Big benefits for small fish on Hampshire Avon

Thursday, December 8, 2016

From Blackmore Vale Magazine: 'Simple but effective changes have been made to the Hampshire Avon to help fish fry and other wildlife.

Team work between the Environment Agency, Barbel Society and Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust will give a boost to the habitat thanks to:

  • Ten log deflectors – triangular structures made of logs and stone which jut into the river - which will change the flow and create refuges for fish fry of all species near Fordingbridge. Five bays for fish fry have also been made and live willow planted to create overhead and in-stream cover;
  • Enlarging an old, silted pond upstream of Ringwood and connecting it via ditch to the river so it becomes a large backwater refuge for fish fry, as well as plants and wildlife.

Richard Battersby, fisheries team leader for the Environment Agency, said: "This is one of a number of projects we have delivered in partnership across the Wessex area which has benefitted both fish and their habitat.'

Read more here.

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