The project will restore 400 metres of badly eroded riverbank using natural green bank revetment techniques, helping to stabilise the river while creating better habitat for salmon and trout. Native trees will also be planted along the river corridor to provide shade and improve river health, while more than 650 metres of livestock fencing and associated water gates will be installed to reduce sediment entering the water and protect vulnerable riverbanks.
The project builds on Ayrshire Rivers Trust's strong track record of delivering successful Wild Fisheries Fund projects, including similar habitat restoration work on the Mauchline Burn in 2024. The trust has also secured £5,500 in match funding to support the initiative.
It is one of nine conservation projects across Scotland sharing almost £230,000 from the fund this year. Since its launch in 2021, the Wild Fisheries Fund has delivered £1.5 million for practical conservation and restoration work, supporting 30 local projects across Scotland. Salmon farmers have now committed a further £460,000 over the next two years, taking total investment through the fund since 2021 to £1.96 million.
Struan Candlish, fisheries biologist with Ayrshire Rivers Trust, said:
"Ayrshire Rivers Trust is very pleased to be supported by the Wild Fisheries Fund for our project on the upper River Ayr.
"Through a combination of tree planting, natural riverbank protection and fencing, we aim to reduce sediment entering the river and improve the habitat along its banks, helping boost salmon and trout numbers in the headwaters of the River Ayr."
