Completed Projects

Following the installation of the bristle board elver pass at Hornby Castle, later in 2011 full elver passes were fitted on Caton Weir and Forge Weir, Halton, which also has a camera. On these sites power for the pumps was provided by wiring into the EA telemetry buildings. Although initial monitoring showed very few elvers at Forge Weir, it was a poor year throughout the West coast rivers and some may have arrived in the system before the elver pass was installed. We plan to slightly alter the position of the pass at Forge Weir and we will, of course, continue to monitor the situation in 2012. Our thanks also go to Ron Shaw for sharing the results of his elver counter at Forge Weir with us. To view the elvers going through his counter go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGRFfGX4fW4.  Budget £25k.

In 2011 we completed work on a fencing project on a short stretch of the River Wenning with the aim of reducing water pollution, erosion over-grazing and siltation and with a view to improving water quality and habitat. On this site in collaboration with the farmer, Mr. Mason of Ridding Lane Farm, we were able to totally exclude stock from the river by providing a drinking trough well back from the river.

Budget £7k

As a response to the Water Framework Directive findings we were delighted to receive funding for a partnership agreement with the Environment Agency to address the problems in the Upper Rawthey and Keasden Beck. We carried out habitat projects on 3 tributaries in the Upper Rawthey, totalling nearly 4,000 metres of fencing and this was followed by a further 2,000 metres of fencing on Keasden Beck. Our thanks go to the E.A. for their support and advice and to Betafence for all the wire for this project. Budget : £56k.

Work was completed on this project replacing several small, easily blocked pipes with one large culvert enabling migratory fish and eels to pass upstream, rejuvenating life above the existing pipe bridge and allowing the downstream movement of riverbed substrata.

Our thanks go to ART for funding the project, Mr. and Mrs. Grant for allowing us to carry out the work, Eden Stonework and Joe Sylva (arboriculturalist) for jobs well done and to the EA for their help and advice. (more…)

This project aimed to replace old pipes with new, larger and, most importantly, straight culverts which will hopefully be much more inviting to migratory fish.

Having commissioned Cheetham Hill Construction Ltd. to dig a trial trench to check for services under the road and having resited the new culverts to the satisfaction of Capita Highways, work finally started in February 2011 and was completed in March 2011. (more…)

Work was completed on this project in 2010, replacing the blocked ford with a large culvert, enabling migratory fish and eels to pass upstream, rejuvenating life above the ford and allowing the downstream movement of riverbed substrata.

(more…)

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. (more…)

Following completion of the Eller Beck Pond Project the Lune Rivers Trust has 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 electrofishing survey carried out by the EA prior to this project revealed no salmonids above the pond. Now that access has been restored we are hopeful future surveys will show that they are returning.
(more…)

- 2009
Following the success of our previous projects on the important tributaries 2009 saw the completion of 2 ambitious projects in the area.

Phase 1 saw the buffer-stripping of over 1600m of riverbank on Birk Beck and Bretherdale Beck, recreating riparian habitat zones and protecting them as they regenerate. Among many species to benefit from both Phases 1 and 2 will be water voles, atlantic salmon, white-clawed crayfish and otters. These sites are particularly pleasing as public footpaths follow the route of our work, allowing the public visual access to our projects whilst still protecting the sites during regeneration.
(more…)

- 2009

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.
(more…)