Innovative community project will breathe new life into the Rivers North and South Esk

J

Jonathan Louis

Guest

Innovative community project will breathe new life into the Rivers North and South Esk


The Forth Rivers Trust has secured funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for an exciting new project focused on engaging communities with the Rivers North Esk and South Esk in the Lothians. The Citizen Esk Project has secured over £200,000 over the next three years and aims to support communities to have their voices heard about the many issues the Esk catchment faces which impact on their community and local wildlife.

In the last few years, the Lothian Esks have been making headlines and winning hearts. Huge numbers of local residents discovered and explored many parts of the Esk and its reservoirs during the Covid 19 lockdowns, and found solace in these places of nature and natural wonder. But sadly, the Esk has also featured in the news for many pollution incidents and ongoing problems. Untreated sewage entering the river regularly with communities left wondering if it is safe to go in the water, mine water discharge causing the riverbed to turn orange, barriers to fish migration and more recently, a major diesel spill causing an oil slick along large parts of the lower river and out to the Forth. All of these issues impact communities that live and work along the North and South Esks.

By empowering local people and providing knowledge and support, The Forth Rivers Trust (FRT) sees Citizen Esk as a vital means of engaging local communities with rivers and wildlife that live within the Esk catchment whilst conserving rivers and their important species for future generations. It is FRT’s vision to “engage with others and make connections which support the physical improvement and awareness of the freshwater environment”.

Over the next three years, FRT will be reaching out to communities up and down the Lothian Esks offering a range of activities such as guided walks, attending events with their rivers stall and working with schools in the local area to engage kids with their local rivers. Citizen Esk also aims to create a river-wide steering group comprising community members to help channel the big issues facing the river and unite communities under one voice.

Alison Baker, Director of the Forth Rivers Trust said: “The Lothian Esks face many pressures that severely limit them being healthy rivers that support healthy populations of fish and other wildlife. Local people adore the Rivers North and South Esk and want to protect and enhance them, as well as develop their use as resources for leisure and learning. At Forth Rivers Trust we have always wanted to support and improve these rivers, but the trouble has been where to start! During the Covid-19 pandemic many people used their daily lockdown walks to go to the river and we received many reports from concerned locals about the state of their rivers. We believe that the community are best placed to identify where to start to make improvements to the Esks, because issues like poor water quality directly affect their lives.”

John Oldham, Chairman of the Esk Valley Trust said: “The Esk Valley Trust applauds the Forth Rivers Trust for their initiative in winning support for the Citizen Esk project. The Esk rivers and their surroundings in East and Midlothian are wonderful assets but need care and attention to achieve their natural potential. By enhancing awareness and community engagement in addressing challenges to the overall fitness of these river systems Citizen Esk can make a useful contribution to their long-term value. The Esk Valley Trust looks forward to working with Citizen Esk in those areas where, jointly, we can add benefit.”

Citizen Esk is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Esme Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. We unlock change by contributing everything we can alongside people and organisations with brilliant ideas who share our goals.

If you would like more information about the project or would like to get involved, contact the Forth Rivers Trust by emailing citizenesk@forthriverstrust.org or visit www.forthriverstrust.org/projects/citizen-esk .

Citizen Esk Webpage
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