Insh Marshes is a 1,000-hectare floodplain stretching between Kingussie and Kincraig along the River Spey, with 850-hectares of this floodplain managed by the RSPB Scotland. It is one of the largest and most important inland wetland areas in the UK, supporting a variety of wild and plant life.
Insh Marshes acts as a giant natural sponge, holding water and allowing it to slowly travel back into the river.
By slowing down the flow of water, the marshes play a crucial role in alleviating pressure on areas further downstream, including the towns of Aviemore and Kincraig. At its capacity, Insh Marshes can hold 35 million cubic metres of water. That’s the same as 1,400 Olympic swimming pools.
Underground water sources that serve as our primary water source are replenished by slow seepage through the underlying soils and rocks. Floodplains such as Insh Marshes also filter water, by removing excess sediment and nutrients, which would otherwise degrade water quality and increase treatment costs.
Due to historical modifications, this amazing floodplain is unable to function in a sustainable way, with knock-on negative impact on floodplain management, wildlife, and people.
Working with the local community, we’re developing a long-term vision to transform RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes into a prime example of a restored floodplain and river system. These changes will help increase the resilience of local communities and the natural riches of Insh Marshes, against climate change, and provide a home for a range of important species such as Spotted Crake and String sedge.
Stay up to date with this work by signing up to the monthly Cairngorms Connect newsletter. If you have any questions specifically about our restoration work at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes, you can email: insh@rspb.org.uk
Working with river experts and building on previous work, we explored a range of restoration options and concluded that the preferred option is to realign the lower part of the River Tromie through the Invertromie field to the west. This option will have the maximum benefits as a restored ecosystem whilst reducing risk to infrastructure and flooding, bringing benefits for people, nature and climate.
We are proposing a new channel across the Invertromie fields, so that the pressure on the east bank will be reduced, and a more natural channel will develop to the west. The planning application for this proposal will be submitted in early 2025. ~
More information is available here.
Since our first river restoration project in 2022 where 9 uprooted trees were submerged in the River Tromie, we have seen extremely high rainfall events and significant flooding. The high flow flood events are the ones that shape the river the most, carrying sediments and sometimes large cobbles downstream. The trees – also known as woody material – have interrupted this sediment flow, creating new river habitats and niches. Where once we were seeing uniform cobble size throughout the riverbed, we now have a mixed size of material building up around the tree roots. Nature thrives in diversity, and it is this diversity of gravel size that creates the right conditions for spawning fish. We have also seen the creation of deeper pools in front of the roots. These deep pools of slower moving water provide resting and feeding opportunities for freshwater fish.
The storms of winter 2023-24 have further weakened the embankments of the River Tromie as it flows through RSPB Insh Marshes. As the artificial banks prevent sand and gravel from spilling over into the floodplain, it accumulates on the riverbed unnaturally raising the water level and speed of flow. This increase in flow erodes and breaches the banks, potentially impacting on neighbour’s land, infrastructure, and the ecology of the Reserve, so doing nothing is not an option.
Reflecting on this development, and the real-time impacts of climate change, the team decided to prioritise developing a long-term solution for the River Tromie.
Across May and June 2023, events took place to continue engagement with our neighbours, nearby communities, and a range of stakeholders. The RSPB share updates, discuss challenges and offer the opportunity to meet with our expert consultants and staff.
The first floodplain restoration project was completed in Autumn 2022. Nine spruce tree trunks were strategically installed in the River Tromie. The woody material helps to create pools and areas of sediment build-up, which are beneficial to spawning and feeding fish, such as Atlantic Salmon. It also slows the flow of water, helping to reduce the peak of future floods. Read the full story here.
Three other projects are considered, alongside the feedback, support and concerns from the local community. These projects won’t take place for a number of years. RSPB Scotland appoints a dedicated Project Manager to oversee this work alongside the Insh Marshes team.
The RSPB Insh Marshes team worked on a thorough response to feedback and questions asked during the community engagement in 2020. This included commissioning further work from the consultants, and considered the questions and concerns raised.
Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, throughout the winter of 2020, RSPB Scotland undertook extensive community engagement to inform and provide opportunities to input on the river restoration work.
The ideas, concerns and suggestions gathered during this consultation phase helped to shape the proposal for the future of Insh Marshes, released for consultation in 2022.
Click here for an overview of the 2020 Community Engagement.
A list of possible options for floodplain restoration is created, which would help to restore the marshes for people, nature and climate. Engagement with local community members begins to help shape proposals before any planning application is made.
RSPB Scotland commissions a study into restoration options for the future of Insh Marshes, not only as an important site for flora and fauna but by continuing to offer flood protection. The study is funded by SEPA's Water Environment Fund and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Working with expert environmental consultants, RSPB Scotland created a computer model using data collected from the marsh and previous flood events. This model assessed the current conditions and offered different options to restore the river and floodplain, for example by removing redundant blockages to reconnect the river and floodplain and returning straightened streams to a more natural course (also known as ‘rewiggling').
These different options underwent rigorous assessment and stakeholder engagement to assess viable options for the future of a healthy, safe and nature-rich RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes.
You can download a summary of these options here, and the full feasibility study is available for download here.
RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes is designated as a National Nature Reserve.
RSPB Scotland acquired land on Insh Marshes. The land begins to be managed to ensure habitats of National and European importance are in favourable condition.
Clearances and World Wars decreased the local population, leaving few to maintain the agricultural land. Modern farming machinery was too heavy to be used in wet areas. This resulted in fewer areas being used for agriculture, with land reverting to marsh and being left to nature.
Humans extensively modified Insh Marshes floodplain to create land for agriculture. These modifications were never fully successful, mainly due to the dynamic nature of the floodplain.
