Rivers are the blue-green arteries of our landscapes, providing water, nutrients and vital wildlife corridors through some of our most intensively managed environments. Yet many rivers have been modified over time, straightened, embanked and engineered to act as efficient drains, moving water off the land as quickly as possible.
As climate change brings more frequent and intense rainfall events, these altered river systems can contribute to increased flood risk downstream, threatening communities and causing significant economic damage. At the same time, many rivers have lost their riverside woodlands and continue to face pressures from agricultural runoff and sewage pollution.
Fortunately, river restoration projects across the UK are demonstrating how these challenges can be addressed. Measures such as riverside tree planting, wetland creation, natural flood management and wider buffer strips can improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitats and reduce flood risk. When planned at a catchment scale, these interventions can deliver benefits throughout an entire river system.
The River Tyne Catchment
The River Tyne Catchment in East Lothian covers approximately 300 square kilometres, draining a diverse landscape of upland moorland, farmland, woodland and settlements before reaching the Firth of Forth at Tyninghame, near Dunbar.
The catchment is formed by the confluence of the Tyne Water and Biel Water and includes a network of tributaries that support a rich variety of habitats and species. The river system plays an important role in local ecology, agriculture, recreation and water management, while also facing challenges associated with flooding, water quality and habitat degradation.
Help Shape the Future of the River Tyne
As part of its Muir to Forth initiative, East Lothian charity Balanced Horizon, in partnership with the Forth Rivers Trust is exploring opportunities to restore the River Tyne catchment.The project aims to identify where river restoration measures could improve water quality, strengthen ecological networks and reduce flood risk across the catchment. Local knowledge is essential to this work, and we would like to hear from anyone who knows the catchment well.
We are particularly interested in hearing about:
- Areas affected by flooding
- Riverbank erosion
- A lack of riverside trees or woodland
- Agricultural pollution
- Sewage outfalls or water quality concerns
- Barriers to fish passage
- Opportunities for wetland or pond creation
- Potential locations for riverbank planting or wider buffer strips
- Areas where natural flood management measures could be beneficial
Get Involved
If you are aware of any issues affecting the River Tyne catchment, or have ideas for
restoration opportunities, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Mike Thornton, Project Lead, at:
When getting in touch, it would be helpful if you could provide:
- Your name and contact details
- A description of the issue or opportunity
- The location, preferably with an Ordnance Survey grid reference or What3Words reference
The following maps show key datasets we have for the catchment.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming year, Balanced Horizon will be developing a programme of river restoration projects across the Tyne catchment. Our ambition is to help create a healthier, more diverse and resilient river system that delivers benefits for people, wildlife and communities through cleaner water, enhanced habitats and reduced flood risk. Together, we can help restore the River Tyne for future generations.