Ayrshire Rivers Trust
Ayrshire Rivers Trust (ART) are an environmental charity based near Mauchline in the heart
of Ayrshire.We are a team of dedicated Ayrshire based biologists, ecologists and environmental managers working to improve our rivers and lochs. The primary aim of the trust is to create, promote and support initiatives designed to conserve and enhance our river environments and the native fish they support.
Since ART were established in 2000, we have delivered a wide range of environmental, educational and community based projects across Ayrshire.
Many of these projects include riparian tree planting as a means to improve the local biodiversity, stabilise eroding riverbanks, provide shade for our rivers, create connectivity across catchments, sequester carbon and restore woodland habitats. For this to be achieved at the scale we require, we plant thousands of trees each year.
Often these trees are grown in Europe and imported to the UK bringing with them the potential for diseases and pests to be introduced to the country. Unfortunately, we are already experiencing the fallout from the introduction of Ash Dieback which can kill up to 80% of Ash trees Read more here.
To address this risk and reduce our carbon footprint associated with importing trees, we decided to embark on our own journey of starting an Ayrshire based tree nursery using locally sourced seed.
This means we can track each tree from seed to sapling, and ensure that each tree is planted in an area where it is adapted to the prevailing growing conditions.
Tree Donation
In 2025, we formed a partnership with MyGas who are supporting us in our mission to use Ayrshire grown trees throughout our projects.
For each new boiler unit installed, MyGas will donate funds to plant two native trees.
For every two trees donated, ART will donate an additional tree from our nursery.
We will then use these trees in our projects and plant them in areas where they will provide the biggest benefit to our local river catchments.