Tweed Foundation

The Tweed Foundation, established in 1983, is dedicated to protecting and improving the natural environment of the River Tweed. It engages  in a comprehensive program of biological monitoring and habitat enhancement to protect the Tweed’s valuable fish stocks and maximize the river’s natural productivity.

 

Our educational outreach includes programs such as TweedStart and Go Wild For Fish, along with citizen science initiatives like Guardians of Tweed.

Our History

Meet The Team

Current Initiatives

Regular Monitoring

About the Tweed Foundation

The Tweed Foundation is dedicated to protecting and improving the natural environment of the River Tweed. Our mission is to conserve and enhance all species of freshwater fish and their habitats, focusing primarily on the inland and coastal waters within the Tweed District. (As defined in The Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006 or any enactment amending or replacing the same). 

We are committed to educating the public, local authorities, government agencies, public bodies and organisations about the importance of the Tweeds aquatic ecosystems. Through our work, we aim to raise awareness of the value of healthy rivers, their plant and animal life, and the positive social and economic impacts of sustainable river management.

Our initiatives extend to the conservation and responsible management of fishery resources, water quality, and the wider environment. We encourage community participation through educational programs and recreational activities that connect people to the river’s natural resources. Whether through sports, conservation efforts, or educational outreach, we are committed to nurturing a lasting appreciation for the River Tweed and empowering everyone to contribute to its long-term sustainability.

Our primary activities include:

  • Fish Population Surveys: Identifying which species use specific areas for breeding and assessing the quantity and quality of fish habitats.
  • Juvenile Monitoring: Tracking young salmon and trout populations to detect any changes in their numbers.
  • Adult Population Monitoring: Using fish counters and traps to assess adult fish populations.
  • Catch Record Analysis: Studying catch records to identify trends and uncover environmental or other factors influencing fish stocks.
  • Stock Structure Research: Investigating the age and growth patterns of salmon and trout, as well as identifying any unique sub-stocks within the Tweed system.

 

In addition to these core activities, the Foundation explores various aspects of fish biology and ecology, detailed in our Management Plan. The RTC has also entrusted the Foundation with its “increase” mandate—enhancing fish habitats within the catchment by improving both access (removing obstacles) and habitat quality to support thriving fish populations.

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Tweed Foundation Staff

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Director

Jamie Stewart

Jamie joined the team as Clerk to the RTC and as Director for the Tweed Foundation in 2020.
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Executive Administrator

Alison Gorrie

Alison started her role as the Executive Administrator for both the RTC and Tweed Foundation in 2020.
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Biologist

James Hunt

Has worked at the Tweed Foundation for over 26 years and is the senior biologist.
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Education & Scientific Officer

Ben McCallum

Ben manages our broad educational programme which includes our schools initiative “Go Wild For Fish” and angling initiative “TweedStart”.
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Biologist

Suzanna Taylor

Suzanna manages Guardians of the Tweed. The Tweed Foundation's new citizen science programme to promote the health of our rivers through the voices of our community
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Communications & Fundraising Officer

Anne Woodcock

Anne looks after Communications, digital content and the monthly e-newsletter. She organises fund-raising events, the Tweed Foundation online auction and the opening of the River Tweed Salmon Season in Kelso.
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Biologist

Matthew Little

Matthew will play a pivotal role in delivering a groundbreaking river catchment audit and restoration project for the Tweed District. His extensive practical experience in field ecology and identification makes him uniquely suited for this role, with his skills encompassing everything from UK tree and plant identification (including Scottish conifers and upland species) to fungi, mammal, bird, and freshwater invertebrate identification, demonstrating a broad and deep understanding of diverse ecosystems.
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Biologist

Cody McFarlane

Cody brings a wealth of expertise to the Tweed Foundation, where she will play a pivotal role in implementing the River Tweed management plan and overseeing the operational aspects of the environmental charity's annual work programme for salmon, trout, grayling, and other vital fish species within the Tweed catchment. She brings a solid foundation in educational outreach, ecological survey techniques, data analysis, and leadership, complemented by practical experience in habitat assessments, aquatic surveys, and GIS spatial analysis.
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Biologist

Erica Stephenson

The Tweed Foundation welcomes Erica Stevenson, a second year biology student from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. She will be assisting the team with the summer programme of electro fishing surveys, across a network of 700 sites on the Tweed catchment. She is currently mounting samples collected from this year's Gala smolt trap.

Tweed Foundation Trustees

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Chairman

Charles Plowden

Having recently retired as Senior Partner of Baillie Gifford, one of the UK’s leading investment management firms, Charles now turns his focus to the stewardship of one of Britain’s most iconic river catchments.
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Trustee

Douglas J. Dobie

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Trustee

John P. H. Scott

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Trustee

W. Allan Virtue

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Trustee

Hugh P. Younger

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Trustee

Caroline Balfour

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Trustee

William De la Hey