Completed Projects

- 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.
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- 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.
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- 2009

May 2009 saw the completion of the Claughton and Farleton Beck Projects, linking up our previous buffer-strips, thus protecting the whole of the lower reaches of these valuable spawning becks. Our thanks go to the Wild Trout Trust and SWS Claughton for helping us fund the project and to landowners, Mr. John Harvey for providing strainer posts for repairs to our earlier sites, Mr. Ronnie Bargh for permission to carry out the work and Mr. Mark Townley for removing the old fence for us. (more…)

The survey calendar compiled by the Environment Agency Biodiversity team gives information on appropriate survey times for a range of protected species. The calendar also indicates when work that may disrupt habitats can be carried out, in order to minimise the disturbance to the wildlife. Surveying for some protected species, like Great Crested Newts and white-clawed crayfish, requires licenses issued by Natural England. For other species, like otters and water voles, although a license is needed to carry out works near their holts and burrows, surveys can be carried out without a license. The timings given in the calendar should be seen as rough indicators only.
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- 2007

Autumn 2007 saw the completion of another of a large habitat zone on Mansergh Beck, just upstream of Kirkby Lonsdale. We buffer-stripped virtually the whole of both river banks to improve habitat for spawning brown trout and their developing fry and also a short section of the main Lune at Mansergh Beck’s confluence. Our thanks go to the EA and National Grid for helping us fund the project and to the landowner, Mr. Jim Hadwen, for giving us especially wide buffer strips which will help to maximise biodiversity.
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- 2009
Cumbria WT Sedbergh at Havera Beck

On Havera Beck we created some dams, riffles and fish/invert refuges using natural stone and the Himalayan Balsam at the Hill and upstream to Ingmire Hall was sprayed for a second year. The E.A. stocked the beck with a few hundred seatrout parr to kick-start the beck’s revival.
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The Million Ponds Project – reversing a century of decline in wetland wildlife

Over the last century, the number of ponds in Britain has dropped from 1.25 million to less than half a million. At the same time, the quality of freshwater in the landscape has declined and you’d be hard pushed to find any river, stream or pond that isn’t affected in some way by fertilisers, pesticides, septic tanks, road drains etc. The result has been a staggering loss of wetland wildlife, and many wetland species becoming scarce or on the verge of disappearing altogether.

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Over the last year our buffer-stripping projects have become even better value for money thanks to the generous donation from Betafence of enough fencing wire for all our projects for the foreseeable future.

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The buffer fencing at Staggarth is still as robust as when it was erected nearly 10 years ago. This wildlife corridor is now well established and the “Willow wall” planted by Bob Whitfield through the E.A. at Staggarth pool has not only stopped the bank erosion but has also provided a good head of local willow for future projects.
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The Lune Rivers Trust continues to maintain it’s links with AmeyMouchel (agents for the Highways Agency) and Chris Seward, who has been Environmental co-ordinator with AmeyMouchel since 2004 is pleased to report some improvements already completed or planned for this year:

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