Spawn to be wild

When asked, the red panda or even the blue whale might spring to mind. But often, the European eel is overlooked - yet they are more endangered than both the red panda and the blue whale. Since the 1970s, the number of eels reaching Europe has declined by around 90%, due to environmental threats such as overfishing, pollution and barriers in the river. The European eel can be found within lakes and rivers across our region - including Blagdon Lake - so they really are a species close to our heart. By raising awareness and helping to raise eels in local classrooms, we hope to do our bit to increase eel numbers.

What are we doing to save them?

Baby European eels, known as Larva, travel on oceanic currents from the Sargasso Sea to Europe, including right here in the West Country. Here, the baby eels transform into elvers. Our Spawn to be Wild scheme protects them from environmental threats by taking them for a pit-stop in local schools for several weeks. This gives children a chance to connect with the story of the endangered eel in a unique way, while helping the elvers to grow in a safe environment, a true win-win.