YEAR 2008                                                                                 

A GOOD AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO ALL.           

The hatchery team received an early xmas present on the 24th Dec 07, 500 or so eggs had hatched, we had predicted the 29th but with our water temps being 2-3c degrees higher than last year we got off to a flier this year with stripping beginning a week earlier.

Great news for the river S.E.P.A. have finally decided that the Gauging Station has to be addressed, so hopefully this year will be the year that fish can move freely upstream since mid 1960's. This should mean more fish spawning higher up and a better spread of fish throughout the river. 
Congratulations to our management team for their perseverance on the gauging station issue and to those in the River Clyde Management Trust Ltd who have supported us in negotiations with SEPA. 
Our road has once again been washed out but I believe local authority are to do something about it after the holidays. We even may end up with a better road than we had.

South Lanarkshire Council have given us a grant of £300.00 towards our school education programme, Primary 1 of Robert Smillie School will be first to receive a tank set up as a pond sample with other local primary schools to follow.

So it looks like 2008 is getting off to a great start.  
 

 Did I say a great start, the result of poor Council road workings and adverse weather.

More of the same, repairs to the hatchery roofing and in freezing conditions.

Ingress of slurry from flooding.

The start of something good	Getting there	Ahh! Finished. Some gardening work still to do Jimmy?

This is one of the 2ft aquariums we are putting into local primary schools as part of our Wonders in Water project. The aquarium is equipped with a sub gravel filter, light and air pump. Gravel is also supplied along with a complete list of instruction for maintenance and welfare of samples. We hope to supply some frog spawn soon so that the children can watch it develop then release the young frogs back into the environment. Other aquariums will be set up containing a cross section of aquatic life, each being tailored to the particular age group participating. The project is being sponsored jointly by The Countryside Alliance, South Lanarkshire Council, Kypeside Fishery and the Nethan Valley Angling Association. We are also being supplied the aquariums at a reduced rate by J A Pet Supplies, Larkhall.	Some of the visitors from Bannerman High P.A.W. group and police cadets freezing to death while being given casting instructions from Craig McKechnie. Gale force wind and driven rain did not dampen their enthusiasm. Mind you when it got colder we did notice that it was the police cadets who sought out the warmth of the research hut first, I think they preferred being bored to death by me rabbiting on than face death from freezing, As a bonus they got to see brave people indeed. Even Woody our male Great Spotted Woodpecker put in a guest appearance.	Mark filling seed tray with Sun Flower seeds. He and Paula donated this state of the art bird feeding station and accessories coming to a total value of £25.00p. It was only about 15 minutes before it had its first visitor a Blue tit. The feeder consists of a squirrel proof metal peanut ball, a willow horn containing suet, a cage containing fat balls, a tray for seed and a drinking dish. Mark and Paula also donated a bag of Sunflower seeds. We are grateful for this attractive feeding station.
One of the 2 identical cages donated by Stevie and Jackie.	Adrian Clarry from Carlisle who is a serving British Soldier. Adrian was so saddened by the break-in that he decided to donate a Vivarium with all the necessary equipment and two Armour Plated Lizards	New Sign