One area of the fantastic free activities on offer at the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve’s (NNR’s) 60th Anniversary Open Day is the use of the land, and river over the years – demo and displays.

Tom Brown has filled us in with some ideas of what you can expect on the day – Saturday 15th July 2017! Thanks Tom!

Haaf Net Knitting Demonstration

Wilf Larson has volunteered his services to demonstrate knitting Haaf Nets!

This will give information on size of nets, types of knot, tools used and a general overview of the skills required in making nets for both trout and salmon. Wilf has fished all his life on the Boreland stretch at Kelton and has a life times experience on the river.

Come and see him in action – he may even let you have a shot!

Punt Gunner

We have another Punt Gunner coming along from Wigtown Bay Wildfowlers Association.

Alan Wykes has punted on the Nith for many years and has a wealth of knowledge on the sport. He has built punts and several guns over the years. I’m hoping his son William also comes as he is following on in his Dad’s footsteps. A keen Wildfowler and Punt Gunner.

We can’t guarantee that you’ll get a shot of this!

Tom also sent us these photos. He explains that the photo below ‘will go back to the 50’s I think… It’s certainly from a bygone era – look at the bunnets and the felt hats they are wearing! Similarly I think someone is smoking a pipe. It’s in Caerlaverock and they are fishing a flood tide.’

This following photo and the main picture, Tom continues, were taken 25+ yrs ago for an article in our company newspaper “Nestle News” – they were hunting for someone at a factory with an unusual hobby… “Guess Who”!

Tom assures us that there will be many of you who have photos and information to contribute to the NNR 60th Open day’s display!  We will not quote him directly here, but it would be awfly good if you wouldn’t mind having a wee look them – otherwise the display will have to be renamed ‘Tom Brown’s Caerlaverock’!

Malcolm Laurie has kindly offered to convert original photos, slides or newspaper articles into a digital format, so that your originals can be kept safe. Please get in touch with him on mobile 0796 079 6565, or through our email – caerlaverockcommunity@gmail.com to arrange logistics, as Tom did!