Written By: Morag Walker MCIPR
On Date: 14/12/2017
Donates proceeds of limited edition reel project to support ongoing and vital Atlantic Salmon Conservation by Salmon & Trout Conservation.Hardy’s Fishing Tackle has donated £22,500 to Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) towards their salmon conservation campaigns in both Scotland and England.
The donation comes from sales of the 148 Hotspur Cascapedia limited edition reels released earlier in the year to celebrate 950 years of the Percy family – the present Head of the family, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, is S&TC’s President.
The funds will primarily be used to fund S&TC’s Scottish team giving evidence to the Scottish Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into salmon farming and its impact on wild salmon and sea trout, and also on the continuing work to limit exploitation of salmon in English coastal netting fisheries.
Paul Knight, Salmon & Trout Conservation’s CEO, said, “This donation from Hardy’s is a fantastic contribution towards our salmon conservation work, and will particularly help us to collect a full evidence dossier to present to the Scottish Parliamentary Committee’s Inquiry into salmon farming and its impact on wild salmon and sea trout. It was a great idea to produce a limited-edition reel to celebrate 900 years of the Percy family, and extremely generous of Hardy’s to distribute the profits from the sale in this way.”
Paul Knight added, “It is particularly pleasing that Hardy’s is investing in wild fish conservation like this. Healthy fish stocks, rivers and lakes are the foundation of good fisheries, but their protection and conservation are expensive. Hardy’s recognises this and is taking responsibility by donating towards the cost, for which we are extremely grateful. We look to other manufacturers and retailers to follow Hardy’s excellent example.”
Grant Harris, Managing Director of Pure Fishing, owners of Hardy’s, said during the presentation, “This has been a really exciting project and one of multiple success for all concerned. The team here at Hardy, Alnwick had to pull out all the stops to make sure this was a success for the trust whilst matching the high specification requirement and functionality of all of our products. We are also delighted that our customers are actually using the reels on the river which is exactly what they were intended for whilst knowing they have supported this initiative.”
He added, “We are seeing more evidence than ever before that suggests the future of the Atlantic Salmon is in serious jeopardy, for this we felt that it was important to rally our resources to support such an important cause”.
END
Photocaption: Pictured at the cheque presentation: (Right to left)
From Pure Fishing: Stephen Garrett – Finance Director, Grant Harris – Managing Director, John Henderson – Sales Director, The Duke of Northumberland – President of S&TC and Paul Knight – CEO Salmon & Trout Conservation
Alistair Cross – Head of Trade Marketing – Pure Fishing
For more information or an image, please contact: Morag Walker on 07736 124097 or email: morag@salmon-trout.org.
Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) was established as the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) in 1903 to address the damage done to our rivers by the polluting effects of the Industrial Revolution. S&TC is the UK’s leading campaigning wild fish charity. We work to increase awareness of the growing need to protect our wild fish stocks and the rivers, lakes and oceans upon which they depend, in the face of issues such as pollution, over abstraction and insensitive salmon farming. Our aim is to achieve better protection for fish, aquatic wildlife and the places where they live for future generations to enjoy.
Background - 50 years ago William de Percy, a descendant of Viking raiders, left Normandy with William the Conqueror and started a dynasty in the north of England. In 1309 his descendants bought Alnwick Castle and, 708 years later, Percy’s continue to live there and play a major role in the town of Alnwick. In 1872 Hardy set up their now famous fishing rod and tackle manufacturing business and, since then, Hardy's have played an equally important role in Alnwick, employing many local people, aiding local projects and bringing innovative technology to the region. The present head of the Percy family, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, a keen angler, has now teamed up with Hardy's to help design and commission a very special limited edition reel to commemorate the Percys' 950th Anniversary.
The Hotspur Cascapedia – SALMON #10 Initiative
Aptly named after Harry 'Hotspur', Alnwick's great medieval hero, the reel frame is based on the iconic original Cascapedia design of 1930-31. It features a superlative fully functioning drag system and a resonating classic click check sound. Decorated with the lion crest and colours of the Percy family and a light gold brushed anodized casing, only 150 reels will be made in the Hardy factory, Alnwick. The reel sits protected in a full leather hard reel case, made exclusively by Pringle of Scotland, placed within a commemorative outer presentation box. Each case features a booklet about the history of the reel design and its journey through the factory to completion. As an additional homage to the Percy family, each reel package includes 6 hand tied Salmon flies, designed and developed by the Duke of Northumberland’s North Tyne Ghillie.
Morag Walker | Media Officer
Salmon & Trout Conservation | www.salmon-trout.org
Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF | 07736 124097 | morag@salmon-trout.org
Hardy’s Fishing tackle