Fife Ethylene Plant wins Wildlife Habitat Council recognition

Fife Ethylene Plant’s (FEP) commitment to providing and enhancing a wildlife habitat on site has once again been commended by the US-based Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC).

The site, which has been recertified for three years, has installed an interpretation board to educate, inform and involve people in the wildlife habitat. The site has also planted 5,000 trees in the last five years and has introduced a fungi area and more bird boxes including specialised habitats for kestrels.

To qualify for the WHC’s Wildlife at Work recertification, the site had to produce a wildlife management plan, which included testimonials from other environmental organisations to show how the plant is benefiting the local community, local wildlife, flora and fauna.

One of the most effective changes was to install a dozen bird feeders which increased the number of bird species employees now see on site. Around 30 bird species have been spotted at FEP including robins, starlings, pheasants, peregrine falcons and buzzards.

Environmental co-ordinator Bill Sweenie said: “It’s great to see the good we are doing receive further international recognition. We are keen to keep improving things such as educating children and demonstrating that caring for the environment is important. We would like to add an education centre or wildlife hide so that children can visit in all weather conditions.”