by Carolyn Bryce | Jul 30, 2025 | Conservation, Electrofishing
We have had a bit of time to look at the 2025 timed electrofishing results in more detail and on the whole, spawning and survival from winter to July has been encouraging. Timed electrofishing is a rapid assessment of salmon fry survival between the spawning period...
by Struan Candlish | Jun 30, 2025 | Conservation, General
At the start of June we ventured out of Ayrshire to work with Lomond Fisheries Trust to install baffles in two culverts on the Fruin system that were preventing migratory fish access to the upper habitats. This is work that is being supported by the Wild Fisheries...
by Stuart Brabbs | Jun 1, 2025 | Conservation, General, Projects
With some time passing since we gave any update on the Nethermills counter on the Ayr, I thought now was as good a time as any. What became obvious to us after commencing this project back in 2022 was that it was never going to be as simple as download an accurate...
by Struan Candlish | Apr 18, 2025 | Conservation, General, Projects
Our final tree planting job for this season was in the Stinchar valley on the Pinmullan Burn, a small but productive tributary of the upper catchment. It isn’t ideal weather for planting owing to the dry, warm weather we been enjoying this spring and it is a...
by Struan Candlish | Apr 10, 2025 | Conservation, Green engineering, Projects
With the tree planting season about over until next winter, we have a couple of pressing jobs that must be completed this week. Hopefully the forecast rain at the weekend will help them establish quickly as they burst into life but we will water them anyway as a...
by Struan Candlish | Apr 10, 2025 | fishing
There is now only one vacancy in for the rental syndicate 2025, for a Wednesday rod. The cost is £400 for the season. For further details, please contact the Syndicate via https://www.smithston.co.uk/smithston-rental-syndicate-2025 or email at...
by Struan Candlish | Apr 3, 2025 | Events, Green engineering, Projects
Last week we were joined on the Mauchline Burn by the Dunbia Group who donated £1000 towards planting trees across the project area. Despite it being a very dreich morning we planted around 150 trees with the group which was a massive boost to the burn. Ian and our...
by Struan Candlish | Feb 13, 2025 | Conservation, General
In October last year we removed a concrete weir on the Davington Burn, a tributary of the Border Esk. Having won the contract, we worked with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to remove the weir and restore the burn to its natural state, reconnecting...