Jonathan Louis – Almond/Avon Reconnection Programme Project Officer

River Forth Fisheries Trust

• Organisation established in 2009• Not for profit organisation & registered charity• Aim of the Trust is to conserve, maintain and restore freshwater

habitats and the native species of freshwater fish and wildlife which utilise those habitats.• Covers roughly 4000 km2 (all rivers that flow into the Forth Estuary

and the Firth of Forth)• We also work with communities and organisations to provide

education and training for volunteers.

What is the Almond/Avon Reconnection Programme ?• Aim: reconnect wildlife and communities back to their local river. • A catchment scale approach to improving rivers.• Bringing a number of river improvement project together to make a

big difference for wildlife and communities.• Currently in the development phase during 2015

What is the Almond/Avon Reconnection Programme ?

• Training and education will be a big part of the programme to give communities, volunteers and the Trust skills to continue work in the catchments long after initial works.• Initial 3 years of work with a long term vision for the catchment

potentially starting mid 2016 onwards.

Who’s funding the programme ?

• Heritage Lottery Fund• SEPA’s Water Environment Fund

8 key projects to the programme• Gogar Burn Reconnection Project• Killandean Blue/Green Network Project• Bathgate Water Restoration Project• Almond/Avon Invasive Non-Native Species Project• Riverfly Monitoring Initiative• Upper Avon River Restoration Project• Upper Avon Riparian Restoration Project• River Almond Barriers Project

Thanks for listening

Keep up to date with the project by:“liking” our facebook page: www.facebook.com/riverforthfisheriestrustTweet us: @ForthFishTrustWebsite: www.fishforth.co.uk/rfftEmail us: trust@fishforth.co.uk

We also have a mailing list which you can sign up to today at the Forth Fisheries Trust Stall.