With an eye to helping Scotland’s river restoration movement, King Charles and other influential landowners have united in a groundbreaking effort to revitalize Scotland’s imperiled rivers and counteract the decline of freshwater species, particularly the wild Scottish salmon.
At the prestigious Balmoral royal estate, cutting-edge river restoration techniques have been implemented, taking center stage in a new public awareness campaign initiated by the Riverwoods initiative. This initiative, led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, boasts a coalition of 18 leading organizations, including charities and government agencies.
The campaign’s unveiling introduces a series of compelling short films and stories spotlighting the landowners, gamekeepers, and fisheries experts actively engaged in substantial restoration work. Initiatives include expanding river woodlands, restoring degraded peatlands, and reconnecting water courses with their natural flood plains.
Released alongside the films, the campaign aims to inspire landowners to take tangible steps toward revitalizing Scotland’s rivers, shedding light on the escalating threats faced by river systems and their wildlife, notably the rapid decline of Scotland’s wild salmon population.
Mike Thornton, Riverwoods Project Manager, emphasized, “Riverwoods is a wide partnership, and we are always looking to inspire new projects. Through showcasing existing success stories and sharing best practice, we aim to show that restoration is not only possible but also financially viable and well-supported,”
Historically, Scotland’s upland rivers were lined with trees before centuries of logging, burning, and grazing left the riverbanks bare. Exposed to a warming climate, Scotland’s rivers are now heating up and holding less dissolved oxygen, making survival difficult for fish.
In Deeside, where wild salmon populations have plummeted, the Balmoral Estate has undertaken extensive efforts to restore natural processes on the River Muick, a tributary of the Dee. This includes tree-planting and peatland restoration to provide more shade and cleaner water.
Working in collaboration with the River Dee Trust, the Balmoral team is reintroducing dead trees into the river, replicating an essential natural process to create complex underwater habitats and diversify flows for the benefit of wildlife, including spawning fish.
Richard Gledson, Factor at Balmoral Estate, noted the shift in mindset: “Historically, we were so tidy minded. If a tree fell into the river, you’d be told to take it out.” However, times have changed, and King Charles readily embraced the potential benefits of the restoration plan. “His Majesty is keen for us to do as much as we can to improve the environment, and if that encourages others to follow our example, then we’d be delighted”
This new awareness campaign builds on the success of the award-winning Riverwoods film created by rewilding charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, with the same team producing the new resources.
Peter Cairns, Executive Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, overseeing the film’s production, expressed hope that the experience and testimony of the King and other landowners and experts would stimulate an increased appetite for ambitious nature recovery in and around Scotland’s rivers.
The Riverwoods initiative aspires to establish a network of thriving riverbank woodlands and healthy river systems across Scotland, offering benefits such as increased biodiversity, cleaner water, carbon storage, reduced flood risk, healthier soils, and improved health and well-being for people.
Scotland’s extensive network of rivers and streams, covering over 125,000km, faces threats including over-grazing, pollution, and the introduction of invasive exotic species.
For more information, visit riverwoods.org.uk/showcase and scotlandbigpicture.com.
What contributors to the new Riverwoods films and online resources said:
‘If we don’t act now, it will be too late.’ Sean Dugan, Riverwoods officer at the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust.
‘Whether it’s seeing more wildlife on the hill, the benefits for river health, or the climate impact, it’s really a win-win.’ Harry Benyon, Glenmazeran Estate.
‘If we can reduce the amount of water moving at any given time by holding it back within the floodplain, we are less likely to see flooding downstream.’ Alison Baker, Director, Forth Rivers Trust
‘We’re used to not seeing much wildlife and what we see, we think is the norm. But I think we need to get back to where the norm is an abundant amount.’ Dee Ward, Chair of Scottish Land & Estates.
Photo Richard Gledson, factor at Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire. Summer 2023.