24/02/2026
You are warmly invited to take part in a Workshop to help shape a shared Catchment Restoration Vision for the River Ericht Catchment.
Background
Despite having a designation as one of the most important spawning grounds for Atlantic Salmon in Europe, like many other catchments in Scotland, the Ericht is being negatively impacted by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, peatland degradation, water quality, water abstraction issues, bank erosion and invasive species. In addition flooding and drought events are accelerating. The River Ericht Catchment Restoration (https://erichtcatchment.scot/) Steering Group is undertaking a series of engagements over the next few months, aimed at bringing together communities of interest and place in the Catchment to see how these issues can be better addressed.
Our hope is that local residents, community groups, schools, businesses, anglers, land owners/managers and others who care about and benefit from the landscapes and waters of the River Ericht catchment will want to get involved in its restoration.
Your local knowledge and lived experience are essential to ensuring future restoration reflects what truly matters to everyone who lives and works in the Catchment.
What is the workshop about?
The day will focus on:
· Sharing key findings from community and catchment baseline work
· Co-creating a long-term (20–30 year) vision for a thriving River Ericht Catchment
· Identifying practical community benefits that catchment restoration should deliver - environmental, social, cultural, and economic
The workshop will be highly interactive, using maps and group discussion to capture ideas and priorities.
What will happen on the day?
Participants will:
· Explore what they value most about the catchment
· Identify challenges and opportunities
· Imagine what a healthy, resilient catchment could look like in the future
· Help build a Community Benefit Inventory that will guide future restoration projects, funding bids, and decision-making
No technical knowledge is required — just your perspective.
Practical details
Workshop Date: Saturday April 4th 10.00am – 1.00pm Kirkmichael Village Hall, Kirkmichael, PH10 7LZ