The River South Esk is home to wonderful wildlife. The rivers in the catchment are a Special Area of Conservation because of their Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussel. There’s a National Nature Reserve near its source, a Special Protection Area for birds near its mouth, and ten Sites of Special Scientific Interest scattered throughout the area. But wildlife needs our help to thrive and survive.
Years of human activity have changed the natural state of the river. Farming and forestry have altered or led to the loss of habitats, leading to a decline in the species they support. We’re working to address these issues through nature-based solutions – an approach to conservation that aims to restore and work with natural processes.
Often projects are planned at a landscape scale, rather than focusing on individual sites. The aim is to make things better for nature and better for people too, for example through helping to reduce the effects of climate change, reducing flooding, or improving water quality. Here’s a taste of some the projects that we or our partners have developed.
Website link here.