Salmon Homecoming – Clyde River Foundation

‘Salmon Homecoming’ is an eco-education project that will celebrate the opening up of the Avon Water to the majestic Atlantic salmon, thanks to recent conservation measures in the river. The Clyde River Foundation, in partnership with the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), will work with 21 primary schools across the Avon Valley on a multi-phase project between January and June 2017.

Salmon Homecoming is the perfect focus for science education and outdoor learning, and will provide the foundation for a whole variety of other learning outcomes and experiences, from arts and literacy to history and mathematics.

The project is fully supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and the Greggs Foundation.

Salmon Homecoming will encompass three phases. The first two phases are taught modules:

Phase 1 – Classroom hatchery (January to March 2017) The likely return of the iconic Atlantic salmon to the Avon after a century or more, following improvements to allow them to pass two weirs, provides a particular impetus for this project in 2017. In Phase 1, we will provide an opportunity for a class from each of the 22 primary schools in the catchment to participate in our popular “Clyde in the Classroom” project, which will use the life cycle of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) to demonstrate the conservation and biodiversity importance of their local river system. The local environment will benefit from the increased awareness of a generation of residents.

Phase 2 – Meet Your River (April – June 2017) The second phase of the project aims to increase the children’s’ awareness of the importance of their local river through a “Meet Your River” day. Pupils will have an opportunity participate in outdoor learning delivered by Clyde River Fundation scientists.

Phase 3 – Celebration events (June 2017) The whole community and children who have taken part in Phases 1 and 2 will be invited to join us at celebration events delivered by the Clyde River Foundation and CAVLP in summer 2017.