As we move into a post lockdown world it is vital that the connection we feel with nature doesn’t fade. Lockdown reminds us of the amazing journey of the North Atlantic salmon. This fish faces many threats and obstacles which it must overcome throughout its journey from its spawning grounds to sea and back again. We think it is important to acknowledge the highs and lows of lockdown. Children can share their lockdown experience by decorating a fish or mayfly larvae to reflect this time and help to encourage and inspire people to support each other through tough times. We will then deliver school sessions looking at river habitats, life cycles and food chains. We will bring mayfly larvae, salmon eggs and equipment into school to allow the children to observe their initial development before a trip to a rural river to release them. The children will carry out kick sampling in the river to discover important invertebrates and learn why a healthy river is so important for our future.

What we'll deliver:

• Deliver 'Salmon in the Classroom' to classes across North Tyneside, Newcastle City and Northumberland
• Engage with 120 children
• Encourage the creation of lockdown salmon with 6 schools
• We'll work with Christ Church C of E Primary School, Stocksfield Avenue Primary School and Haltwhistle Primary Academy

Why it's a great idea:

This project facilitates cross-curricular learning including geography, science, art, and literature. Lockdown and the pandemic have been a huge challenge for many reasons however people have found comfort during this time from discovering new hobbies, exercise, reading, music, walking etc. Children will be able to reflect on their own journey and experience a sense of togetherness as we move out of lockdown. These experiences can have long-term and wide-ranging environmental, economic, and social benefits. By introducing children of a young age to a valuable aspect of their environment, they gain an understanding of the effect of their actions on local streams and the animals that live within. In addition, the interactive element of the project inspires a passion for the environment that ensures the knowledge is passed on. Clean and healthy rivers have a high social and economic value as they can attract tourists and encourage other leisure activities such as angling and kayaking.

Steps to get it done:

• Contact with schools to create lockdown fish
• Collation of lockdown fish and display in schools
• Delivery of first session of Salmon in the Classroom
• Delivery of second session of Salmon in the Classroom and release of salmon into the river
• Delivery of Mayfly larvae, equipment set up and follow up session

The fish created will be displayed with others to create a river to share our lockdown journeys, support each other through empathy and inspire positive collective change for the future. The children will be encouraged to decorate their fish in a way that reflects their own time during lockdown, this could be through words, photographs, painting, collage, or poetry for example. This activity will inspire the children to think about the journey of the North Atlantic salmon. They will learn all about this iconic species and the importance of protecting their local environment, not only for wildlife but for ourselves. The river has been a great source of comfort for many throughout the pandemic. The project will give children who live in the urban Tyne catchment the opportunity to visit a rural river and gain more understanding of the journey of the whole river.