Forestry and Land Scotland has been awarded a £25,000 grant by NatureScot for riparian enhancement work on the Garple Burn, which lies on the northern edge of Galloway Forest Park.
The Nature Restoration Fund award will see non-native conifer removed from the banks of the burn (approx. 5ha total) to help make it a more attractive habitat for salmon and trout. The work will also have a knock-on effect further downstream, stabilising the water quality feeding into Loch Doon, which has a SSSI designation for its Arctic Charr population.
Kim Kirkbride, FLS environment forester, said: “Modern forestry includes the use of open space and mixed broadleaf planting on a river’s banks to create a habitat that is much more welcoming for fish. It helps regulate water temperature, increases potential food sources for fish and improves water quality.