Last month, we were delighted to welcome a special guest to one of our project sites. Tony Juniper is one of the UK’s leading voices on nature conservation — a highly celebrated author, campaigner, and environmentalist, and the current Chair of Natural England. So our Conservation Officer for the East of England, Rob Mungovan, was very pleased to host Tony at Panshanger Park in Hertfordshire.
This beloved countryside park is home to a section of the River Mimram, a beautiful chalk stream. Over the past eight years, Rob has made great strides in improving the health of the river. This has been possible thanks to the dedication of our project partners: Tarmac (the site’s owner), the Environment Agency, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, and the Panshanger Anglers.
Rob and Tony got their waders on, to explore the Mimram with a few of the partners. They examined the habitat enhancements up close, and saw how they have positively impacted the river. A key technique at this site has been the introduction of large woody material; a cost-effective way to create wildlife habitat, diversify flow patterns, and keep the riverbed gravels clear for fish spawning.
“The Wild Trout Trust is a real grassroots conservation body, in the sense that they can get a lot done with few resources. On the Mimram, I’ve seen how trees have been used to kick-start natural processes, creating habitats for both trout and grayling. The Trust has given anglers the skills to continue improving the river, and has equipped foresters to recognise the benefits of trees in this ecosystem. With only a small amount of funding from the Environment Agency and Tarmac, a cascade of positive river improvement has been achieved,” Tony said afterwards.
Rob was pleased to share our progress with Tony, adding: “The River Mimram at Panshanger Park is very special. The river’s natural diversity means that it’s able to support healthy populations of wild brown trout and grayling. By leading work parties here for several years, we’ve enhanced the habitat so that the fish have adequate flow, cover, and places to spawn. The plants and trees, in particular, support many terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, which in turn feed the fish. It’s a positive story all round!”
