More than 350 children from in and around Glasgow have been learning to care for the River Clyde.
15 primary schools in the River Clyde catchment are taking part in Fish in Schools (FinS), an eco-education project delivered by the Clyde River Foundation.
The project inspires children to engage with nature and take pride in their local environment. Pupils have been working closely with scientists from the Clyde River Foundation to raise brown trout from eggs to fry, whilst learning about factors affecting riverhealth. Once the fish become fry, children will set them free into their local stretch of the Clyde.
Dr William Yeomans, Catchment Manager at the Clyde River Foundation, explained, “The River Clyde catchment is home to 1.7 million people – that’s a third of Scotland’s population.
"The health of the River Clyde is therefore tightly linked to the actions of those living around it; litter and pollution are two of the major challenges affecting our catchment.
"With Fish in Schools, we hope to connect children with the wildlife on their doorsteps and inspire a generation of ‘future stewards’, so that the river is better looked after and enjoyed by all.
Each of the schools are located in areas that rank highly on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), so the project aims to bring a positive impact to the communities involved.
Dr Yeomans added, “Thanks to support from the Greggs Foundation, we have been able to offer this wonderful opportunity to 15 primary schools in areas where a positive approach to the environment could have a great impact.
"It’s always good to reach a new audience, and it helps us fulfil our charitable aims of promoting scientific understanding and environmental stewardship. The children have shown amazing enthusiasm as they nurture their fish and were really excited about releasing their fish to their local rivers.”