Tweed Forum

Planting trees along riverbanks

The UK’s rivers face enormous environmental challenges, from pollution, rising water temperatures, habitat loss along the banks, and barriers to fish passage. Habitat clearance and more intensive agriculture have degraded riverbanks, reducing natural shade and increasing sediment and nutrient inputs. Salmon begin to suffer heat stress in water temperatures above 18°C, and many of the UK’s rivers now often exceed this temperature in summer.

Restoring the trees and shrubs that grow along the banks of rivers is essential to restore the natural balance of our rivers. These trees help stabilise the banks, filter pollution and shade the water to keep it cool enough for fish to thrive.

Tweed Forum works to manage the River Tweed and its tributaries to preserve and restore its habitat and waterways in southeast Scotland and North Northumberland. By working closely with land managers, they have delivered real improvements that protect and enhance the area’s natural heritage with projects including peatland restoration, woodland and wetland habitat creation, habitat monitoring and investigations into nature-based solutions to flooding.