PUBLISHED: 04/06/26
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Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust
PUBLISHED: 04/06/26
The Findhorn, Nairn & Lossie Rivers Trust (FNLRT) is a place-based nature restoration organisation working at a catchment scale to protect and restore three of Scotland’s ecologically significant river systems. Operating in partnership with landowners, communities, businesses, and statutory bodies, FNLRT blends public, private, and philanthropic finance to deliver habitat restoration, freshwater science, community engagement, and policy advocacy across the Findhorn, Nairn, and Lossie watersheds.
2025–26: A year of growth and transition
2025–26 has been a year of significant change, growth and delivery for FNLRT. Following the retirement of long-standing Director Bob Laughton, Elle Adams was appointed as Executive Director in April 2025. The year also saw the conclusion of a major support phase from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund and the establishment of a new funding relationship with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, reflecting continued external confidence in the organisation’s direction.
The team expanded substantially with the appointment of an Ecologist, a Catchment Restoration Lead, and a Bioregional Finance Lead, with a Communications and Engagement Lead joining from April 2026. A governance review, office renovation at Logie Steading, and strengthened operational systems have laid a robust foundation for the Trust’s growing and complex workload. FNLRT also joined the UK Rivers Trust network and formalised a partnership with Dark Matter Labs to develop innovative governance, monitoring, and finance approaches.
Habitat Restoration & Climate Mitigation
Riparian woodland restoration remains FNLRT’s flagship delivery area, primarily through the Findhorn Watershed Initiative (FWI). In 2025–26, multiple schemes were delivered or progressed across the Findhorn catchment, funded in part through Chivas Brothers’ ‘The River Within’ partnership: Cumulatively, FWI riparian restoration to date has achieved 110 hectares of woodland created and 83,800 trees planted, with a further 74ha confirmed for the 2026–27 season and 14.7km of riparian shading established or committed to delivery.
Invasive Species Management
Through the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI), the Trust continues to manage 227km of riverbank for invasive non-native plant species, including Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, and Himalayan Balsam. Over 1,770 volunteer hours were contributed to control activities. American mink trapping continued, with a network of remote monitoring units supporting an efficient and effective programme. Funding has been secured to continue SISI through to 2028.
Freshwater & Catchment Science
Science and monitoring underpin FNLRT’s work across all catchments. Key activities this year included river temperature monitoring, freshwater invertebrate surveys through the Buglife and WildFish programmes, and water quality monitoring.
Responding to Development Pressures.
The pace and scale of development across the catchments accelerated substantially during 2025–26, requiring considerable team resource. Key pressures included windfarm developments, A9 dualling, and agricultural and offshore developments.
Blended Finance & Investment
A comprehensive Watershed Finance Strategy has been developed, establishing a values-led framework for attracting and blending private, public, and philanthropic funding. A dedicated Bioregional Finance role has been co-established with Dark Matter Labs to operationalise this strategy.
Work is underway to develop a packaged pipeline of investment-ready restoration projects, supported by a prospectus and engagement materials. Community benefit workshops and Memorandum of Understanding co-development with local development organisations have been conducted to ensure finance mechanisms reflect local values and interests.
Community, Cultural & Policy Engagement
Community and cultural engagement deepened through the Findhorn Watershed Initiative, with events exploring cultural connections to the river, sold-out venison evenings celebrating sustainable local food, and a growing volunteer network. FNLRT co-authored a peer-reviewed paper published by the British Academy on integrating intangible cultural heritage into nature recovery. At a policy level, the Trust contributed to consultations on biodiversity strategy, development planning, and water stewardship, and the Findhorn Watershed Initiative was featured in NatureScot’s Nature Investment
Prospectus.
Priorities for 2026-27
The year ahead will focus on: