Thrill of the Hill - When the Rivers Run Free: Restoring Our Waterways with Struan Candlish

Thrill of the Hill is back for season 6! Armed with a new team, new ideas and a range of new speakers, Alex takes on the hot topics impacting the farmed upland environment.

The water environment is one of the defining features of the Scottish landscape, shaping both its character and its ecological richness. Rivers, lochs, wetlands and coastal waters weave through glens and straths, carving valleys, feeding fertile soils and sustaining a remarkable variety of wildlife. They provide vital habitats for species such as salmon, trout and eels, which have long been part of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, while also supporting birds, mammals and plants that thrive in and around freshwater. But historic practices meant to improve productive activity and improve our management of water has proven detrimental some species, obstructive them from travel up and downstream, meaning that overtime, our rivers have become less dynamic and alive. In this episode Struan Candlish from the Ayrshire Rivers Trust talks us through the actions needed to restore our rivers and the benefits and incentives for farmers, crofters and land managers.

Want to get in touch with Struan? She can be contacted at Ayrshire Rivers Trust via email enquiries at [e-mail].

Related FAS Resources

Scotland's Priority Catchments | Helping farmers in Scotland

Alternative watering for field grazed livestock | Helping farmers in Scotland

Water Margins | Helping farmers in Scotland