BCAA ceased stocking and, on a shoestring budget with much volunteer input, installed 2.3km of fencing, planted 2,850 trees and wildflower seeds into the newly-created buffer strip, transplanted water crowfoot, removed invasive plants and ragwort and installed woody debris in various forms into the river.
Monitoring is ongoing, through invertebrate sampling, electric fishing, angler catch returns and redd counting: the signs are promising! Longer-serving members report good fishing with strong year classes of younger fish evident, plus numbers of trophy fish. The benefits for other wildlife are apparent too, with regular sightings of otters, many bird and butterfly species, hares and roe deer; mayfly have returned in numbers to one improved reach.
Dissemination of wild trout conservation messages comes through a club Facebook page, an annual open day and articles in the local and fly fishing press.
The WTT judges very much liked the strong partnership ethos in BCAA’s project, its clear plan, huge changes to the river for a project costing perhaps no more than £20k so far, effective application of fairly simple and effective techniques and multi-species benefits: overall, a brilliant project.