We have now completed the first part of the Carrick Education Project which was delivered to ten primary schools across the Carrick area. The project focuses on introducing primary school pupils to their local stretch of river. Funded by Carrick Futures, Hadyard Hill and South Ayrshire Waste Environment Trust (SAWET) the project gives pupils the opportunity to learn about the fish in their river, the invertebrates that the fish feed on and why riparian trees are important for aquatic ecosystem functioning.
The project is delivered over two visits, with the first visit introducing the pupils to their local river where we provide an electrofishing demonstration with a fish identification and biology/ecology workshop. Following this the pupils get the opportunity to get in the water and do a kick sample (invertebrate sample) with staff and teachers supervising. After the pupils collect their invertebrate samples we head back to the classroom which we turn into a laboratory with microscopes, magnifying glasses and identification keys.
In a few months time we’ll return to each of the schools we visit to do some tree planting on the banks of their local watercourse. This will allow the pupils to plant their own tree and watch it grow over the coming years.
Below are a few photos from the river visits and the classroom laboratories.
Pupils from Minishant Primary identifying fish from the Culroy Burn
Pupils from Barhill Primary Kick Sampling for invertebrates on the Cross Water
Setting up the classroom laboratory at Dailly Primary
Kick Sampling in the Lambdoughty Burn with Straiton Primary School
Invertebrates from the Cross Water and Duisk in Barrhill
Identifying fish from the Dyrock Burn with Kirkmichael Primary School
