Culzean Castle and Country Park is Scotland’s oldest Country Park. Managed by the National Trust for Scotland, it has welcomed visitors since 1969. The site contains a stretch of coastline notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for both its geological and biological features. The Devonian age geological features are of international importance demonstrating the intrusion of magma into what was soft wet sediment.
Work was required to remove and replace the existing sewage outfall and remove a long redundant sewage pipework from the castle cliffs with the installation of a new iron outfall pipe. In consultation with SNH the works, that included the construction of a temporary road across the beach, were undertaken in manner that considered the conservation value of the rock outcrops. On completion of the works the track was almost completely removed by hand to reveal the geological features undamaged. Careful selection of the route and close attention to the Method Statement provided by the local firm of contractors JJL Groundworks resulted in a very impressive site infrastructure project being implemented with only a very short term, reversible impact on the SSSI.
The removal of the redundant sewage pipework from the castle cliffs was delayed in order to allow nesting fulmars to successfully fledge their young and again the site improvements were achieved with minimal negative impact on either the geodiversity or wildlife.
Route of the new pipeline across the rocky shore, avoiding important rock outcrops. Image courtesy National Trust for Scotland.
Scotland's Geodiversity Charter 