Applications have opened for the second round of The Orri Award, a UK conservation award supporting practical, community-led projects working to restore wild Atlantic salmon and their rivers.

Its inaugural winners, Ribble Rivers Trust in Lancashire and River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust in Dumfries and Galloway, raised a combined £46,216, supported by more than 360 individual donors.

Launched by North Atlantic Salmon Fund UK in 2025, 'The Orri' combines matched funding to raise £20,000 or more with hands-on support in crowdfunding, communications, film, media and public engagement and a £10,000 match fund grant.

The projects are now translating that support into practical conservation and community engagement, from habitat restoration and citizen science on the River Hodder to hatchery development, education and volunteer activity on the Cree.

Jack Spees, CEO of Ribble Rivers Trust, said the impact had extended beyond the original funding, helping the project demonstrate early success and build relationships with larger funders.

“£20,000 may not seem like much in the face of all that is needed, but it’s amazing what you can turn that into on the ground.”

The Orri was created in honour of pioneering salmon conservationist and NASF founder Orri Vigfússon and is intended to complement larger conservation programmes by helping locally led projects move from ideas to practical action.

Speaking at an event this summer, NASF UK Chairman Robert Sloss reflected on the inspiration behind the award and the legacy of Orri Vigfússon.

“Orri was an inspirational figure who inspired me to take the baton of salmon conservation. He was about direct action, physical intervention, and The Orri Award encapsulates his approach.”

On Saturday, 26 September, Robert visited Jack at the River Hodder near Slaidburn to see the completed Orri-funded works. These include the addition of large tree trunks to act as flow deflectors and create nursery habitat, the creation of berms and riffles, and the introduction of gravel to improve the riverbed for salmon returning to spawn.

Robert also met some community scientists attending a water quality monitoring event to train people in water quality monitoring, the second workshop delivered by the Orri funding which helps establish baseline data and monitor water quality overtime after the works have taken place.

Jack said: “We are delighted to have been awarded The Orri, and our engagement work with schools and anglers, who will be involved in water quality and redd monitoring, will continue over the next few years.”

Ribble Rivers Trust deliver citizen science sessions at a local village hall

Applications for the 2026/27 award are open now and close at 5pm on Monday 19 October 2026. Successful projects can receive up to £10,000 in matched funding alongside tailored campaign and communications support.