Salmon Fund Launches Crowdfunder to Restore Wild Salmon in Lancashire River

North Atlantic Salmon Fund UK (NASF UK) has launched a river restoration campaign for the Hodder River in Lancashire. Delivered by the Ribble Rivers Trust, the initiative is among the first recipients of 'The Orri' award, a national program by NASF UK supporting practical, in-river conservation efforts.

The campaign aims to raise £20,000 through a match-funded crowdfunder to support on-the-ground restoration work in the River Hodder, a key tributary of the River Ribble. Interventions will focus on habitat restoration, including the introduction and redistribution of natural gravels and the creation of features like berms and riffles to improve conditions for salmon spawning and juvenile development.

'The Orri' award was established to support projects that combine ecological impact with community engagement. This project will involve local people directly in the river's recovery, including schoolchildren in citizen science and apprentices gaining practical conservation skills.

Wild Atlantic salmon populations in the UK have declined by approximately 70% over the last four decades and are now classified as endangered. NASF UK believes that reversing this trend requires scalable, community-led solutions that address habitat degradation directly within the rivers.

"We created 'The Orri' award to back the kinds of projects that make a real difference on the ground," said Robert Sloss, Chairman of NASF (UK). "By restoring river habitat, particularly spawning gravels, we can deliver rapid ecological gains while also engaging communities in meaningful, hands-on conservation. This is about securing the future of wild salmon while rebuilding people's connection to their rivers."