Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve and the surrounding land, are highly susceptible to invasive non-native plants. Parts of the reserve, along the banks of the river as it approaches the estuary, have become smothered with Himalayan balsam.

The artificial nesting platform is located on the intertidal mudflats of Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve. The raft provides a safe nesting site for common terns, with estimates of over 100 chicks observed in the 2024 breeding season.

The Angus Glens are one of the best areas in Scotland for wildcats. These elusive and iconic animals are under threat due to interbreeding with domestic cats, habitat loss and persecution.

This project aims to safeguard regionally significant populations of waders such as curlew, lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank and snipe by working with local land mangers to protect the high quality breeding habitat found there.

This project aimed to reduce rural diffuse pollution in the River South Esk catchment in order to improve water quality, meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, and improve the habitat for freshwater pearl mussels.

The project aims to work with local land managers on a voluntary basis, to demonstrate how improvements in the South Esk river habitat can be combined with actions to help reduce flood risk.

In 2014, Scottish Forestry supported this large-scale forestry project in upper Glen Clova. The project has multiple benefits including carbon sequestration, shelter for livestock, biodiversity enhancement and reduced peak flows.

The lower reaches of the Rottal Burn previously flowed through a straightened, embankment-lined channel. This was restored to an open, meandering channel with the aim of restoring natural river processes and increasing in-stream and riparian habitat.

This project aims to increase the level of flood protection around Brechin, protecting residents and safeguarding businesses.

This project aimed to improve habitat for freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon and trout. Sections of the river bank in the upper catchment were re-profiled and 900 m of bank protection was removed from the River South Esk and the White Water.

The Wild South Esk trail takes you from the Cairngorms National Park at the top of the catchment, to Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve, at the bottom. You will see mountains, glens, woodlands, rivers, farmland and finally, the enclosed estuary.

Scottish Invasive Species Initiative work to control invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and America mink throughout the River South Esk catchment and across the wider Angus area.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust which aims to ensure that red squirrels continue to be a part of Scotland’s wildlife.

Cuttings and seeds were collected from remnant montane willows in Corrie Fee, for conservation seed orchards. These orchards will grow young montane willows that can be planted within the catchment, thereby increasing genetic diversity of remnant willows.

The Cairngorms National Park volunteer programme works with rangers from AngusAlive at Glen Doll, on habitat and estate management such as path maintenance, fencing and invasive species control, and monitoring and surveying of species such as raptors.

Funded by the Cairngorm National Park Authority and supported by Clova Estate, refuge areas were created for small fish and invertebrates by installing trees horizontally against the bank of a deep pool.

£130k was awarded from the Biodiversity Challenge Fund in 2019. The aims of the project were to restore riverbanks and create wetland habitat at five sites in Glen Clova, and to expand native broadleaf woodland in riparian and montane zones in Glen Doll.

This project aims to deliver climate change adaptation and nature restoration across glens Clova, Doll and Prosen. Key themes include woodland expansion, wetland creation and river restoration.

Rottal Estate is working to restore historically drained blanket bog by raising the water table and revegetating areas of peatland, through bare peat restoration and ditch blocking. The estate is working closely with NatureScot's Peatland Action team.

The B-lines project, increased the pollinator-friendly, wildflower-rich habitat across Strathmore. The improved habitat formed stepping stones and corridors, linking fragmented pollinator habitats, supporting invertebrates to move across the landscape.

Cairngorms 2030 is a partnership of 70+ organisations, across 20 long-term projects, aiming to generate transformational change which will improve people's health and wellbeing, deliver on climate change and enhance nature in the Cairngorms National Park.

Making space for nature helps wildlife to become more resilient to climate change. Habitat enhancements, including wetland planting and wildlife access ramps, were carried out at the Curlie and Borrowfiled ponds, resulting in a notable increase in birds.

Former 'saltpans’ at Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve was restored in 2022 through the Nature Restoration Fund. The areas of open water now support a variety of wetland species, including specialist salt tolerant plants.

The project aimed to facilitate the creation of resilient, innovative and prosperous communities on a landscape scale. The project focused on collaborative river management, invasive non-native species control, climate change resilience and communities.

A 2.8 ha zone was prioritised for restoration work in 2024. A sequence of plots were cut, covering a quarter of the project area. This created diversity in age and structure of the reedbed habitat enabling specialist species to thrive.

The Caldhame Burn in Brechin town centre is the first in the catchment to be opened and restored as an overground feature to improve urban amenity and biodiversity.

In 2017, the SEPA Water Environment Fund (WEF) supported improvements to 2.5 km of the Pow Burn, returning it to its more natural form. This work will improve local flood risk management as well as biodiversity.