30/03/2006
- Baby salmon (salmon fry), hatched and raised in
the classroom by pupils from St Thomas and St Anne
C.E Primary School from eggs supplied by the Environment
Agency, will be released into the Rea Brook at 10.00am
on 7 April 2006.
The fish were raised from eggs
provided in January 2006 as part of the "Trout
in the Classroom" Project, which aims to stimulate
children’s interest in their environment. The Project
is a ground-breaking new initiative, developed by
the Environment Agency, the Jet Set Club and Thames
21, to put manageable, self-contained aquariums
into selected schools.
The Trout in the Classroom Project
originated in the Thames area and this is the first
year it has been done elsewhere. But, because it
is the River Severn, we are using Salmon eggs, taken
from wild River Severn Salmon at our Clywedog reservoir
hatchery, instead of Trout.
The Salmon have been raised in
conditions that are as close to nature as possible.
This approach leads to healthy fish and gives students
an accurate, close up understanding of fish reproduction,
food chains and habitat.
It is one of a number of initiatives
funded by the rod licence money paid by today’s
anglers and aims to encourage tomorrow’s anglers
to take up the sport. These initiatives also include
sponsoring angling coaching sessions for children
who are interested in taking up angling.
The sessions are designed to teach
children about the environment in which they live,
encourage them to be outdoors and steer them away
from the television. Children take part in the angling
sessions on a voluntary basis.
Recreation Officer, Claire Quigley,
said: "It is good to see pupils taking such
an interest in their environment. Raising these
young fish from eggs has allowed them to experience
first hand how fish grow and what they need to help
them thrive.
"It has helped them to develop
general learning skills, and encouraged interest
in and ownership of their own environment. We also
hope it will encourage children to become the anglers
of the future
"Sales of trout and coarse
fishing licenses enable us to invest in the future
of angling. This is why it is so important that
anglers buy rod licences. None of this would have
been possible without the support
of anglers who are making a major contribution to
their sport and the environment."
Lisa Slater, Headteacher, commented:
"This project presents an exciting opportunity
for children to learn from first-hand experience.
The fish tank is in the school entrance hall and
attracts the attention of pupils, parents and other
visitors."
More information:
Lifecycle of the salmon
Salmon remember the scent of their
home river and will return after a number of years
at sea to breed in the river where they were born.
They lay their eggs in gravel in shallow water in
November and December. The eggs lie buried in the
gravel until March or April, depending on the water
temperature. The young fish mostly spend two years
in the stream, then make their way to the sea, where
they mature, eventually coming back to their home
river as adults to begin the breeding cycle again.
The Jet Set Club
The Jet Set Club will install
the tank in the school.The Club was founded in 2000
as an ecological charity committed to cleaning up
the River Wandle, a unique south London chalk stream,
and improving the Wandle Valley. They also help
to re-engage children with their home environment
through the "Trout in the Classroom" project.
More information can be found via this weblink:
http://www.jetsetclub.co.uk/
Thames 21
Thames21 is an environmental charity
working with communities to improve and maintain
London's rivers and canals. Thames21 mobilise thousands
of volunteers every year to clean up waterside grot-spots,
remove graffiti and create new habitats for wildlife.
Innovative community inclusion and education projects
like Adopt-A-River/Canal and Canalkeeper Volunteers
inspire long-term change and run alongside frequent
river clean ups which are open to all and organised
by Thames21 with training and equipment provided.
St Thomas and St Anne
C.E Primary School
St Thomas & St Anne's CE Primary
School is a rural school with 95 pupils currently
on roll, and a 20 place LEA Nursery. A privately-run
playgroup also operates in the building. The school
proudly holds the Eco-Schools Green Flag and is
keen to be involved in projects that enable children
to become more environmentally aware.
