Z is for Zoology

Another tricky letter, but happily one that allows us to look at wildlife along the banks and river. Despite coursing through one of Scotland's most heavily populated, post-industrial landscapes, the River Clyde is bursting with life.

The Clyde River was formed during the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when glaciers carved out the valley and left behind rich deposits of glacial till, which made the soil in the area particularly fertile. This makes the river banks and flood plains ideal for plant growth and an attractive habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Even in the heart of our busy city, you can catch a glimpse of badgers, foxes, deer and otters along the banks. In 2011 a harbour porpoise found its way upstream of the weir and was guided back out to sea by a team of rescuers, assisted by local rowing clubs members. Grey herons, goosanders and cormorants are a common sight, and over thirty species of fish are recorded in the Clyde, including salmon, trout, roach, dace, perch, eels and barbel. Dalmarnock has been a popular fishing spot for centuries, and a much-used anglers hut is perched at the side of the river on the north bank. Seals are also commonly seen, looking to catch a passing fish before it falls prey to the angler's hook.

The Clyde is a ‘recovering river’. Industrialisation from the mid-1800s onwards greatly impacted water quality and river flow. Weirs constructed to harness water for mills and manage water levels disrupted fish migration, and pollution from chemical works and sewage killed off many species living in the river. For many years, some stretches of the Clyde were devoid of life.

 In 1983, biologists recorded the first salmon run on the Clyde in over 120 years. According to William Yeomans of the Clyde River Foundation, this event marked a turning point in the environmental history of the river - ‘one of the best “good-news stories” in the history of freshwater biology’. Post-industrial landscapes can and do recover, often with surprising results.

The Clyde River Foundation (CRF) is a Scottish charity dedicated to research and education throughout the River Clyde catchment - undertaking regular research, scientific monitoring and projects that raise awareness of issues affecting the river. As part of the West Boathouse project, CRF worked with four local schools (Riverbank Primary, Dalmarnock Primary, St Anne's and St Francis) on Clyde in the Classroom, a hands-on project which uses the life history of a native Scottish species, the brown trout, to promote awareness of river ecology. Aimed at P5-P7 classes, the project encourages children to engage with nature and develop a sense of pride in their local environment. The children are responsible for the care of brown trout within their classroom and worked weekly with CRF scientists. The fish were then released into tributary burns and to make their way into the Clyde.

Water quality has significantly improved along many stretches of the river, but the Clyde faces new challenges from invasive, non-native species such as Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and American signal crayfish. A key aim of the West Boathouse project was to raise awareness of the river and better understand its natural and cultural heritage and how they are inextricably bound together. 'The Living River' project was developed in collaboration with environmental charity, The Conservation Volunteers, to explore, record and care for the wildlife of the River Clyde. This project focused on recording wildlife along a 6km section of the River Clyde from Glasgow Green to Cuningar Loop. Using the iNaturalist app, we worked with volunteers to observe and record all kinds of flora and fauna and identify areas where invasive species are present. More information and details of how to contribute can be found on the West Boathouse and iNaturalist websites.