Teucheen Accessible Nature Space (TANS) - Community Asset Transfer Success!

The Trust is delighted to confirm the successful Community Asset Transfer of another local green asset! Previously earmarked for housing development, this area of farmland adjoining Teucheen Wood has now been brought into community ownership - protecting it for generations to come.

Our community members have long championed the preservation of Inchinnan’s green landscape, diverse wildlife habitats, and natural heritage - for the benefit of both people and nature. The Trust was established with this mission in mind, and following the successful community buyout of Teucheen Wood, turned its attention to other valued local assets identified by our community.

This area of farmland was first highlighted by residents back in 2020 as a priority for preservation owing to its central location, proximity to Teucheen Wood, and risk of permanent loss due to its allocation for housing development. With the on-going support of our community and volunteers, the Trust developed an alternative vision for the site that can now be fully realised.

A view looking across the site towards Teucheen Wood.

Our Community’s Vision For The Site 

Plans for the site will transform it from monoculture farmland into a thriving space for community and wildlife. Improvements will create both quality natural habitat and an accessible nature experience for residents and visitors.

In the meantime, the site is being allowed to naturally regenerate, allowing us to observe which plant species emerge from the existing landscape. This will help inform future biodiversity enhancement and habitat creation while already providing increased cover and resources for local wildlife!

Habitat Restoration & Biodiversity Improvements 

The Trust’s Volunteer Wildlife Consultant has set out a plan for the creation and restoration of habitat on-site. Plans will improve biodiversity across the site through wildflower planting, hedgerow creation and management, and the development of wetland and woodland edge habitat. Together, this will increase the diversity of habitat, support a wider range of wildlife species, and support local nature connectivity. 

Wet Grassland Habitat 

The south of the site will be restored to wet grassland through natural re-wetting methods, including the creation of a shallow wader scrape and planting of native wetland vegetation. This habitat will provide breeding and foraging opportunities for local species (such as Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler) while also becoming a example habitat for use in the Trust’s educational programmes and nature engagement activities. 

Wetland wader scrape creation (Credit: Colin Strang Steel / Source: Soil Association Scotland)

Woodland Edge Habitat

The north of the site will see the expansion of woodland habitat from Teucheen Wood, creating a softer and more natural transition between dense woodland and arable farmland. The planting of native flowering shrubs and edge wildflower species will create a new habitat niche and improve connectivity. This work will also help mitigate the ‘edge effect’ - pressures seen on harsh woodland boundaries (e.g woodland directly abutting open farmland). By creating a softer, graduated edge, these pressures are reduced, improving habitat quality, increasing biodiversity, and enhancing the resilience of Teucheen Wood itself.

An example of a naturally colonised woodland edge (Copyright: Richard Hellier / Source: Forestry Commission)

Read the full details of our habitat creation proposals:

TANS CAT - Habitat Creation & Restoration Outline.pdf

Download PDF • 15.31MB

Accessible Nature Space & Community Activities

The site’s flat terrain and access from Greenock Road make it an ideal location for a fully accessible nature space, providing an inclusive alternative to the more challenging terrain of Teucheen Wood. At its centre will be an accessible path area, suitable for mobility equipment and pushchairs, alongside rest benches, and interpretation boards (sharing information about local habitats, wildlife species, and history).

The space will support and expand the Trust’s existing nature-based programmes, including outdoor leaning, green health and wellbeing initiatives, and practical conservation activities. The accessibility of the space will extend these opportunities to a wider range of people, including those within our community with limited mobility, families with young children, and others who may have barriers to engaging with natural spaces.

Accessibility features at Washington Wetland Centre (Source: Great Days Out UK)

Archaeological Investigation 

Excitingly, the Trust is working with Inchinnan Historical Interest Group to explore the potential for an archaeological investigation of the site, recognising its historic association with the Battle of Renfrew (1164). This battle, fought between the forces of King Malcolm IV of Scotland and Somerled Lord of the Isles, has long been believed to have involved land in and around Teucheen Wood, with the area being referred to as the ‘bloody myre’.

Illustration by T.C.F. Brotchie showing the site of the Battle of Renfrew (Source: Hidden Renfrewshire)

Thank you to all those who have shown their support for the project so far, we will keep you updated with our progress and opportunities for your involvement!