The Forth Rivers Trust is an environmental charity with a key focus on rivers, in particular rivers which flow into the Forth Estuary and Firth of Forth. As an organisation, we cover over 3,800 square kilometres ranging from Dunbar and Fife ness in the East, all the way up to Loch Katrine and Balquhidder in the West.
As a Trust, we have core objectives which focus on four key themes which are; rivers, wildlife, communities and science. These four core objectives play a role in anything we do as an organisation and help guide our work to benefit wildlife and communities whilst expanding our understanding of rivers in the Forth.
As we cover a large area, we work with partners to deliver many of our objectives. One partner is the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. The Trust is a key partner in Callander’s Landscape which is currently being led by the Park to deliver the river-based elements of the project.
Rivers are important for a number of reasons, not just because they support wildlife but because they play such an important roll shaping the landscape and connecting habitats whilst supporting communities that have developed along them. Rivers are the veins of the landscape, moving water out to sea but intersecting most habitats with wildlife using them as transit corridors for moving through the landscape. Communities that have developed along rivers have relied on them for economic purposes but also as a source of power and water supply. Rivers are key to survival for humans and wildlife.
Wildlife in your local river
Do you know what lives in your local river? You might be surprised by the vast amount of wildlife which lives locally to you beneath the surface of the river or along its banks. Fish are a key species which live in rivers across Scotland, in particular within Callander’s Landscape. Salmon, sea trout, brown trout, eel, lamprey and stone loach are just a few species you might find in your local river. You also might find minnows, a small fish which like to shoal. Next time you are down by your local river, have a look at the waters edge and see if you can see any fish.
Other wildlife you might spot include otters, beavers, kingfishers, dippers, bats but there is a lot more to discover. All wildlife relies on healthy rivers to thrive. The River Teith which runs through Callander and you might be lucky enough to spot some of the fantastic wildlife the next time you are down by the river. Â
How are we helping rivers through Callander’s Landscape?
Making sure rivers are healthy is a key aim of the Trust as if they are not, this can have an impact on wildlife but also the communities that live alongside them. As part of Callander’s Landscape, the Trust is delivering a number of improvement projects to tackle issues facing rivers around Callander. We will be working with local landowners, such as Drumardoch Estates to deliver riverbank fencing and tree planting along with protecting riverbanks in a green and friendly way. This work will benefit the Leny Burn, a spawning ground for Atlantic salmon. The bank protection will benefit not just the river and its wildlife but also a wet meadow, reducing erosion of the meadow and risk in the future to paths that are nearby.
The works planned through Callander’s Landscape will support the river in a number of ways. By fencing off the river from livestock, this will allow native vegetation to regenerate and grow along the rivers edge, providing habitat for wildlife. Trees will also be planted along the Leny burn to encourage recruitment of trees so there is a varied age range. This will mean trees will continue to be along the rivers edge well into the future, something that might not have happened if trees die and grazing continued. The trees will also provide shade and cover, keeping the river cool during hot summers days and providing somewhere to hide for wildlife.
The Bank protection will use willow and natural materials to create a cushion in front of the eroding riverbank to slow this process down. Using natural materials will mean that the bank protection will also create habitat for wildlife whilst providing protection for the wet meadow and riverbank.
As well as the restoration work, the Trust will also run a series of engagement activities to engage people with rivers. We have so far run an intro to angling workshop for 16 – 26 year olds to introduced them to fishing, salmon redd (nest) survey training for volunteers, led a guided walk along the river as part of this years Callander Summerfest and have worked with Callander primary school on a project called Fish in the Classroom. More is planned over the project’s lifetime with lots of opportunities to get involved.
If you would like to get involved with any of our activities, sign up to Callander’s Landscape volunteer mailing list to be kept notified of all opportunities.
