Esks Rivers & Fisheries Trust FMS Review

Land Management of Glen Clova, River South Esk, Angus

Located in the upper catchment of the River South Esk, Angus, Glen Clova is an important area for spawning Atlantic salmon.

Much of the floor of Glen Clova is an old post-Ice Age lake bed, with a very low gradient with loose, sandy soils. Land use on the glen floor is primarily agriculture, with steep-sided river banks and little bankside vegetation. As a result, river habitat for salmonid fish is poor, with little shade and virtually no instream cover.

Since 2010, the Esks Rivers & Fisheries Trust have engaged with local landowners, and other stakeholders to undertake projects that will lead to improved land management and ultimately better conditions for the ecology of the river.

In 2012, the Rottal Burn was remeandered to provide, among other benefits, more stable habitat for spawning salmon and sea trout. Stream length increased from 800m to 1200m, and has created more diverse habitat.

In 2015, ERFT and Tilhill brought landowners together for the Glen Clova Contour Planting Project. This project aimed to retain more water on hillsides and slow the rate of flow entering the river by planting a corridor of trees on the hillsides. The first phase of planting was completed on Rottal Estate in 2019, and plans for have been submitted for a further 945Ha of planting on the neighbouring Clova Estate.

ERFT have also started installing woody debris to the banks of the South Esk in the glen, to create cover and shade for the river. To date, six sites have been completed in the glen, and is the start of a rolling programme for more sites.

Plans are in place for riparian tree planting and more instream work.