]> 2026-04-14T04:23:57+00:00 Case study:Dumbreck Marsh & Garrel Burn Restoration 500 en Garrell Burn 22.12.21.mp4 Approved re-meandering lowland shallow channel form pool/riffle sequences Re-meandering SEPA North Lanarkshire Council Scottish Government Clyde River Foundation North Lanarkshire Council Scottish Government SEPA Water Environment Fund Yes No Yes true 20211117 second fish pass high flow.jpg 20210812 offcial Business upper fish pass.jpg 20210902 Official Business old channel pre switch over.jpg 3681.JPEG 20211020 121910486.jpg Before During After Aerial 2022.jpg Before 2019 & After 2021.jpg Upper fish pass During Works.jpg gravel meander During Works.jpg Fish pass (lower) Upper fish pass Garrel Burn channel before work New Meanders 2021 Before During and After Before & After Yes 100 - 500 k€ WSP/CBEC WSP/CBEC North Lanarkshire Council George Leslie/WSP/CBEC Complex "post industrial" zones, despite appearing to be greenspace can be complex locations to undertake engineering due to subsurface utilities, contaminants and historic refuse material. However by careful design and management natural river form and function can be achieved providing more resilience for the river and its wildlife. Local Nature Reserve 55.9733907,-4.0712848 Francis Hayes Francis SEPA Hayes re-meandering, lowland shallow channel form, pool/riffle sequences,Floodplain reconnection with Dumbreck Marsh LNR,Re-meandering, ,,Community council, rotary club, access forum engagement, plus education days with local school children via Clyde River Foundation,More to follow once site has "bedded in" and greened up Work completed in April 2022. To date the Clyde River Foundation undertook monitoring before and during works and have found all key fish species in the area - lamprey, trout, eel and salmon. We hope to see these species thriving in future years. 26430 North Lanarkshire Council, SEPA, Scottish Government, Clyde River Foundation 3681.JPEG 2016-04-01Z 2457479.5 Complete Dumbreck Marsh is a ‘brownfield’ wetland area which developed naturally on post-industrial land in the mid/late 20th Century. The area was once heavily used for colliery activities and mineral railways. After the decline of the colliery industries the land was left fallow and gradually accommodated wetland habitats and associated species – eventually including the endangered lapwing? – it also became a valued area for greenspace, public access, and wildlife for the local Kilsyth community and was designated as a Local Nature Reserve by North Lanarkshire Council in…19…. Recently the marsh has suffered drying out and loss of wildlife, with access routes becoming eroded and therefore limiting public access. Historical mapping shows the Garrel Burn was straightened into an entrenched channel over 250 years during either 17th or 18th century creating simplified channel lacking in morphological diversity and subsequently habitat complexity while also disconnecting it from its floodplain at Dumbreck. Continually dredging of the channel and embankment construction resulted in greater levels of incision and floodplain disconnection. Further to this, two weirs located within the river at Kilsyth prevented access to over 1.5 km of quality upstream habitat to migrating fish (eel, trout, salmon, lamprey). By restoring around 600m of the burn to a more natural lowland meandering planform, with a wider and shallower channel displaying gravel bars and pool features, the river will be able to accommodate a greater variety of wildlife and provide more attractive fish habitat. The channel also now allows the Garrel Burn to naturally flood into the wetland zone to help recharge the marsh with water. Two weirs have had “pre-weir” fish ladders built below them to allow migrating fish to, once again, reach the upstream habitat available to them in Kilsyth. Public access has been substantially improved with new pathways and resurfacing of existing popular routes. Three new attractive footbridges also enhance the experience of the riverside for the public. The paths at Dumbreck contain a variety of options for public enjoyment including short circular walks, and connectivity with other networks including the John Muir Way. Further community and visitor engagement and improved interpretation of the sites industrial and natural heritage is an ongoing part of the strategy for the Council. The Dumbreck Marsh where enhancements have taken place covers an area of around 70 hectares. The length of Garrel Burn enhanced by the work is 1 km. Around 600 m of a new meandering channel has been created through Dumbreck Marsh. The whole length of the river (1km) has had INNS (Japanese knotweed and Himalayan Balsam) eradicated, with existing banks re-profiled and seeded. Fish (salmon, trout, eel and lamprey) have access to the improved river (1km), and also with new fish ladders built on the two weirs at the upstream end of the works, fish now have access to 1.5km of river habitat within Kilsyth. *Over 2km of footpaths have been restore, along with 3 new footbridges and a board walk for public access. *Habitat enhancements – scrapes, bird boxes, sand martin wall, woody structures placed in channel for habitat and channel form. *Disabled car parking improved. *Further tree planting planned with community volunteers in 2022. *Ongoing engagement with local communities will be led by North Lanarkshire Council for greenspace access and local heritage. Dumbreck Marsh & Garrel Burn Restoration dumbreck marsh & garrel burn restoration Yes Floodplain reconnection with Dumbreck Marsh LNR Community council rotary club access forum engagement plus education days with local school children via Clyde River Foundation Atlnatic salmon European Eel Lamprey Sea trout North Lanarkshire Council Environmental flows and water resources Fisheries Habitat and biodiversity Hydromorphology Social benefits Urban 1000 - 5000 k€ Garrel Burn More to follow once site has "bedded in" and greened up 1000 - 5000 k€ George Leslie/WSP/CBEC 2022-04-14Z 2459683.5 2020-04-01Z 2458940.5 2022-04-20T14:28:55Z 2459690.1034144 2022-07-14T14:32:13Z 2459775.105706 Dumbreck Marsh & Garrel Burn Restoration