Inverlochlarig Tree Planting Continues

The Inverlochlarig riparian tree planting project started in 2019 where we planted 1000 trees and built robust anti cattle tree guards along the River Larig which is at the top of the River Teith catchment. This protection system involves small triangular fenced off areas using 1.8m high deer fencing and vole guards.

In 2020 we were funded to do more planting by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, this time to plant around 2000 trees down a tributary (River Ishag) using the same protection measures. This planting would help link the main stem of the River Larig to an already existing native woodland creating a wildlife corridor and eventually increasing connectivity for wildlife between woodlands in the glen.

With the help of volunteers from Callanders Landscape and the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, the project started in March 2020 and some of the fence posts to create the tree protection were put into the ground. Unfortunately, this very wet day was the last time we have had the pleasure to work alongside many of the hard-working volunteers as the following week, everyone went into lockdown due to the pandemic.

During the first lockdown we had to put the project on hold. In September work started again thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support additional Covid-19 protection measures. The works however were at a slower pace due to the pandemic and the extra measures we had to put in place to protect staff and volunteers. The number of people we could get involved with the project was reduced to limit contact between each other and to protect staff and volunteers. Despite this, the Trust, with help from a few volunteers, the National park ranger service and the Callanders Landscape apprentice were able to plant around 1000 trees and finish off building the enclosures. As 2021 dawned, so did a new lockdown which meant work needed to stop on the project again due to the remote nature of the area and vehicle sharing required to get to the site. We hope to restart the project as soon as we can to finish off the remaining tree planting.

We will be pushing forward with the project as soon as we judge it safe to do so and new trees will be put in the ground by spring 2021 creating a new wildlife corridor supporting a variety of animals. Increasing trees in the headwaters of the Teith catchment is important to support a range of wildlife from the smallest of invertebrates which then support fish species such as trout and salmon in rivers to the larger animals such as otters which rely on the fish to survive.

Not only will it help wildlife, it will also help tackle the changing climate. Tree’s absorb carbon from the atmosphere so the more tree’s planted around the world will ultimately be a small cog in helping tackle climate change. The tree’s also help protect habitats such as rivers from climate change by providing shade during prolonged hot spells. This keeps the river cool for the invertebrates, fish and other aquatic species living in them. If river temperatures exceed 18c for more than 7 days, it can have a profound impact on aquatic wildlife. Recent river temperature monitoring recorded a river temperature of 28c. This was short lived and occurred during the heatwave of 2019 but if the temperature stayed this high or was above 18c it would have major consequences for the river’s wildlife.

Volunteers over the last 2 years have been treated to sightings of plenty of red deer, weasels, red kites, kestrels and even golden eagles at Inverlochlarig. These species could also be impacted if the river isn’t supporting wildlife which many of the species also rely on. We hope that very soon we will be able to spot wildlife with volunteers again and continue to support the river through conservation work in the near future.

If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Despite the current situation, we would like to accommodate people’s passion for their river environments and will be looking for volunteers to help on this project as soon as it can be done safely. Until then, stay safe.

contact Kyle for more information

Email: k.hind@forthrivverstrust.org

Phone: 0131 445 1527