Children at Wedmore First School and Hugh Sexey Middle school are re-eel-y excited by new arrivals!

There were lots of excited children at Wedmore First School and Hugh Sexey Middle School on Friday as tanks of baby eels arrived for the children to look after for the next three to six weeks before being released into a river.

Once abundant in the wetlands of the Somerset Levels and Moors, the population of eels has declined between 90-95% since the 1980’s due to factors such as poaching and the construction of water control structures that create barriers to upstream migration. 

With funding from the European Marine Fisheries Fund and support from the Sustainable Eel Group (SEG), Somerset Wildlife Group have been working to ensure that these incredible animals can continue to find safe refuge in our Somerset’s wetland habitats before their huge migration back to their breeding grounds.

On Friday last week, the BBC were at Wedmore First School when the tank of baby eels were arriving and reported on the children’s excitement, one child exclaimed ‘If we didn’t bring them into our school they might’ve not survived because they’re too small!’

Children from Hugh Sexey CofE Middle School above are proudly looking after the baby eels in their classroom.