| Twelve schools and Dolphin
House Education Centre at Culzean have been involved in
the Salmon in the Classroom project this year, run by
Ayrshire Rivers Trust. The project involves an afternoon
lesson to primary school classes on local rivers,
including threats to wildlife such as pollution, habitat
loss and overfishing. The salmon life cycle is then
covered in detail including breeding behaviour and
migration. After advice on how to look after salmon
eggs, the class is provided with an aquarium containing
around 200 salmon eggs. The aquaria are fitted with
thermostatic coolers, to cope with high classroom
temperatures and keep the water at the same temperature
as the river. The coolers ensure a high survival rate
and allow the children to see the development of the
fish for longer before they are released. Pupils keep a
daily record of the progress of the salmon and create
posters on the salmon life cycle. Eggs have been
supplied by local hatcheries approved by District Salmon
Fishery Boards using only native salmon. The children
help release the fish back into their native river in
late March and visit the river again in summer to do
fieldwork. Children learn to identify different fish
species and how to assess water quality by sampling
river invertebrates.
The project has significantly expanded since 2005,
when 4 schools took part followed by ten in 2006. In
2007 the following primary schools have taken part;
Barr, Dailly, St Cuthberts and Cairn (Maybole), Dolphin
House (Culzean), Minishant, Heathfield, Dundonald,
Tarbolton, Catrine, Patna, Dalmellington and Muirkirk.
Peter Minting has again been running the project in
2007, with the help of senior biologist Brian Shaw.
Ayrshire Rivers Trust biologist Peter Minting has been
developing the project and applying for funds from
different sources. A large portion of funding for SITC
has been provided by the Big Lottery Fund's Fairshare
Trust, which is funding 5 schools in the Maybole area
until 2008. Scottish Natural Heritage, Spirit
Aerosystems, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire
Council, the Hadyard Hill Windfarm Community Fund and
Minerals Trust are now also helping to fund the project. |
|
Poster by Patna Primary P5 pupils, 2007
Poster by Dalmellington P6-7 pupils, 2007
Fisherton Primary, 2006
Crosshill Primary, 2006 |
