Welcome
The Ayrshire Rivers Trust (ART) is a Scottish Registered Charity SC030426, based within the Auchincruive Campus of the Scottish Agricultural College in Ayr. ART was formed in the year 2000, and aims to reverse the significant decline in local freshwater fish stocks through improved scientific management and long-term restoration of our local rivers.
The immediate goal of the Trust was to raise sufficient funds to employ a full time biologist to begin the work. This was duly carried out, and the Trust's first biologist began work in February 2002.10 years on the trust now employs three full-time biologists and one part-time administrator. It has become clear to the Trust that there are many opportunities to enhance the environment in and around our rivers, both to improve fish stocks, and also to bring wider biodiversity benefits, including invasive weeds and water voles.
Latest News
Jan 31, 2012
ART will release competitive tender documents for the Control of Non Native Invasive Weeds on Ayrshire Watercourses during 2012 CIRB Project on the 13th February 2012. This INTERREG IV funded project is a cross border partnership and suitably qualified contractors are encouraged to apply for the tender documents from anywhere in the UK and the Republic of Ireland... [more]
Jan 28, 2012
David McPhail, Ayrshire's best known fly dresser has very kindly dedicated a magnificent Salmon fly that he has created to the Ayrshire Rivers Trust called the 'Ayrshire Man'. This is a stunning fly and is sure to be a big hit across the Country this year. Davie has placed a video demonstration of the tying on You Tube and in a very short time has had well over 6000 hit's for this pattern alone... [more]
Jan 27, 2012
Despite massive Press and media coverage and the endless efforts byorganisations such as ourselves, there remains the huge problem of lack of awareness when it comes to dealing with Japanese Knotweed and other invasive non native species . ART has been active delivering seminars to Local Authorities in an effort to halt the spread of INNS, especially by frontline staff that come into contact with these plants... [more]
Jan 27, 2012
ART became aware of a water quality problems on the Doon late on Monday afternoon that had been traced back to Calmerston Open Cast Site near Dalmellington. Scottish coal met with me on site on Tuesday morning along with a representative from the DDSFB. It appears there was a landslide in a steep glen just upstream of a culvert... [more]
Jan 15, 2012
We are often asked for details of individual clubs and fishing availability across Ayrshire from visitors and locals alike. I would like to set up a page on our web site that contains contact details for clubs and where the public can buy permits. Any club secretaries that wish details posted on a dedicated page please let either Gillian or myself have the details as soon as you can and we will get this up and running in time for the 2012 season... [more]
