Completed Projects

We have now completed our feasibility study into the best way of improving  access for migratory fish to the upper reaches of the Roeburn.  The current ford was installed as an emergency measure after the disastrous flooding of the area in 1967  removed the original bridge further downstream. Since then the ford has been a major obstruction to migratory fish movement in the River Roeburn as the ford  consists of several culverts concreted over which are impassable to fish during normal flow. (more…)

Two redundant weirs were removed from Tarn Beck.  The lower weir was originally built to feed ponds for the treatment of flax. As it  impeded the passage upstream of migratory fish we were able to access funding for its removal and for the electro-fishing of Tarn Beck before and after  the removal of both the weirs on this system.

The upper weir was originally built to form a boating lake upstream of the weir but it was abandoned many years ago and the site of the lake is now mature woodland. (more…)

This year, in a joint project with the Environment Agency, elver passes have been installed on the large hydrometry weirs on the Wenning at Wennington, on the Lune at Killington and on the Hindburn at Wray where elver passes were fitted on the wing walls on both sides of the weir. We funded the designs, the actual elver passes and specialist supervision/instruction from ACE, and the EA  issued the consents and provided the manpower to fit the eel passes, thus providing even better value for money. A fourth elver pass is ready and waiting  for Lune’s Bridge, Tebay as soon as flow heights permit. All will then be ready for the 2012 run, which will hopefully be better than in 2011 when numbers on the west coast were alarmingly low, illustrating just how much help this species needs. (more…)

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…)