Planting along the River Tirry in Scotland
Riverside Planting to Cool Waters
The River Tirry meanders quietly through the breathtaking Kyle of Sutherland in Scotland. It is a special river that provides spawning and rearing habitat for Atlantic salmon and trout, but - yawn - warmer weather and a loss of tree cover means it is warming too much during hotter summers. This reduces the oxygen in the water that is needed to help its residents thrive. CAP clients have funded the planting of over 13,000 trees along similar rivers in the region in the past five years, but we want to plant more. Our partners at the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust hope to get a locally sourced mix of alder, downy birch, willows, hazel, bird cherry, elm & aspen into the ground this winter 2026/2027. 1750 trees in total. Let's fund it.
River Tirry with early trees in the ground
Photo © Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust
THE NEED FOR COOL WATERS
Rivers need sunlight to allow aquatic plants & algae to photosynthesise. Too much heat warms the water however, reducing oxygen levels and making it difficult for fish, like salmon and trout, to survive. Centuries of tree felling and overgrazing has meant that Scotland’s riverbanks now lack trees altogether. Hotter, drier summers are also taking their toll.
BRINGING BACK SHADE
The solution is to get those riparian zone trees back in the ground. Their canopies provide the shade needed to cool waters; leaf litter feeds insects, fungi & bacteria; branches fall into the water creating shelter for fish & nesting spots for birds; tree roots stabillise the banks preventing soil erosion; and the trees act as highways for wildlife, giving animals food, shelter and safe pathways across open land.
Photos below document the 13,030 CAP-funded trees that were planted between 2021 - 2023 to shelter the Kyle of Sutherland's Carron & Oykel Rivers.
Tripping back through time
