The Annan Riparian Restoration Network aims to expand and restore a network of broadleaf woodlands across the River Annan and its tributaries. By planting a mixture of native species at key locations we aim to enhance biodiversity whilst crucially building climate resilience into the landscape.

This ambitious project will bring together multiple landowners, with combined landholdings of over 35,000ha throughout the catchment. The project will consult, engage and involve local stakeholders, community groups and schools to improve their local surroundings for people and nature.

The project will use data and local knowledge to identify areas where riparian tree planting will provide multiple benefits, enhancing water quality and biodiversity, keeping waters shaded from increasing summer temperatures, providing natural flood management and connecting places for nature throughout the landscape. Through better management, sharing knowledge and protection of these important areas around watercourses there will be opportunities for communitites to enjoy, understand and engage with their natural environment. This will have benefits for both physical health and mental wellbeing as well as the health of the river.

The Lothian Esks which start their headwaters in the Pentland and Moorfoot Hills flowing through Midlothian and after flowing through a number of towns and villages joins together before discharging into the Firth of Forth at Musselburgh.  On the way it tumbles through ravines and communities providing life for wildlife and people who live and work in the area.  A river loved by people but needs a holistic catchment scale initiative to ensure it is resilient in the future and supports both wildlife and communities.

There are areas within the Lothian Esk catchment which are at risk of flooding which could damage houses, businesses and infrastructure.  The catchment is also impacted by the presence of weirs and manmade dams which impact on the natural movement of species particularly fish - salmon , trout, eels and lamprey and also damaging impounded waters and loss of sediment transfer.  This is further exacerbated by the presence of sewage, and mine water pollution and invasive non native species.

Working across all communities the river needs a plan and action which can be taken to boost and support the work to prevent flooding as well as protection of drinking water assets and sewage treatment plants.  Improvements are required to both longitudinal and lateral connectivity which will lead to the recovery of nature supporting both local and visitors alike.  The river and its people can, by working across the whole river catchment and on sustainable nature like solutions, potentially reduce to the costs of flood mitigation measures, reduce sewage spills, provide sustainable solutions to net zero energy production and bring iconic species back to the river supporting tourism.

Measures could include the re-introduction of the beaver to aid river engineering, reconnection of floodplain, planting or riverwoods along the catchment, removal of impediments to fish passage up and down stream as well as ensure the sediment transfer function to provide nutrients and energy to the river system.  This would include bring the communities together to prepare a plan as well as looking innovative types of funding for delivery.  We believe this would also support the measures being put forward for the delivery of flood mitigation measures within the catchment.