The River South Esk is a wonderful river in Angus, Northeast Scotland. It flows for 50 miles from its source, high in the Cairngorm Mountains to its journeys end where it joins the North Sea at Montrose Basin, an outstanding and unique estuary.
The South Esk has many designations across the catchment including National Nature Reserve, Local Nature Reserve, Special Site of Scientific Interest, and international designations including RAMSAR Site, Special Protection Area (Birds including waders, wildfowl and golden eagle) and as a Special Area of Conservation for Atlantic Salmon and Freshwater Pearl Mussel. The catchment is geologically rich, Munros can be found at its source and the estuary holds precious evidence of the North Sea Storegga mudslide and Tsunami 8000 years ago.
The South Esk, like many Scottish Rivers, has been modified over centuries to sustain communities and industry. Upland areas of the catchment are managed almost entirely as traditional Scottish hunting estates or commercial forestry. The lowland areas are amongst the richest arable lands in Scotland and are intensively farmed. Angus contains 40% of Scotland's top quality arable soils and has approximately 11% woodland cover. In areas, fragmented habitats persist and there is a surprisingly wide range of species to be found. A dedicated website and interpretation route 'Wild South Esk' takes you on a nature rich journey from 'Source to Sea'.
Over the last 15 years the River South Esk Catchment Partnership, a voluntary group of stakeholders with an ecological and economic interest in the catchment have worked together to identify and address issues that continue to impact on the health of the river. Momentum for restoration and the scale at which it can be delivered continues to grow and it is a very exciting and rewarding time to be delivering ecological restoration and climate change adaptation projects.
A key area for restoration has been the area of Glens Clova and Doll. Ten years ago, the Rottal Burn restoration took place. The old, straightened 800m channel is now a 1.2km restored, meandering burn, re-connected to its floodplain. In 2020 the Scottish Government Biodiversity Challenge Fund allowed instream restoration works, riparian and upland planting to delivered at a larger scale. In 2023, the Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by the Scottish Government, has enabled the project 'Restoring the River South Esk - A nature-rich and climate-resilient catchment' to progress to development phase. The project aims to deliver multi-habitat restoration on a scale never seen before in Northeast Scotland. 
Its vision is to create a nature-rich, ecologically connected, working upland landscape, from hilltop to riverbed. It will include:
Community and wide stakeholder consultation has shaped restoration priorities and change at many scales can be witnessed. The River South Esk is a wonderful river to explore at any time of year. We hope our restoration plans will inspire a visit.
Photos courtesy of River South Esk Catchment Partnership
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