The GFT 'Flowing Forward - Restoring Galloway's Rivers' programme is working to improve freshwater and riparian environments across six Galloway river catchments (Luce, Bladnoch, Cree, Water of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire Dee and Urr) in partnership with various stakeholders, organisations and local communities.
The objectives of this ambitious programme are to:
We have three full time posts delivering this project - a Habitats and Climate Resilience Officer, Project Manager (Nature Restoration) and an Ecologist. The project has the expertise, skills, contacts and staff to identify and deliver a wide range of restoration works. We work closely with various partners to provide wider specialised expertise, where required, we bring in specialism to produce detailed designs to accurately cost projects and minimise risk.
In early 2025, 'Flowing Forward - Restoring Galloway's Rivers' and the SCAMP Landscape Connections were chosen by NatureScot to be one of nine landscape scale nature restoration exemplars in Scotland. Working together these projects are a true opportunity of 'source to sea' catchment scale restoration. Exemplars are to be prioritised for support by various agencies with the aim to accelerate and scale up nature restoration in these areas. We are delighted to have been recognised in this process and look forward to working with the agencies and SCAMP (who we are a delivery partner of) to scale up the programme of restoration across Galloways catchments and coasts.
Ensuring the work programmes are 'evidence based' means the correct sites are selected and the most appropriate restoration techniques are put into place. GFT wider data collection work (including electrofishing fish surveys, water quality monitoring, invertebrate surveys, water temperature monitoring, habitat surveys & drone surveys) are undertaken to collect the 'evidence' we need to identify where restoration work is needed and to monitor the environmental benefits from the work completed.
The project outputs aim to support the objectives of various plans and initiatives including The Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy, Solway and Tweed River Basin Management Plan, Dumfries and Galloway Local Biodiversity Action Plan, Scottish Invasive Non-Native Species Plan Action Plan 2026-2032, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 and the various local Salmon Fishery Management Plans.
The 'Flowing Forward - Restoring Galloway's Rivers' umbrella programme is delivered through various GFT sub-programmes including:
We work closely with many stakeholders, landowners and organisations when delivering the work programme including SEPA, NatureScot, Dumfries & Galloway Council, DRAX, Forestry and Land Scotland, Crichton Carbon Centre, local District Salmon Fishery Boards (covering Luce, Bladnoch, Water of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire Dee, River Urr), Upper Urr Environment Trust and Riverwoods.
Project delivery is supported by many generous funders including Nature Restoration Fund, SPEN, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Glenkens & District Trust, Riverwoods, Morgan Sindall Construction and William Grant Foundation.
Sparling, also known as European smelt, is one of the rarest fish in Scotland and they are only known to be present in three Scottish rivers. The River Cree supports a sparling population.
A paid internship is available from April to October 2026 (26 weeks) to work with Galloway Fisheries Trust on the Solway Invasive Non Native Species INNS Control and Knowledge programme Phase 2
Galloway Fisheries Trust have an exciting opportunity for a recent graduate. We are able to offer a 5 year post to deliver the 'Kirkcudbrightshire Dee European Eel Study and Restoration Project'.
