved and hope local businesses, schools and residents will support the project. Anyone interested should contact our partners at Buglife Scotland."

The Bridgeness area is home to a mix of habitats including woodland, scrub and meadows. During previous surveys, over 80 species of invertebrates were recorded at the site, including the Hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) which is uncommon in Scotland and typical of brownfield sites.

The site has also been identified as particularly important for pollinators including hoverflies and bumblebees. The site is important for butterflies including small copper and common blue butterfly. It is also important for wildflowers with over 90 species being recorded so far.

The Grangepans site currently supports a large expanse of frequently cut grass, broken up by blocks of woodland to the north and west. Currently the biodiversity value of the grassland is very limited. The new project - planting wildflowers and meadow grasses - should encourage more wildlife into the area.

Thanks to external funding from Falkirk Environment Trust, the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (using cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund) and the EU EcoCo LIFE funding, the council is able to take part in the project at a minimal cost.

The local authority will only have to invest around £1,400 to participate in the £22,000 biodiversity project. Work started in July and will continue over the next three years, although much of the work will be completed over the next year.

If you are interested in volunteering on the Bridgeness Biodiversity project please contact Suzanne Barnier of Buglife Scotland on 01786 447504.