Friends of the River Kelvin-SCIO

07/10/2026

Dear friends

As part of the National Library film archive’s 50th birthday celebrations, and showing during Green Libraries Week, there is a free screening of Living Proof: A Climate Story at Kelvin Hall on Wednesday 21 October 5.45pm. Emily Munro , who created the film, will introduce the evening.

The licensing period is ending for some of the footage and music, so not only is this a rare opportunity to see the film on the big screen, it may also be one of the last!

Tickets free but please book via Eventbrite:

An exploration of Scotland’s relationship to the climate crisis told through archive footage.

05/10/2026

Thanks to all the volunteers who turned out on a beautiful morning on Saturday to stop litter in it's tracks and from entering the River Kelvin. 22 and a 1/2! bags picked from the paths abd banks on the riverside. Great support from blackandveatch staff who joined in with FORK regulars and hello to all the new people joining us. Lovely to see a pair of Speckled Wood butterflies Butterfly Conservation Buglife out sunbathing on the fallen 🍂 See you Saturday November 7th for th he next litter pick! Meeting point tbc! Thanks to Jill Ferguson for the 📸

02/10/2026

Happy Birthday to the Paddle Steamer Waverley, from the Friends of the River where she was born! The Pointhouse Shipyard of A&J Inglis was down where the Kelvin meets the Clyde. Shame she’s down in London for her birthday, but it does make for a good photo

01/10/2026

Consulation Alert! Glasgow City Council is currently undertaking a review of its processes for identifying and managing contamination within household recycling bins. As part of this review, a short resident survey has been developed. Have your say! Open til 13th October, 2026

Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

30/09/2026

Can you help this lovely heron? This Saturday 3rd October is the day of our regular monthly litterpick. We'll be assembling at Ha'Penny Bridge House on the Kelvin walkway for a 10.30 start and will head our for 90 mins gathering litter and stopping waste from going into the river. You'll get the kit you need and meet some lovely folk. Go on help a heron!

18/09/2026

This Saturday 19th September!

Maryhill in Glasgow saw many of the most innovative canal engineeri...

18/09/2026

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in our 2026 Lighter Nights Litter Picks. Thanks to team leaders Alex and Lyn. We picked 45 bags of litter and collected tyres, wheels, bottles, prams, cans, signs, fag butts and loads of other things that the land and river doesn't need. We saw ducklings, herons, gooseanders, cormorants, mushrooms, beautiful wild flowers, glorious 🌳 🌲. Thanks to 𝙲𝚛𝚊𝚏𝚝 𝙱𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚙 & 𝙱𝚊𝚛 for hosting us for post pick refreshments. Watch this space for next month's pick point.

14/09/2026

NOTICE OF PLANNED TREE FELLING - Please Share!
You might have seen these posters along the Kelvin walkway.

Glasgow City Council have informed us that - '392 ash trees within the River Kelvin Walkway, located from Garrioch Viaduct to Eldon Street Bridge, have become infected with ash dieback disease and require being removed due to health and safety concerns.
A Felling Licence has been approved by Scottish Forestry.'

Tree removal works will begin on Monday 14 September with the initial removal of 11 ash trees of particular concern, across the area, followed by the removal of the remaining ash trees. Initial works are to remove 11 trees, of urgent concern, in 4 of the zones (see below).

From 14 September, works will also start at the Garrioch Road/Drive area and Temporary Traffic Restriction Notices (TTRNs) have been posted on lighting columns.

Notices have also been posted on site regarding the reason for the works, with a QR code directed to the GCC Ash Dieback information page. https://bit.ly/4yGeSrg

Any necessary diversions will be signed prior to works commencing and gates will be padlocked closed to prevent access.

Notices and diversion signage will be posted for each zone, a week in advance of works in each specific zone. Start dates for each zone, cannot be provided as there could be delays due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

11 Initial removals across 4 zones:

Zone A – 2 Trees (From Garrioch Viaduct to Kirklee Road Bridge)
Zone B – 3 Trees (Arboretum)
Zone C – 5 Trees (From Kirklee Road Bridge to Queen Margaret Drive Bridge)
Zone D – 1 Tree (Queen Margaret Road Bridge to Belmont Street Bridge)

The site is divided into 8 zones, and the contractor will complete 1 zone at a time to reduce any disruption to travel to a minimum. Notices of the works and any diversions, will be posted at least 1 week in advance for each zone. The works are programmed over an 8 week period, but could be delayed by weather events or ground conditions.
As with all areas of removal, these locations will be assessed for possible replanting and inclusion within the Council Tree Action Plan. However, due to the under-story regrowth, Scottish Forestry have not stipulated that replanting must be carried out and are content with the natural regrowth as replacements.

Programme running order:

Initial Works above
Zone A (From Garrioch Viaduct to Kirklee Road Bridge)
Zone C (From Kirklee Road Bridge to Queen Margaret Drive Bridge)
Zone D (Queen Margaret Road Bridge to Belmont Street Bridge)
Zone H (Kelvinbridge Subway)
Zone G (South Woodside Road)
Zone B (Arboretum)
Zone F (From Foot Bridge at S.A.M to Great Western Road Bridge)
Zone E (S.A.M)

18/08/2026

We're back after a short Summer break 👋 and we'll be heading out this Thursday evening. Meet at the river side of Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery Carpark at 18.30 and we'll head out for 90mins of litter picking. Get your kit from Lyn and Alex the volunteer leaders, all welcome.
Next dates Saturday 4th September 10.30-12.00
Thursday 17th September 18.30-20.00
Meet locations for the September dates will be posted nearer the time.
All Welcome!