The Helix (Falkirk)

The Helix was a land transformation project to improve the connections between and around 16 communities in Falkirk Council, Scotland, including the eastern end of the Forth and Clyde Canal, and to regenerate the area near where the canal joins the River Carron. The most visible feature of the development is the two unique equine sculptures known as The Kelpies.

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The Kelpies

The Kelpies are a pair of monumental steel horse-heads between the Scottish towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth. They stand next to the M9 motorway and form the eastern gateway of the Forth and Clyde Canal, which meets the River Carron here. Each head is 30 metres (98 ft) high. The sculptures, which represent kelpies, were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. An unveiling ceremony took place in April 2014. Around the sculptures is an area of parkland known as The Helix.

Glensburgh

Glensburgh is a very small and old hamlet situated on the south bank of the River Carron, 1.1 miles (1.8 km) north-west of Grangemouth. Originally built on farmland in 1240 as houses for farm slaves the now standing cottages date back as far as 1878. Originally called Brockborough the hamlet mainly harvested wheat and corn, until cattle farming became the norm. Nowadays there are no businesses in Glensburgh, they have all closed due to various reasons, the last, the small Glens Goods Convenience Store shut in 1968, though the building still stands. Consisting of only two streets, Glensburgh's population is under 100 however it has always been regarded as one of Grangemouth's more prestigious residencies. William Wallace's mother was born here in 1256, and legend has it that he spent more than one month in the area (in his mother's birth home) whilst preparing for the Battle of Falkirk. Robert Burns, is known to have stayed in the quiet hamlet for some time between 1795 and 1800, until he was chased out by angry locals for getting a bit too familiar with the local landlord's daughter. The Queezy Pig stood with a plaque celebrating Burns' life (and drunken nights) in the tavern for nearly 150 years until it was destroyed during the war.

Skinflats

Skinflats is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Grangemouth, 1.1 miles (1.8 km) east of Carronshore and 2.3 miles (3.7 km) north-east of Falkirk. It lies on the A905 road between Glensburgh and Airth, near to the River Carron and the point where it flows into the Firth of Forth. The United Kingdom 2001 census reported the population as 347, almost unchanged since 1991. The name of the village is sometimes claimed to be of Dutch origin, supposedly bestowed by Dutch engineers working on land reclamation in the 17th century, but there is no evidence that any such reclamation projects took place in the parish of Bothkennar where Skinflats is located and the place-name is readily explained as Scots in origin, meaning "short flat". Skinflats was originally a pit village, but no mining has taken place there for many years. There is an RSPB Nature Reserve at Skinflats which protects saline lagoons and saltmarsh, both types of habitat being increasingly rare in the Forth Estuary. A project was established to increase the extent of these habitats at Skinflats and following years of discussion planning for the project started in 2018 and on Wednesday 3 October 2018 the seawall at the reserve was breached and the project to realign the coast at Skinflats was completed. In 2018 the first recorded successful breeding of pied avocets in Scotland occurred at Skinflats. The bus service F23 used to connect Skinflats with Falkirk and Stenhousemuir but the local authority deemed it too costly and proposed the cancellation of the service in April 2019.

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Abbotshaugh Community Woodland

The historic site of Abbotshaugh Community Woodland, located on the south bank of the River Carron, has witnessed many changes over the past 500 years. The recently planted woodland hopes to recreate a naturally regenerating mature woodland within an area consisting of a mosaic of planted woodland, remnant hedgerows, grassland and saltmarsh. The woodland provides a year-round home for many species including Roe deer, foxes, buzzards and kestrels.