Increasing our awareness about the local environment has never been more important.
That’s why over the last seven years, Glasgow Airport has funded a fantastic project teaching primary school pupils about the ecology of their neighbouring waterways and the marine life they support.
The Flying Fish programme, delivered by the Clyde River Foundation registered charity, has seen over 2,300 from 95 Primary Six classes from 58 schools in the Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire local authority areas learn more about their local streams and rivers.
The day-long experience sees pupils visit their nearest water source to meet the inhabitants and to take part in an outdoor learning session with a member of the Clyde River Foundation team. The pupils measure the health of the water and learn about the linkages between their river’s ecosystem and the land.
The children also see an electro-fishing demonstration, learn to map the site and take samples back to the classroom.
A pop-up lab is introduced to the classroom and the pupils can get up close with the river’s inhabitants and learn more about them.
At the end of the day the Clyde River Foundation team present the pupils with a custom-made poster of their activities.
More than £40,000 in support for the Flying Fish programme is provided by Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund.
The Fund was set up in 2010 to provide support for local charities, groups and organisations within the neighbouring communities.
Since its introduction 10 years ago more than 600 groups have been awarded over £1.6m by the FlightPath Fund with three key areas of focus – education, employment and the environment.