About the Lune Rivers Trust

Chris Littlefield 1946 - 2008 - No more "Tales of the river bank" - But the river flows.

Mick Jackson - 2008

"Mole" remembers...

As many of you know The Lune Habitat Group, now The Lune Rivers Trust, is a very important part of my life and Chris was a vital part of this group. He joined us in 2001 as secretary and before we knew it, he had licked us into shape.

At our meetings he reported on the work he'd done in obtaining many valuable grants and gave us follow up information on matters we'd discussed previously - all of which sounds very formal but it wasn't! The wit and humour Chris brought to meetings made it thoroughly enjoyable and he helped the Habitat Group to build on its firm foundations and become more professional.

One of his many achievements on behalf of the Group was the pressure he put on Amey Mouchel, the Highways Agency, over pollution run off from the motorway into watercourses leading to the Lune. The outcome of his persistence has been to see improvements to the M6 drainage system, including pollution traps under the bridges spanning the river.

Over the years Chris helped organise our successful fund-raising. On our train trips, instead of sitting back and enjoying the journey, Chris, with Sarah's help, volunteered to walk up and down serving refreshments to passengers. Seeing them in action made you think they had missed their true vocation and should have been "trolley dollies"!

We have all learned a lot from Chris, not least the employees of the Environment Agency. The expertise senior staff acquired from Chris caused us problems - no sooner had he trained them in our ways, than they got promotion and left!

Speaking as someone who doesn't even know how to switch on a computer, my admiration for Chris' skills in editing the Habitat Herald is endless. Chris put all the articles, photos, maps and bits and pieces into order and produced a first-rate, readable and informative magazine. The Habitat Heralds will be lasting tributes to his work with the Group.

Someone compared Chris and me to the characters in Wind in the Willows and we became nicknamed Ratty and Mole. Sadly there will be no more "Ratty to Mole" phone calls. It will be hard without Chris' input but I do know that the Lune Rivers Trust will continue its work and build on the achievements Chris helped to bring about.

Mole to Ratty "Over and out".

Dave Parkinson

- 2008

Dave's untimely death in 2008 was a great loss to his family, friends and the Lune Rivers Trust.

Dave had been a member of the Lune Habitat Group for some years and his innate love of the countryside and its wildlife meant the he identified easily with the aims of the Group. His award winning photography not only technically portrayed flora, fauna, birdlife and landscape but was also an expression of his love of his surroundings. He was always happ y to donate his beautiful photographs to our Auction of Promises.

We remember in particular his tireless work and enthusiasm for Corio Raptor, a charity aiming to rehabilitate injured birds of prey.

Chris Littlefield - A celebration of his work with the Lune Habitat Group

David Walmsley - 2008

This year The Lune Habitat Group becomes The Lune Rivers Trust - a charity. Sadly Chris, who has been integral to the Group's drive, work and direction, died in 2008 and will not see this important change. I am privileged to review the history of the Lune Habitat Group as a tribute to his work.

Mick Jackson's concern about the deteriorating riverine environment and falling salmon and trout numbers led him to form The Lune Habitat Group in 1997. He was supported by Malcolm Hall (our first secretary) and encouraged by the Environment Agency (EA). However, falling fish numbers near the top of the food chain reflect a decline in the entire ecosystem - including bank side environments. The Group aimed to restore the whole habitat first, so that fish recovery would follow. What are the main threats to the river's ecology? Pollution, water flow with erosion, loss of habitat diversity and introduced species all count. Solving them is complicated by a catchment in three different counties and regulatory authorities. Ecology follows natural - not political - boundaries requiring the river system to be dealt with as a whole. People with a wide range of interests joined to help this project with excellent support from landowners, contractors and various funding bodies. By 2000 Chris joined and took the bait to become our Secretary.

We have forged strong links with the EA, Lancaster University and local experts and groups to monitor and assist native species whilst working on these issues. Thus colonies of fresh water mussels (which - as larvae - ride out to sea on the gill covers of salmon and trout before returning to fresh water and burrowing into a suitable stable riffle to mature) were re-discovered. Otters are increasing and we built new holts . We have given advice on planning applications to prevent disturbance of known sites and on other issues. We have improved a stream and ponds (Aughton Beck) for water voles. Surveyors have noted dragonflies and a new jumping spider for the area in shingle banks. Bank side flora is increasingly diverse and is now stabilising the banks as well as providing shade. Clearance of Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed also helps to protect the banks - though this can be a battle easily lost. Some of us were trained and took part in a survey of the native white clawed crayfish with an on-going project to find, trap and remove the larger American Signal (red clawed) Crayfish that threatens our own. Several projects have required professional advice, such as controlling mink, dealing with fish farm escapes of rainbow trout, and using hawks to control sea gulls, thus reducing migratory fish predation around the rubbish dump.

All this work takes a huge amount of time, networking and organisation, in addition to commitment and a thorough knowledge of the river system. Sometimes considerable persistence and negotiation skills are required. Chris was never shy of ferreting about for the facts behind difficult issues, nor frightened of standing firm when needed. Most of the Group's work though is focussed on the prevention and amelioration of pollution in various forms. An obvious example is run-off from the motorway from the old bridges. These are the responsibility of the Highways Agency. Considerable lobbying in conjunction with Tebay Anglers and the ACA over a number of years has given some results. Progress to finish this important work continues. However, most pollution is from silt released from the banks spoiling gravel beds for fish spawning, mussels etc and from farm yard waste, fertiliser and pesticide run-off that causes excessive water nutrient levels and algal growth as well as threatening the ecology of the Bay itself. Buffer strips that limit animal access to the river banks and allow brush and tree growth reduce erosion by 95-98%. They also reduce run-off entering the river, and improve habitat diversity. Therefore fencing the river banks - initially with tree planting and more recently simply allowing natural regeneration - is the major investment of the Group. On critical bank sites revetments have also been strategically placed to mitigate the effects of flood erosion as we have little influence over water flow at present. So far The Group has raised considerable sums, established over 50 miles of buffer zone fencing and much related work. The effects are being noticed - for instance Sea Trout are appearing in streams where they have long been absent - such as Aughton Beck. By-passing man-made blockages is opening up other streams. The EA is showing that, as our work becomes more extensive, fish numbers are starting to increase.

Chris' whole-hearted commitment to this project, applying his skills as a geographer, salesman, organiser and a teacher, has been key to much of our progress. His passion and persuasive character have rubbed off on many and his persistence reaped rewards for all. His last success was to help us achieve our new charitable status as the Lune Rivers Trust which will help fund-raising for the future. He has recently been recognised nationally with a personal award from the Association of Rivers Trusts. Thank you "Ratty" from us all.

Welcome to the Lune Rivers Trust

Alistair Maltby BSc (Hons.) MSc CEnv FIFM, Director (North) - 2008

The Association of Rivers Trusts is delighted formally to welcome the Lune Rivers Trust to the growing Rivers Trust movement. This is a formal welcome because we all know that the Lune Habitat Group and its volunteers have been doing great work just like a 'Rivers Trust' for many years. So what difference does becoming an incorporated body and a charity make?

Becoming a charity is like being awarded a kite mark; it formally demonstrates to the world that your group is for the benefit of the public. It recognises that your efforts are for the common good, not for some personal gain; that your work is both needed and I hope appreciated by the community. Being a charity also has some financial benefits, which exempts the Trust from corporation income tax, and allows the Trust to claim a further 28p tax back on each £1 donated from taxpayers through Gift Aid. It gives confidence to funders, whether individual or large charitable funds, that your organisation is genuine, credible, and worth supporting. Funders are increasingly requiring all bodies that they work with to be charities.

In the process of becoming a charity, Lune Rivers Trust, also became incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee. This is not a compulsory step, but it is widely acknowledged as a tried and tested safe way for a Trust to operate. There are no shares, only members, so the company is able to apply to dispense with the suffix, Ltd, and overcome the notion of being a commercial entity. Being incorporated means that the Trust is a legal entity in its own right, separate from its members and trustees, which gives the protection of a corporate shield if anything did inadvertently go wrong. The company gets blamed or sued, not each individual! As a legal entity an incorporated body also finds it easier to do business with other companies, and recently, government agencies, who find it legally easier to commission work from an incorporated body rather than what was before a group of individuals.

The Association of Rivers Trusts practices what it preaches and is a charity and company in its own right. We were established by a group of early Rivers Trusts with several objectives. At our core is the objective to improve and protect rivers, water and all its biodiversity, just like the local Trusts. The difference with ART is in the way we achieve this, which is through locally based community initiatives just like here on the Lune. ART acts as an umbrella body for any group trying to restore or protect rivers, for whatever reason, and we are really growing in the number of interests and skills that we have in the movement. We try to do things that make it easier for local groups to operate, whether it is providing a national voice, giving advice or help, providing resources or trying to identify funding, or even holding funds for local trusts, where they don't have a track record. We work on the principle of building capacity and resources with local Trusts, rather than creating a large, cumbersome national organisation. For instance; we have negotiated an extremely important Partnership Agreement with the Environment Agency, designed to make it easier for local trusts to work together with the local Agency offices.

ART is governed by a group of elected Trustees, the majority of whom are appointed by the local Rivers Trusts that are our full members. We do not require any organisation that we work with to become members of the Association, but we hope part of the benefit of becoming a full Rivers Trust member is to help direct and govern the way that ART helps Trusts on the ground.

All of us at the Association of Rivers Trusts, and your neighbouring Rivers Trusts, wish the new Lune Rivers Trust all the very best for the future. We look forward to working with you for the benefit of all our rivers and we are confident that the River Lune catchment will continue to improve because of your commitment.

Association of Rivers Trusts

www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk

Reward & Recognition for a Job Well Done

- 2008

At the 2008 Autumn Seminar of the Association of Rivers Trusts at Bakewell we were all delighted and very proud when Chris won the ART Special Award for his Contribution to the Rivers Trust Movement by his "tireless contribution to the Lune Habitat Group over many years and his support and drive leading to the formation of the Lune Rivers Trust". The Lindean Mill Glass vase now has pride of place at Crossings Cottage and the cheque for £1,000 will certainly be put to good use in future projects on the Lune and its tributaries.

The Chris Littlefield Memorial Bursary

- 2008

To keep Chris' memory alive the LRT has decided to endow a bursary to help young people, aged 17 and over, continue their education on any environmental course. This, we feel would combine Chris' passions for the work of the LRT and for education. The award of up to £500 is open to any young person living within 10 miles of the Lune or one of its tributaries and when awarded, will run for one year of that student's course. In return we would like the student to spend a couple of days working for the LRT, surveying, researching, reporting or doing hands-on maintenance for the group.

For details of how to apply for the 2009 bursary (deadline 7th September, 2009) please contact the secretary, Sarah Littlefield on 015242 22174 or email us via the contact page.

The Work of a Wildlife Officer

Ian Johnston PC2444 - 2008

Northern or B Division is the largest of six divisions in the Lancashire Police Force area and I have responsibility for wildlife issues within it's boundaries as well as being the Rural Beat officer for the Lune Valley.

The Division has very varied habitats, from open moorland fells in the East to estuarine salt marsh in the West and from limestone pavements in the North to pastoral lowland in the South. The Division is also dissected by the River Lune flowing North-East to South West.

It holds areas that have been classified as S.S.S.I. (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

These factors have led to our Division having some fantastic habitat for rare and protected species of particularly birds and plants.

For example: The Hen Harrier until just this year was the number one conservation species in the UK being afforded the highest level of protection possible. Bowland is the primary site in the UK for the breeding Harrier which produces about 30 young harriers per year, as well as being a safe and productive environment for the full suite of moorland species that can be found there.

The division also sustains some of the best fishing, shooting and wild fowling in the country.

Unfortunately, this means that we are liable to be subjected to wildlife crime, the term which incorporates a diverse range of offences from those found within the Wildlife & Countryside Act, Badger & Deer Acts, poaching and contravention of EU Habitat Regs. etc.

Certain aspects of wildlife crime such as the illegal killing of birds of prey or fox hunting are always going to be emotive with feelings running high amongst the different communities, organisations and personalities involved.

My role as wildlife Officer for the division has a number of facets to it:

• To investigate allegations of wildlife crime / incidents and assist and advise other officers.
• Conduct investigations into the import or trade in foreign species CITES.
• To act as an intelligence officer linking wildlife related criminality with more conventional criminal behaviour.
• To assist in the management of protected species breeding and nesting sites across the full range of 'at risk' species
• To coordinate the activities of the partner agencies, charities, organisations, trusts and individuals all with their own either specialised interest or political opinion.

The Police are the main statutory agency charged with the investigation of species specific wildlife offences; however it is vitally important that we work together with all partners who offer a vast amount of expert knowledge and assistance.

Government Agencies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency have certain powers.

Other partners we work with include the RSPCA, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Lune Habitat Trust, BASC, the National Gamekeepers Organisation, farmers, Defra, country estates, nature reserves, bat and badger groups and many, many more.

A sample of the work I do in my role...

I play a major role in the springtime in conjunction with partners in implementing the protection of schedule one birds nest sites. A robust system has now been put in place which allows us to monitor specific locations in an attempt to eradicate disturbance and destruction. The success of the Hen Harrier locally is an indication that things are working.

I work continuously with landowners, farmers and gamekeepers in the district targeting game and deer poachers as well as organised criminal groups who continue with the illegal activity of Hare coursing with 'long dogs' and travel from all over the north of England, trespassing on land in the area killing our wildlife.

We have achieved some success recently with arrests and seizures of vehicles, equipment used and dogs. A number of cases are pending at this time.

I have been involved in a number of cases involving both building and site developments where protected species are resident such as bats, nesting swallows, water voles, great crested newts and of course otters on the River Lune at Halton. On a number of these projects I have authorised the cessation of work until the full circumstances have been investigated by all agencies in an attempt to reach a positive outcome for everyone concerned.

Last summer I overruled the Environment Agencies decision to permit works to be carried out on the River Lune at Claughton due to a nesting colony of Sand Martins, a decision that made me a little unpopular with certain folk.

Definition of Wildlife...

Dictionary; "wild animals and plants collectively."

In reality; "Any living creature whether plant or animal occurring naturally in the wild of Great Britain.

This would include, in relation to offences, any species covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, European Habitat Regs, Badger and Deer Acts etc."

Nb. This does not include Sheep, Cows, Chickens, Peacocks or Dogs or any other domestic stock or property.

Any issues relating to our wildlife in the area please contact me by ringing Lancaster Police on 63333 and leaving a message.

Fly-Tying for the Future

- 2009

Tebay continues to lead the way in involving the children and young people in their community with fishing and of course the welfare of the Lune and its tributaries. How do they do this? In the winter months John Riley runs a fly-tying club for a dozen boys and girls aged between 7 and 15. At the end of each season judges are invited to choose the best work and Tebay Anglers take the group to Bessy Beck to try out their flies for real. Well done Tebay, in leading the way!

River Fly Training

- 2009

In May 2009 6 members of the LRT travelled to Windermere to join forces with South Cumbria Rivers Trust for a day's training in river fly identification and monitoring. River flies give the most accurate picture of the health and water quality of our rivers, streams and becks. Regular sampling and monitoring returns allow the E.A. to build up an overall picture and hence to quickly identify any problems.

Our thanks go to South Cumbria Rivers Trust for organising the day and to the Lune and Wyre Fishery Association for funding the Bentham Anglers members.

SCIMAP Training - the way forward

- 2009

In May 2009 our secretary joined other members of the Association of Rivers Trust at Durham University where ART had arranged for Dr. Stuart Lane's team to equip us with the knowledge and ability to run the SCIMAP risk mapping model for the Lune catchment.

The SCIMAP Framework is an approach to the generation of maps of diffuse pollution and is based on a probabilistic/relative approach. This approach has already been successfully applied and developed by the Eden Rivers Trust and the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. Simply put this SCIMAP should enable us to target our work at the most vulnerable and/or the most significant points on our rivers and tributaries. This should make our future projects even more effective.

Our thanks go to ART for organising the training and for finding the funding for our expenses and equipment.

Jos Robinson

- 2009

Jos Robinson, our tried and trusted contractor has just finished work on fencing 8 sites in the Upper Lune area on Eskew Beck, Birk Beck, Borrow Beck and Bretherdale Beck and the Claughton and Farleton Beck Project... Our thanks go to Jos for his excellent work in sometimes difficult conditions and to the landowners of these sites for allowing us to work there.

Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership

- 2009

The Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership (CBP) contains and works with a wide range of organisations including statutory agencies, local authorities, representatives of farming and landowning interests, research and educational institutions, businesses, voluntary organisations and community groups.

Together the Partnership fundraises for and delivers a suite of local biodiversity projects. They monitor and report on biodiversity action in the county whilst looking to integrate it into local and regional policy. The Partnership also represents Cumbria on biodiversity issues at the regional and national level whilst promoting it closer to home within the county.

The work of The Lune Rivers Trust (LRT) is fully supported by Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership and is vital in conserving the 268 priority species and 40 priority habitats identified for Cumbria. Projects run by LRT and other rivers trusts have begun the process of rehabilitating Cumbria's rivers not just to the benefit of biodiversity but also local communities.

The Local Biodiversity Manger who is hosted and supported by Cumbria Wildlife Trust coordinates the work of the CBP and can be contacted using the details below.

Graham Jackson-Pitt
Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership
Plumgarths
Crook Road
Kendal
LA8 8LX

Tel: 01530 816 300
Email: grahamjp@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

The work for the National Wildlife Crime Unit

Gareth Cole (Poaching Priority Officer) - 2010

'The wildlife of today is not ours to dispose of as we please. We have it in trust. We must account for it to those who come after' - King George VI.

The first ever Poaching Priority Officer, Gareth was appointed in 2009 and is responsible for the 43 police forces in England and Wales and all other law enforcement agencies, in regard to the poaching of deer, fish and hare coursing.

This new role at the NWCU is the result of a joint initiative by the Environment Agency (EA), British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC), and the Deer Initiative (DI).

We all recognise the value of wildlife and the need to protect it. Poaching causes great damage to our rural communities, and economy. On land, poachers are often indiscriminate about the damage they do to wildlife and the remains they leave behind. Animals are crudely butchered. Valuable meat carcasses are taken away, while by products and waste are simply dumped.

On rivers, poachers work by torchlight at night with forks, sharpened steel hooks, gaffs and nets to catch salmon and sea trout, both threatened species. If poachers are disturbed, their instruments will often be left on the river banks and in the river and any other species of fish (or mammals and birds) caught by accident, will be killed and dumped, or left to die entangled in nets.

Meat and fish which has been poached is sometimes sold cheaply through unauthorised channels to avoid food safety standards and regulations which are in place to ensure that our food is safe and traceable. It is now illegal to sell, barter or exchange any rod caught salmon. Whole fish should carry an Environment Agency tag through their mouth and gill cover. Only buy meet and fish from reputable suppliers. Buying unauthorised game could harm not only other wildlife and fish stocks, but you and your family as well. The modern poacher's activities range from offences of theft of deer and salmon/trout and encompass the illegal use of dogs, animal cruelty, and opportunist theft of farm and household equipment. They pay no regard to food safety and damage to other wildlife. In short; poaching is a damaging crime and must be stopped.

We need the public to help us protect wildlife. Advice to members of the public and rural communities on what to do if you encounter poaching:

• Dial 999 and ask for the Police.
• Clearly state you are reporting a criminal offence and need uniformed police assistance.
• If the offence is in progress, the offenders are at the scene or about to leave, then state this.
• If safe, maintain observations and be ready to guide patrols into the area.
• Do not challenge the offenders unless safe to do so.
• Take registration numbers and makes of vehicles.
• Say if other criminal matters have occurred, for example damage to fencing crops.
• If dogs or firearms are involved, say so.
• Request a log number and keep it safe.
• Even if the offence occurred some time ago please report all suspicious behavior or signs of illegal activity. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111.

The NWCU has the remit for wildlife crime in the United Kingdom, and is the conduit between all of the agencies, domestically and internationally, that:

• Have a legal obligation to deal with wildlife crime
• Have an interest in dealing with wildlife crime
• Hold information/intelligence relating to wildlife crime

2009/2010 UK Wildlife Crime Priorities

• Bat Persecution
• Badger persecution
• CITIES Endangered species: (caviar, Ivory, Ramin Timber, Tortoises, Traditional Medicines)
• Fresh water Pearl Mussels
• Raptor Persecution: (Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, and White-Tailed Eagle)
• Poaching: (Fish and Deer Poaching and Hare Coursing)

Gareth Cole

Poaching Priority Officer
National Wildlife Crime Unit

077 7624 5395
077 9258 0787
01524 823 019

Combating Wildlife Crime by Communication, Cooperation, and Coordination.

The Lune River's Trust Annual Report 2009-2010

Sarah Littlefield - 2010

Our first full year as a trust has been an exciting one with over 6000 metres of buffer strip fencing and a fish easement to open up Eller Beck for spawning migratory fish. In addition we have commissioned 3 further fish-easements and 3 elver passes as our contribution to the Eel Management Plan. Training in riverfly sampling, Pinpoint advice to farmers and SCIMAP have also supported our work and we have launched our own website www.luneriverstrust.org.uk.

• We completed Upper Lune Habitat Zone Phase 1 and Phase 2 buffer-fencing projects. Phase 1 comprised 1600 metres of riverbank on Birk Beck and Breatherdale recreating riparian habitat zones and protecting them as they regenerate. Phase 2 included 2,700 metres on Eskew Beck, Birk Beck above and below Docker Force and a further section on Borrow Beck. Among the species to benefit are water-voles, atlantic salmon white-clawed crayfish and otters. Our grateful thanks go to the EA, Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, the Hadfield Trust and Betafence for helping us fund these projects and to the landowners for their kind permission to carry out the work.
• May 2009 saw the completion of the Claughton and Farleton Beck Projects, linking up our previous bufferstrips, thus protecting the whole of the lower reaches of these valuable spawning becks. Our thanks go to the Wild Trout Trust, SWS Claughton for helping us fund the project and to the landowners Mr. John Harvey for providing strainer posts, Mr. Ronnie Bargh for permission to carry out the work and Mr. Mark Townley for removing the old fence.
• In July 2009 the Lune Rivers Trust was finally able to solve the problem of the pond on Eller Beck. For years the downstream entrance to the pond had become blocked with fallen trees, rubble and boulders to such a degree that hardly any migratory fish were able to get above the pond to spawn in the upper reaches of Eller Beck. The project has not only removed the rubble and tidied up the area but has also created a passage for migratory fish. The Environment Agency has just carried out an electro-fishing survey of the upper reaches of the beck, confirming that there are currently no salmonids there. We plan to survey again in 2 to 3 years so that we can assess if there has been an improvement. Our thanks go to the landowners, Mr. and Mrs. P.N. Robinson for permission to carry out the work.
• Following completion of the Eller Beck Pond Project we have just completed the creation of a further fenced habitat zone upstream with the aim of protecting migratory fish which will now be able to use the potential spawning beds in this area.
• The work on Eskew Beck Ford fish-easement has been awarded to Cheetham Hill Construction Ltd. and work will probably start in May 2010 when we will be able to access the beck. We will also be carrying out a survey for white-clawed crayfish prior to the start of the work. The project is designed to install a reinforced concrete square culvert under the existing ford to enable migratory fish and eels to pass upstream, allowing downstream movement of riverbed substrata. It is hoped this will rejuvenate life upstream of the existing culvert.
• The work on the two fish-easements on Haverah Beck and Winterscales Farm has been awarded to Eden Stonework gone and we hope to carry out this work in May 2010 when we will be allowed access to those becks. These projects are designed to install reinforced concrete square culvert under the existing road/ford to enable migratory fish and eels to pass upstream whilst allowing downstream movement of riverbed substrata. Our thanks go to the Association of Rivers Trust for their help with funding all 3 easements.
• As part of our contribution towards the Lune Eel Management Plan, we are working on a plan to investigate the feasibility for eel passes in the main EA gauging structures. Working with the E.A., South Cumbria Rivers Trust and Aquatic Control Engineering Ltd. we now have designs for Forge Weir Halton, Caton Weir and Hornby Castle Weir which we hope to implement this year. Our thanks go to South Cumbria Rivers Trust and EA officers Kyle Young, Kevin Howarth, John Cizdyn and Andy Croft for all their help and advice and to the Association of Rivers Trusts for helping us fund this project.
• Over the last year our buffer-stripping projects remain even better value for money thanks to the generous donation from Betafence of enough fencing wire for all our projects for the foreseeable future. Our grateful thanks also go to S.J.Bargh Ltd. for kindly transporting all the wire over here. In addition to the value of the wire itself we are also able to use its value as part of our contributions to projects, thus attracting more match-funding. Thank-you, Betafence!
• We have appointed our own Squirrel Officer, Gary Murphy and his work and reports do much to encourage us. If you spot red squirrels or would like to help control the greys, please contact Gary on 01539 624788 or 07974788434.
• Our chairman has built the first 6 barn owl boxes with funding from the World Owl Trust. 5 of these have already found homes!
• In September a very successful steam train trip to York and Scarborough was organised for us by Pat Marshall of West Coast Railways, raising over £5,000 for the Trust. West Coast Railways also sponsored souvenir mugs, ties and fridge magnets to help with the running costs of our website.
• With over 150 pledges and a great turnout on the night this year's Auction of Promises at the Scarthwaite Hotel, Caton on November 20th was a huge success, raising over £11,000 which we will be able to use to attract further matchfunding for our projects. Our thanks go to all who supported us again so generously with their pledges and bids. We would also like to apologise to anyone who was unable to park and had to leave - we will address this matter next time!
• In May 2009 6 members of the LRT travelled to Windermere to join forces with South Cumbria Rivers Trust for a day's training in river fly identification and monitoring. River flies give the most accurate picture of the health and water quality of our rivers, streams and becks. Regular sampling and monitoring returns allow the E.A. to build up an overall picture and hence to quickly identify any problems. Our thanks go to South Cumbria Rivers Trust for organising the day and to the Lune and Wyre Fishery Association for funding the Bentham Anglers members.
• In May 2009 our secretary joined other members of the Association of Rivers Trusts at Durham University where ART had arranged for Dr. Stuart Lane's team to equip us with the knowledge and ability to run the SCIMAP risk mapping model for the Lune catchment. The SCIMAP Framework is an approach to the generation of maps of diffuse pollution and is based on a probabilistic/relative approach. This approach has already been successfully applied and developed by the Eden Rivers Trust and the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. Simply put this SCIMAP should enable us to target our work at the most vulnerable and/or the most significant points on our rivers and tributaries. This should make our future projects even more effective. Our thanks go to ART for organising the training and for finding the funding for our expenses and equipment.
• In October our secretary joined other rivers trust representatives in Cornwall on an introductory training course to identify diffuse water-pollution from agriculture, a joint project between the Association of Rivers Trusts and the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI). The course was part classroom based at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland and partly practical farm visits and was run jointly by Dr. Laurence Couldrick and Ross Cherrington of Westcountry Rivers Trust. Hopefully when we are working with farmers and landowners on future projects we will also be able to offer some of this free advice. In April 2010 there will be a follow-up Advanced Course designed to provide us with an in-depth knowledge of the diffuse pollution problems and potential solutions in terms of economic and environmental savings.
• As part of the Pinpoint Project we have given talks to 19 farmers at Tebay and 63 at Carnforth.
• Future training will hopefully include how to carry out our own electro-fishing and training in how to monitor barn owls and their use of our boxes.
• The 2010 issue of the Habitat Herald has now been published. This will be funded by Mayoh Press and ourselves and each copy will include a leaflet detailing our new membership scheme. All donations can now be gift-aided.
• We launched our website in July with funding support from Cumbria Community Foundation and Pat Marshall of West Coast Railways. We have been overwhelmed and delighted by the response and since its launch in July 2009 we have had over 200,000 hits! We update the site every 3 months keeping our readers up to date with our projects and events. It has been a pleasure to receive so many messages from readers offering support, asking questions or reporting sightings of wildlife.
• We continue to monitor the proposed siting of 20 large wind turbines on Claughton Moor.
• The Lune Rivers Trust recently received donations specifically for tree planting. We have planted 12 native trees on the banks of Claughton Beck. They will help to continue the stabilisation of the bank, provide increased habitat for wildlife and visually enhance the landscape. An English oak was planted by Sarah Littlefield in memory of her late husband Chris Littlefield, our secretary for many years. The Lune Rivers Trust is always willing to plant a tree in memory of a loved one - please contact us for details.
• Despite a lack of applicants last year, we still wish to endow the Chris Littlefield Memorial Bursary to help young people continue their education in an environmental course of post 16 study. This, we feel would combine Chris' passions for the work of the LRT and for education. The award of up to £500 will be open to any young person living within 10 miles of the Lune or one of its tributaries and when awarded, will run for one year of that student's course. In return we would like the student to spend a couple of days working for the LRT, surveying, researching, reporting or doing hands-on maintenance for the group.
• We have continued to work with Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership to protect endangered species and with Natural England on their Catchment Sensitive Farming Project in the Yorkshire Dales.
• We have volunteered to help with the Celtic Sea Trout Project by promoting it on our website and helping distribute the sample envelopes and equipment.

We thank our many colleagues at the Association of Rivers Trusts and the EA (and particularly Alistair Maltby, John Cizdyn and Kyle Young) for all the assistance, guidance (often on a daily basis), encouragement and funding they provide for our work. Finally we thank our Trustees, committee members, supporters and membership without whom none of this work would be possible.

Sarah Littlefield,
Secretary,
The Lune Rivers Trust,
March 2010