After a comprehensive application and selection process, 11 pioneering environmental NGOs, charitable trusts, fisheries boards, community groups and research organisations have been awarded grants through the Riverwoods Blueprint Project, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The recipients will produce river woodland development plans – the essential first step in enhancing local river health, creating new homes for wildlife and improving access to nature.  

The successful projects span from the Tarras Valley in Dumfries and Galloway, where Langholm Initiative will scope opportunities and co-design a river woodland restoration strategy with the community, to Morvern where Loch Abar Mòr and Ardtornish will explore how to facilitate natural woodland regeneration in the 3,399ha Rannoch River catchment.  

In total, the grant recipients will cover over 2,233km of riverway across the length and breadth of Scotland. The successful projects are: 

• Connecting Tarras Riverwoods – Langholm Initiative – Dumfries & Galloway
• Luce Riverwoods: Enhancing the Future – Galloway Fisheries Trust – Dumfries & Galloway 
• Pow Burn Riverwoods – Symington Community Council – Ayrshire 
• Water of Assel Woodland Creation & Reconnection Development Plan – Ayrshire Rivers Trust – Ayrshire 
• Lyne Water – Woodlands for Water and Climate – Tweed Forum – Scottish Borders 
• River Eden and Motray Water Catchment – Woodland Development Plan – Sustainable Cupar – Fife 
• From Third to Forth – The Bannock Burn River Woodland Development Plan – TreeLink Stirling – Stirlingshire 
• Nairn & Lossie Headwaters – Riparian Development – Findhorn, Nairn & Lossie Rivers Trust – Moray 
• Raineach: Cuimhneachan na Coille, Rannoch (Bracken) – Memories of a Forest – Loch Abar Mòr nature restoration partnership, convened by SCOTLAND: The Big Picture – Highlands and Islands 
• Lussa Riverwoods Catchment Development Plan at Ardua Community Forest – Mull and Iona Community Trust – Highlands and Islands 
• Building a Route Map for Strategic Riparian Woodland Expansion in the Flow Country – UHI North, West and Hebrides – Highlands and Islands 

River woodlands – the trees and woods in, next to and near rivers, burns and lochs – are vital for creating and maintaining healthy rivers. These biologically-rich areas are the green arteries of an ecosystem, supporting many of our most iconic native species including ospreys, white-tailed eagles, otters, red squirrels and Atlantic salmon.

They also deliver significant environmental benefits including drought mitigation, flood protection, improved water quality, increased salmon populations and carbon storage, making them essential for climate resilience and adaptation. 

Unfortunately, the impact of human activity has caused declines in the health of these precious habitats across Scotland and restoration is urgently needed. 

A river woodland development plan identifies the need for conservation intervention, as well as the current opportunities for – and barriers to – implementation. It takes a project from concept stage to the identification of planting or restoration sites where the financial, ecological and operational details are ready to be delivered.

Nicole Still, Riverwoods Project Manager, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: “The number of high-quality applications we received to the Riverwoods Development Grant demonstrates the need for financial support to kickstart river woodland creation and restoration projects.

“We are delighted that this funding will enable these 11 trailblazing organisations to develop high integrity river woodland development plans which will bring huge benefits to communities and wildlife across Scotland”.  

The projects will also contribute to the Riverwoods Blueprint, a visionary plan for sustainable river woodland networks that will be developed over the next three years by partners in the Riverwoods Blueprint Project.

The Riverwoods Blueprint Project and the Riverwoods Development Grant are made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery players.

Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is fantastic to see these 11 projects going ahead with the support of the Riverwoods Blueprint thanks to National Lottery players.  

“Working at a local level these projects will be able to deliver well informed woodland development plans that respond to the needs of nature and communities. More than that they will also build a bank of knowledge and experience that will be available to support river woodland projects throughout Scotland and further afield.” 

Work on the development plans will commence in October 2025 and is due for completion by March 2027.

For more information and to apply, please visit riverwoods.org.uk.

ENDS

This is a Riverwoods press release.