Project Laxford is a landscape-scale, ecosystem-wide, conservation project. Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate is working in partnership with The Atlantic Salmon Trust across the River Laxford catchment, with the goal of restoring wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout populations. One of the largest catchment-wide restoration projects nationally, the 10-year project will restore 118 km2 of the landscape and plant up to a million trees, enhancing biodiversity and benefiting the whole ecosystem. Grounded in science and monitoring, the aim is to establish the Laxford as an index river and support the development of more similarly designated rivers in Scotland.
Wild Atlantic salmon have declined by around 70% across the North Atlantic over the last few decades. In the UK, the species was red-listed as endangered by the IUCN in December 2023, with British salmon having suffered an additional 30-50% decline since 2006 and a projected 50-80% decline between 2010 and 2025. The Laxford presents an opportunity for whole catchment restoration because the entire river is located within Grosvenor’s Reay Forest Estate and the project can be used as a testbed for management strategies and salmon restoration efforts at a catchment-wide scale. The works, also supported by Marine Scotland Science and West Sutherland Fisheries Trust, include stabilising the riverbanks to stop sediment entering the watercourse; planting native tree species to develop new woodlands, help cool the water and improve its quality; and removing instream barriers and blockages.
To date, more than 72,000 trees, the first of up to a million, have been planted across 198 acres (80ha). Aspen, birch, hawthorn, holly, oak and rowan are among the species planted.
As part of the project, one of the largest fish telemetry systems in Scotland has been installed to monitor changes in the salmon population over time in response to habitat improvements.
Reay Forest Estate will go through WES Level 2 reaccreditation for the third time in August of this year and they have made significant progress since their last audit.
The estate hosts an annual open day for the public (last held in April 2024) when it invites people to learn more about its work to conserve the environment and works to improve properties and places in the local communities. The estate has 12 activity centres where estate employees demonstrate the wide-ranging works which take place, including Project Laxford. They also invite partner organisations including Wildlife Estates Scotland and Countryside Learning Scotland, as well as local businesses. All proceeds from ‘soup and sweet’ are donated to the estate’s employee-adopted charity, High Life Highland.
There is also a separate schools-focused event with more than 100 pupils from nearby secondary and primary schools in Kinlochbervie, Gairloch, Ullapool, Durness, Scourie and Lochinver attending. This is a key opportunity to raise awareness of the Project and educate the next generation, as well as promoting rural skills and career opportunities.