Creating corridors for Dales nature
Major projects such as fish ‘ladders’ and planting woodland aim to encourage life alongside River Ribble
FROM THE exultant splash of a salmon’s leap to the joyous heron wading on a weir, the image of the Yorkshire Dales’ burgeoning wildlife is an ever-uplifting sight.
And with major projects under way to restore natural habitats alongside the River Ribble, it is hoped it can flourish further.
Whether it is creating fish ‘ladders’ encouraging migration or weir removal to ease their passage, the work goes on apace.
“For children, families, and future generations, this is so they can know what river life is like,” said Susie Kinghan, project manager for the Ribble Rivers Trust, which is about to embark on a wooded habitat scheme near Ribblehead. “If we don’t restore them we will lose them, and it’s so important for people to know what is on their doorstep.
“The comeback of otters over recent years has been amazing. It’s so exciting for children, to see the fish jumping, to see herons fishing. We are dreaming of a world where there are all these wonderful environments.”
The River Ribble begins near the viaduct at Ribblehead, in the shadow of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. It is the only major river rising in Yorkshire which flows westward, through Settle to Preston, before emerging into the Irish Sea 75-miles later near Lytham St Annes.
Since it was launched 22 years ago, the trust has planted more than 37,000 trees over 56 hectares in Yorkshire and restored over 640 hectares of the region’s moorland.
At Selside, removing a weir has opened up 50 miles of watercourse habitat upstream, while a fish pass at Tosside has opened up five miles of river habitat. There are now further fish passes on Hellifield Beck, and Agden Brook, as well as two eel passes.
The ‘Yorkshire Ribble’ is particularly important, says Ms Kinghan, in forming the headwaters for this mighty river.
“The trust was originally set up by a group of anglers, fishermen who were worried about the state of the rivers because of poor water quality,” she said. “Since then it’s really grown, from looking after rivers for fish to wider environments. There is much more work with farms, the way we manage the land can have a big impact on the health of the river.
“Every weir that we take out helps the fish on their journey. We are definitely improving their chances, and improving water quality attracts more diversity in the rivers.”
In coming weeks, the trust is to embark on a major project with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Ashes Pasture to gently shape the river with ‘woody debris’ and create a new woodland.
At Horton in Ribblesdale, a six hectare woodland is being created, while working is being done with farmers to plant hedgerows and trees along the brooks including at Mear Beck.
On the Long Preston Deeps, work is underway to reconnect the river to the floodplain, moving the embankment to give it more space, and with ambitions to remove a weir.
“From an environmental perspective, there are a lot of pressures which are increasing with climate change, and the question is what do we do now,” said Ms Kinghan.
“There is a will to open up rivers, to plant trees. This is the moment, I think, to create these corridors and create a catchment which is full of life for everybody to enjoy.”
It’s so important for people to know what is on their doorstep.
Susie Kinghan, project manager for the Ribble Rivers Trust.