Sustainable bank management
You can protect your river banks from erosion sustainably and cost-effectively using trees or parts of trees to absorb and deflect the force of the river. This page provides information about the different techniques available and shows videos and interviews with landowners who have carried out such works.
Demonstration sites
Working in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, individual farmers and other land managers, we have set up a network of demonstration sites across the country around 2018. You can see videos of some of the sites using the links below.
Riverbank project protection videos (Vimeo)
Landowner experiences and podcasts
To listen to landowners talking about the techniques they used and why they worked at that location go to:
A podcast produced in 2025 by Farming and Water Scotland discussing these techniques with SEPA and SAC consulting is https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/219450/bank_protection_guidance.pdfavailable to listen to here:
Guidance
You do not need to apply for an authorisation for this work as long as you can comply with the following General Binding Rules (GBRs):
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GBR 25 for the placement of the trees or parts of trees
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GBR 9 if operating a vehicle or other machinery in the river to carry out the bank work
To watch a video explaining the requirements of GBR 25 go to:
Detailed information on using these techniques is available in our guidance document:
Details on alternative bank works options and authorisation requirements are set out on our bank works webpage.