River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO
The River Cree Hatchery and Habitat Trust (RCHHT, or the Trust) is a charitable trust, established in 2011 as a community project to address the decline of salmon and sea trout populations in the River Cree system in Dumfries and Galloway. Many burns in the system have ceased to offer wild fish satisfactory spawning habitat. RCHHT works in close co-operation with the River Cree District Salmon Fishery Board (Cree DSFB) which is primarily responsible for protecting and improving salmon and sea trout stocks in the district. RCHHT carries out an ongoing programme of practical habitat management and habitat improvements to the burns where the fish spawn. The Trust also carries out mitigation stocking of salmon fry into certain burns of the catchment. The fry are reared in its own hatchery, which has been operational since 2010. As part of its primary charitable function the Trust also conducts education, volunteering and training programmes. Activities involving four primary schools in the Newton Stewart area are arranged each year. Training and employment opportunities are also provided for unemployed youngsters. The Newton Stewart area has higher levels of unemployment than the UK or Scottish average. All the Trust’s activities offer volunteering opportunities.
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Salmon The aim of the Trust is to support the local wild Atlantic Salmon and within ten salmon generations return it to self-sustaining levels. This will help preserve the heritage of the Solway region and wider Scotland as a place to come for outdoor recreational activities and build on this heritage to bring an economic benefit to the region by increasing visitor numbers who come to celebrate the King of Fish.
Habitat The Trust aims to reverse the decline in the river Cree and catchment environment, to improve water quality and to mitigate climate change impact locally by controlling Invasive Non Native Species and by replanting native deciduous trees.
Education The Trust aims to use its working environment of the river Cree as an outdoor classroom, to engage with young people on food production and environmental issues and to explain the story of the salmon from conception to death. The Trust has a “Wellies On, Hands On” approach.
Training The Trust offers quality “on the job” training developing such skills as planning and structuring a day’s work schedule, working with machinery, being part of and leading a team, communication and numeracy skills. The Trust also provides references for future full time employment opportunities.
Volunteers The Trust has a strong group of 30 to 40 volunteers who come from a wide range of ages and skills sets across southern Scotland and local to the river Cree. This group has been built up over the last 8 years. The volunteers are flexible and able to mobilize at short notice to build paths and bridges, plant trees, help with removal of invasive non-native species and help with river health monitoring