Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust February 2014 Newsletter

February 2014
SPRING NEWSLETTER
Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust /
Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro
Dear Rivers Trust Supporter
Also in this Newsletter
Welcome to the Spring 2014 edition of our Newsletter.
Thank you to all of our supporters who contribute so much
to the work of Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust.
Chairman’s Report
2
Riverfly Monitoring
3
Lampreys in Pembrokeshire
4
www.pembsrt.org
Afon Morgennau Easement Scheme
The PRT web site is regularly updated with information
about volunteers’ activities, including our Twitter feed of
Riverfly sample results and articles on all projects featured
in this newsletter.
The Afon Morgennau runs from its confluence with the
Teifi at Llechryd to its source near Boncath, north
Pembrokeshire. Today the carefully tended grounds of
Hammet House Hotel give no clue to the area’s industrial
past, described in former times as: “a pleasant place, and a
resort of anglers; and a bridge over the river, communicating
with the charming grounds of Castle Malgwyn. A large
weir formerly was here, preventing salmon from ascending
the river; and was destroyed, in 1844, by a large body of the
Rebecca rioters”. (GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of
Llys-y-Frân Catchment project
Volunteers have been dodging rain and wind over the
winter months to assist with surveys on the Afon Syfynwy
and its tributaries as part of the Llys-y-Frân Catchment
Project. The Afon Syfynwy, which rises in the Preseli
Hills, flows into Rosebush and Llys-y-Frân Reservoirs and
lies within the Eastern Cleddau River Special Area of
Conservation
(SAC).
Page
Llechryd, in and Cardiganshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through
Time. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/11171, viewed 12/11/2013)
While the weir may
Before: blocked culverts on the
have disappeared the
Morgennau
Morgennau has been
Afon Syfynwy at Farthings Hook The project is a
affected by a blockage
Bridge
trial collaborative to the culverts, a
partnership
legacy of an old tin
between Afonydd works, which has
Cymru (in
virtually sealed it from
association with
the main river, making
Pembrokeshire
the passage of
After: perfect for migratory fish
Rivers Trust), Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru
migratory salmon and
Welsh Water. In recent years Llys-y-Frân Reservoir has
sea trout impossible.
been susceptible to Blue Green Algae blooms and the aim In October 2013
of this project is to achieve a better understanding of factors obstructions and large
impacting on water quality and nutrient loading in relation trees were carefully
to land use within the catchment. This includes carrying
removed from the
out river walkover surveys, water quality and invertebrate culverts, with grant
monitoring, as well as providing soil sampling, nutrient
money from the European Fisheries Fund. This work was
management plans and practical advice for a number of
carried out just before the first of the Winter spates, and the
farms in the area. Working closely with catchment users, it culverts now once again carry the Morgennau into the Teifi
is hoped to deliver positive measures to improve water
and, importantly, the upstream catchment is now open to the
quality, minimise the risk of pollution incidents and help to passage of migratory fish. Volunteers from PRT and Teifi
gain favourable conservation status.
Rivers Trusts have now completed a full walkover survey of
To get involved or for more information contact
the Morgennau to assess upstream fish spawning areas and
[email protected]
to identify other potential habitat projects .
www.pembsrt.org
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[email protected]
FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER
Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro
Chairman’s Report
As Chairman and Trustee of Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust I am very pleased to
introduce our Spring 2014 newsletter, with details of our many activities and achievements during the last 12
months. At the heart of everything the Trust does are the efforts of our volunteers, who have made a huge
contribution to protecting and improving the rivers and wildlife of Pembrokeshire. Big Lottery Funding together with a grant
from Countryside Council for Wales (now NRW) enabled us to swell our Riverfly monitoring team to 40 by holding two
training workshops to equip and train volunteers to collect crucial information on the biological health of local watercourses.
Volunteers also tackled Himalayan Balsam, litter and fly-tipping, and carried out river walkover surveys on the Anghof,
Narberth Brook, Morgennau and Syfynwy, important work which enables the Trust to pinpoint areas requiring habitat
improvement projects. The Afonydd Cymru project team has delivered several projects including an important improvement
scheme on Rosemarket stream in south Pembrokeshire, a fencing scheme with drinking arrangements to exclude animals
from a section of the Knock Brook near Haverfordwest and the unblocking of culverts on the Morgennau near to Llechrhyd
in north Pembrokeshire to once again make it open for the passage of migratory sea trout and salmon. There is always more
to do and if your community has a river or wetland area which needs conserving or if you would like to get involved please
do contact us. On behalf of the Trustees I would again like to express my sincere thanks to all our volunteers and supporters.
David Prichard, Chairman, Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust
Rosemarket Stream Habitat Improvement work
PRT volunteers carried out a walkover survey of the Rosemarket stream in Summer 2012 and identified several problems,
including bank erosion and in-stream
barriers to fish migration. The stream
in its lower reaches follows the route
of the Neyland cycle path, which was
originally a Brunel railway line,
flowing through Westfield Pill and into
Milford Haven via Neyland marina.
Improved: spring-fed trough & fence
Removed —tree trunks
The stream has been failing to meet its
to exclude livestock from stream
stuck in stream culvert
water quality status objectives set
under the European Water Framework Directive, and Afonydd Cymru made a
Removed: structure causing erosion & successful bid for funds to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to carry out habitat
debris build-up
improvement measures. These measures involved fence repairs, removal of an
old mill diversion structure and built-up woody debris, modification of a railway
culvert weir to help the passage of migratory fish, and installation of spring-fed
troughs to provide alternative drinking water for livestock. In addition
Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) removed two large tree trunks stuck in a
stream culvert where the stream, road and cycle path converge, to the south of
Rosemarket village. This work complemented major repairs by PCC and NRW
to the fish passes in Westfield Pill, opening up the Rosemarket catchment for
migratory fish. Westfield Pill nature reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust of
South & West Wales, and is a fantastic location to explore.
Removed: section of collapsed fencing
Pembrokeshire & Teifi Rivers Trusts together with the West Wales
Biodiversity Information Centre are planning a volunteer training day
covering Invasive Non Native Species and the development of Local
Biodiversity Action Plans. Details to be confirmed, likely venue will be the
Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Cilgerran Visitor Centre, in March.
Become a Volunteer: If you are interested in river conservation activities and have time to spare please come and
join us - visit our web site at www.pembsrt.org and click on ‘Volunteer’, or call 01437 783070.
www.pembsrt.org
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[email protected]
FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER
Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro
River invertebrate monitoring
34 PRT volunteers attended Riverfly monitoring workshops at the Salutation Inn in
Felindre Farchog by the Nevern river in April 2013. The volunteers were all supplied
with sampling equipment and thigh waders in order to carry out river invertebrate
monitoring on their local watercourses and their monitoring results are being passed on
to Natural Resources Wales (NRW). This provides increased scrutiny and interest in the
health of local rivers and in particular more focused attention on causes of pollution.
This will ultimately benefit river and coastal communities by deterring polluters and
enabling pollution incidents to be acted upon more promptly. The training was funded
with a grant of £3,600 from the Big Lottery fund and £1,000 from the Countryside
Council for Wales (now Natural Resources Wales). All PRT Riverfly monitors carry
out risk assessments prior to entering a river and monitoring is never to be carried out in
water above knee depth or during high flows.
SAFETY FIRST!! Rivers can kill! High river flows during Winter spates are
extremely dangerous due to the sheer volume and strength of water flows.
Some of the more unusual creatures seen
by volunteers this summer include the Mysid Shrimp, which was found in
the lower reaches of Goodwick brook, and Lymnaea, a species of snail
which were found in the Western Cleddau, these generally prefer
slow-flowing or still waters.
Lymnaea snail
(90mm length)
Mysid shrimp
(50mm length)
PRT Otter & Education Project—Hakin Community School
During 2012/13, thanks to sponsorship from South Hook LNG and Countryside Council for Wales (NRW), 219 children
from 9 schools took part in the PRT Otter and Education project. Now in its 5th year, this project forms an important part of
PRT’s Education Programme, raising awareness of, and an interest in, river ecology and the need to protect river habitats
and wildlife. Each school has 3 teaching sessions, including a lively classroom session and two field trips, during which
children learn about river and coastal habitats focusing on the otter and other key wildlife, such as the slow worm, a reptile
with the amazing adaptation of detaching its tail in order to escape predators.
Year 9 children of Hakin
School at Treffgarne
Angling Centre
A slow worm—
handle tail with care!!!
These were excellent visits which the children really enjoyed. They learnt so much about the habitat and lifestyle of local otters, as well as developing keen observation and thinking skills. We are very grateful to the Pembrokeshire Rivers
Trust for providing such an experience for the pupils of Hakin, as well as ‘opening up’ the wonderful Pembrokeshire
countryside and coastline to us.’ ~ Nick Dyer, head teacher, Hakin Community School.
In order to continue the project again in 2014 the Trust is seeking support through sponsorship from local
organisations. For further information please contact [email protected], Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust, Llys Afon,
Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest SA61 2BQ Tel: 01437 783070.
www.pembsrt.org
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[email protected]
FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER
Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro
Flytip by the Brynberian stream
Following a report of fly tipping on the banks of the Brynberian
stream in north Pembrokeshire, members of Nevern Angling Association in
conjunction with Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and Keep Wales Tidy organised a
working party to clear the site. Keep Wales Tidy and Pembrokeshire County
Council helped to remove the rubbish, including glass and metal for recycling
and nearly 20 old tyres, all of which was heaved up a steep bank and sorted by
hand. The tip was located very close to the water’s edge, with the potential in
Flytip removed from Brynberian stream high river flows to wash downstream into the river Nevern and beyond to the sea
at Newport beach. Nevern Angling Association plays a very important
stewardship role for the rivers and streams in the Nevern catchment, with work parties, habitat surveys, flylife
monitoring and working closely with landowners to protect riverbanks. Fly tipping is a common problem and
particularly damaging to watercourses. To report a fly tip or any pollution problem especially fish-kills, call the Natural
Resources Wales Hotline as soon as possible on 0800 80 70 60.
Lampreys in Pembrokeshire - Chris Lawrence, Natural Resources Wales
“As part of ongoing NRW species monitoring I would like to hear from PRT volunteers or members of the public who
have seen any lamprey in Pembrokeshire watercourses. Lamprey are jawless, eel-like creatures with mouths surrounded
by a round, sucker-like disc and rasping teeth. The teeth vary in shape, size, position and number according to the
species, and are an important aid to identification. Although well
camouflaged, sea lamprey can sometimes be seen on the river bed waiting
Who Me?
until dusk to migrate up-river to spawn. Both the Western and Eastern
Cleddau rivers are of special interest for river lamprey and brook lamprey,
with sea lamprey also occurring in the lower reaches. Please email details of
any sightings to me, via [email protected], with details of location,
date and a description of the river conditions. Thank you”.
Brook Lamprey © BBC.co.uk
~ Chris Lawrence, Senior Conservation Officer, Natural Resources Wales
Volunteers tackle Himalayan Balsam on the Western Cleddau
PRT volunteers tackled Himalayan Balsam following a training presentation
at Pembrokeshire Angling Association’s Centre in Treffgarne, with Gill
Wislocka of St Dogmael’s Community Association. Himalayan Balsam is
an invasive non-native species which outcompetes native plants, it thrives on
riverbanks where its decaying roots cause erosion and consequent damage to
fish spawning habitats in winter. PRT volunteers also helped pull Balsam at
the Old Mill woodlands in Haverfordwest. Having the opportunity to show
volunteers the extent of the problem and that it is possible to do something
about it is really important: people really can make a difference!
Volunteers tackling Himalayan Balsam
beside the Western Cleddau
WANTED: contributions for our next newsletter, especially any panoramic river photos: please send to [email protected].
We would be grateful for unused kick nets, waders etc to be returned to PRT for re-use at our next Riverfly workshop, thank you!
How to Make a donation to Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust
PRT is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees and the Trust’s work is carried out by
a dedicated team of volunteers. Funding from donations and sponsorship is very
important to ensure we can continue to deliver habitat schemes and community
educational initiatives such as the Otters & Education project. If you are able to make
just a small donation to our work, you can easily do so with a simple text message.
Amounts of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 and £10 can be made by texting as shown here.
www.pembsrt.org
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[email protected]