Nominee Summary
The Opening of the River Tweed Salmon Season in 2025 combined tradition, community, and education into a vibrant celebration. Alongside the newly created Tweed Fly Fair, it featured fly-tying, films, and fundraising, attracting visitors locally and internationally. Children took part by creating salmon-themed artwork, and visitors shared river-inspired words. Extensive media coverage, both local and national, amplified the positive story of rural life, conservation, and heritage. This inclusive free event united anglers, families, and communities, inspiring wider awareness and connection to Scotland’s iconic River Tweed — making it an inspiring good news story for rural Scotland.
The Opening of the River Tweed Salmon Season 2025 was a vibrant celebration uniting tradition, education, conservation, and community spirit. Officially opened by Her Grace, The Duchess of Roxburghe, with a traditional blessing of the river using a quaich of Glenkinchie whisky, the event featured a two-day Tweed Fly Fair with fly-tying workshops for children, films, talks, and attracted visitors from across the UK and beyond. Held in the Town Hall alongside the Salmon Fishing Museum, the event showcased some of the world's finest fly dressers from Scotland, the UK, and Europe. Community engagement was central, with activities such as the “Little Ripples, Big Waves” art display created by Castlegate Nursery School children. Supported by local organisations including boatmen, Kelso Men’s Shed, and volunteers, this project encouraged children to connect creatively with the river and its ecology. Fourteen local shops dressed their windows with fishing themes and competed for the Best Dressed Shop trophy, highlighting the importance of fishing to Kelso’s culture and economy. Media coverage was extensive, with daily reports from local and national newspapers. Trout & Salmon magazine attended, alongside radio and local TV interviews on the day, plus a post-event feature on BBC Out of Doors. Social media posts reached over 500,000 views, amplifying the event’s positive story and inspiring people far beyond the Scottish Borders. Local fishing shop Fin & Game hosted the prestigious First Fish Gathering, where the Tweed Trophy was awarded, celebrating the thrill and heritage of salmon fishing. The Gamekeepers Welfare Trust brought their Nurse Advice Clinic to support rural workers and families during the weekend, emphasising wellbeing in the rural community. Sustainability and innovation were also celebrated with initiatives like Upcycled Waders—handcrafted in Kelso from old waders—promoting environmental responsibility. By transforming a historic river opening into an inclusive, forward-looking festival, the event inspired a wide audience while preserving the heritage and environment of Scotland’s iconic River Tweed. It stands out as a beacon of rural good news, combining education, conservation, and community pride in a truly memorable and impactful way.
