At Wilderness Scotland, we believe that Scotland’s wild places should thrive for generations to come. That’s why we’re proud to support the Big Picture and its flagship initiative, Riverwoods—a nationwide effort to restore and protect Scotland’s riverbank woodlands and their interconnected ecosystems. 

For centuries, Scotland’s rivers teemed with life. Atlantic salmon made their epic journeys from the ocean, spawning in the cool, shaded headwaters before enriching the entire ecosystem. But today, many of these rivers flow through bare, treeless landscapes—depleted by centuries of burning, felling, and overgrazing. Without the required shade and essential nutrients provided by riverside trees, rising water temperatures now threaten Scotland’s salmon like never before.

Through the Wilderness Conservation & Community Fund, fuelled by travellers like you, we’re helping to restore these vital waterways by planting corridors of native trees like aspen and willow. These wild riverbanks will provide shelter, food, and a healthier future for the King of Fish—and for all the wildlife that depends on Scotland’s riverlands, from beavers to birdlife and beyond.

Across the Northwoods Rewilding Network, Scotland: the Big Picture has already supported the creation of over 270 new wetland features. Over 200 seed islands of alder, aspen, and willow are now forming woodland corridors, providing shade and nourishment for species like Atlantic salmon, beavers, and otters. Elsewhere, river “re-wiggling” (putting the natural curves back in the rivers) has slowed water flow, creating rich new habitats for native species, healthier ecosystems, and ultimately reducing flood risk.

Together, we can bring Scotland’s rivers back to life. Read more about the Riverwoods project on the Big Picture’s website below.

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