The Annan river catchment is a beautiful area which has suffered over the decades, like most of Scotlands rivers, with the loss of natural riparian woodland habitat. This habitat is critical for the future health of the river. Restoring the native woodland habitat on the banks of the Annan will help this eco system cope better with the high water temperatures we have seen in recent years due to climate change. The trees would offer shade from the sun, habitat for juvenile fish and mammals to evade predators and re introduce minerals and essential woody debris from the woodland to give the river a boost from top to bottom. This would return the river to a more natural state, help alleviate large scale flood events which have become more common in recent years and ensure better spawning and recruitment for native fish including Atlantic Salmon and brown trout. Native woodland has great local importance too, giving local people and tourists an area of great wild natural beauty to visit.

Having had a long association with the river Annan from the 1980s, both through my work at the former Barony College (now SRUC) and as a game angler, I am keen to see this project bear fruit. The benefits to the fishery, wider environment and the local community are well expressed in the proposal and build on a strong legacy of fishery habitat improvement and conservation. Well targeted planting schemes could stabilise the most eroded riverbanks, improve degraded nursery streams habitats and provide the shade needed to counter the growing threat of overheating. The emphasis on community engagement and potential for linkage to school and college educational activities is most welcome. The Barony campus SRUC sitting in the Annan catchment is well placed for an involvement with site assessments, planting as well as ongoing maintenance and habitat monitoring. They may be interested in revitalizing and widening a collaboration first established in 1980s, if approached.

This project has significant local importance. The river Annan riverbanks and bridge infrastructure have been devastated by flooding and associated erosion. Planting of the appropriate type of trees in the right areas will help stabilise vulnerable bankings. The wildlife that inhabit these areas will also be protected e.g. sand martins, water voles, but also enhanced through the additional shade, improved insect-life diversity and abundance, and protected and improved habitat. The increasingly hot summers and associated increases in water temperature could be counteracted by the shading and reduce fish mortality. From a tourism and local wellbeing point of view a more attractive and well maintained environment will be an additional benefit and encourage more activity in and around the river.

A worthy project that will keep on giving for generations. Having planted small areas of native woodland on some the Esk tributaries nearly 30 years ago, I can't think of a better or more holistic investment for the future of the native wildlife, and the people who will have the privilege of enjoying it in the future.

This is a very well thought through and ambitious project. Galloway Fisheries Trust & River Annan District Salmon Fishery Boards between them have experience, expertise, knowledge, combined with enthusiastic staff that can engage stakeholders at all levels.

The approach is holistic, with a clear and simple purpose that will enhance the health and resilience of the overall river catchment and all of its community stakeholders.

This is an exciting project that will benefit eveyone along the length of the River Annan for many years to come and will mitigate downstream flooding in the future.