Trees, Trees, everywhere

April 6, 2009

A mixed week in the office to say the least, it was good to be getting out onto the river banks everyday again! Monday I spent some time working on our new proposals to try and help recruit new members to the trust. These are to go before the trustees at the next meeting, and then will be announced, so watch this space! I sorted out my phone which had been having problems, and many thanks to Lee Roe at Phoneworks in Clitheroe.

Tuesday we had to sort out a few problems with one of the schools in the Trout in the Classroom, and a few bits and pieces on the various consultations we’re involved with at the moment.

Wednesday was a trip to Longridge area to look at the various potential sites for releasing the trout in the classroom scheme. I also looked at the salmon catch return figures provided to me for Calder individually (this obviously doesn’t include fish destined for the Calder caught below Calder foot!). It seems there has been a steady decrease in catches since the end of stocking, and I am eagerly awaiting the 2008 returns to see if the trend has continued down. Lets hope we can get Padiham fish pass in soon!

Thursday we did the preparation for the tree planting that happened yesterday and for next weekend. We also had Mathew Schofield out to chat (whilst we put him to work!) about what we do at the trust and what trusts can do. We also headed up to Swanside Beck to look at a tributary, that regularly has problems, and unfortunately it was running badly coloured. This was reported to the EA, who I know are in fact all over this case, but they need all pollution incidents reporting.

Friday I spent the morning with Ray Hudson, undertaking some kick sampling on Tems and Rathmell Beck. Both seem to be in good order, getting excellent results for Baetidae and stonefly especially. We had planned to do main river sampling and work upstreams of Settle to try and determine an sheep dip problems, but heavy rain higher up the catchment put paid to that as the river was up and coloured.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get out yesterday on the first actual tree planting day with the Volunteer Team from Prince Albert Angling Society. I regret this as Stephen gave a glowing report on not only how good, and how quick the work was done, but that there was a great social atmosphere! Thanks to all these lads this is a great scheme and a job well done, we look forward to the next one!

Posted by Charles Edward Poate | Filed Under Education, Restoration and Conservation Projects, Surveys, Volunteers 

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