It has been a busy month for the growing community of River Dee Guardians, corporate supporters of the multi-award-winning local conservation charity, The River Dee Trust.
On World Earth Day on 22 April, Guardians RigRun, Apex Tubulars and Ithaca rallied volunteers to plant trees on the riverbank to provide cooling shade for the endangered Atlantic salmon.
On 24 April, the inaugural River Dee Guardians Lunch provided an opportunity for Guardians to meet each other, and to share their experience with over 60 representatives from organisations interested in learning more about the vital work of The River Dee Trust.
On 8 May, Equinor, Serica, Omexom and BP joined the Trust team for a walk and talk on the Culter Catchment. Those attending were treated to insights into developing restoration and conservation work in the area, as well as fantastic weather. They visited a fish trap, where the juvenile salmon are counted, measured and weighed as they make their way out to sea, studied the environmental regeneration at the site of the former Garlogie dam, removed in 2023, before finally inspecting the eel ropes recently installed at Loch of Skene by a team from Equinor.
Claire Fleming, engagement officer at the Trust explains the importance of time and funding committed by the River Dee Guardians: “I’m sure everyone has noticed the exceptionally low flow on the Dee in recent weeks, and water temperature are rising too. The local impact of climate change is visible all around us.
"Our River Dee Guardians are enabling the vital conservation and restoration work of the Trust through financial support, the donation of time, skills sets and equipment.
"Becoming a Guardian is an investment in nature, and an opportunity to make a difference, right here on your doorstep.
"There is a lot of work to be done, and the support of the business community is vital to enable the restoration to take place at a landscape scale to benefit threatened wildlife."
To find out more about becoming a River Dee Guardian click here – https://riverdee.org.uk/river-dee-guardians/