27 April 2010, 7:28 pm
Chairman’s Report
The Chairman opened by quoting the Associations mission statement: “To conserve and enhance the native fish-stocks and the natural habitat of the Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Rivers”
He then looked at the strategic moves in our joining the West Country Rivers Trust and the South West Rivers Association. He announced that Richard Slocock was to become a Trustee of W.C.R.T.
Secondly he itemised the practical aspects of our work:
The Riverfly partnership being run by John Aplin & Richard Slocock, looking at the invertebrate life of the rivers. He asked for further volunteers to take part in this national project. Please contact John Aplin or Richard Slocock.
- The sea trout tagging work in conjunction with thanks to Barry Bust & Bill Beaumont.
- Redd counting & gravel washing by John Aplin. Once again 44 redds were found above Dorchester, thanks to Loud’s Mill fish pass.
- River Brit barrier removal: He reported the sad loss of John Hughes but welcomed the support of Geoff May and Roger Genge in getting Jessops Weir passed and the Association has been able to obtain the funds to cost out the work for Palmers Brewery Weir.
- Poaching: We continue to put pressure on the Poole Harbour Authorities, E.A. and police to control poaching.
- The salmon run through the counter for 2009 was 602 fish. Not very good!
- Pollution: Two cases of pollution from Warmwell gravel workings. Hopefully the E.A. will take the necessary action, both were reported by members.
He went on to thank the E.A. for the excellent work that had been done at Woodsford and John Aplin reported that a new redd site had been identified at the site.
He praised Bill Beaumont and Anton Ibbotson for their work on the tagging of 10,000 salmon parr.
He thanked Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, West Country Rivers Trust, S.W.R.T. the Wild Trout Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, the E.A. and the committee and it’s collective wisdom.
Following the speakers The Chairman invited Chris Rothwell to make a presentation to Richard Slocock in recognition of his hard work on behalf of the Association.
9 April 2010, 12:01 am
The Frome Piddle & West Dorset Fishery Association ( F & P) is delighted to announce that it is joining forces with the Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) from the 9th April 2010.
The Frome & Piddle’s objective is ‘to conserve & enhance the native fish stock and the natural habitat of the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset Rivers.’
This objective is enhanced and amplified by the aims of the Westcountry Rivers Trust, with whom we have been working closely for a number of years on joint projects such as the Louds Mill fish pass at Dorchester. The F & P will not be losing its name or identity by working under the umbrella of the WRT.
Past Chairman of the F & P and chalk-stream guru, Richard Slocock commented ‘at long last we are joining a true champion of fishery conservation and I am delighted.’
Dr Dylan Bright, Director of the WRT said, we are delighted to be working with the Frome Piddle & West Dorset Fishery Ass, these are some truly wonderful rivers and the Frome & Piddle have been working tirelessly on conservation projects over the years. It’s great to have them on board at last.’
Arlin Rickard, Director of the Association of Rivers Trusts ( ART) explained ‘As the national body of the Rivers Trust Movement we are very pleased to see the Frome & Piddle joining forces with the Westcountry Rivers Trust, this is a dynamic development for the rivers of the south west and great news for river conservation.’
Chairman of the Frome & Piddle , Charles Dutton said ‘this is a great day for our rivers in Dorset and working with the Westcountry Rivers Trust will hugely boost the number of conservation projects we can undertake.’
For more details please contact the Chairman@riverfrome.com or better still come along to the AGM this evening.
4 March 2010, 8:43 am
Salmon have to ascend two major obstacles. The first is a set of hatches at Bindon Mill and the second is the Loud’s Mill Weir at Dorchester. Once beyond there, the fish can reach the rich spawning gravels of the upper Frome and tributaries.
Analysis, by the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (C.E.H) of tagged smolts (young salmon migrating to sea) indicates that survival of salmon parr (baby salmon in the river) is less than 30% in the main stem of the middle river and as much as 80% in upper river tributaries. This underlines the value of making it as easy as possible for salmon to reach the upper catchment.
The Environment Agency first improved the Bindon Mill hatches in 2008.
Then the completion of the Loud’s Mill fish pass in January 2009 at Dorchester and was partly funded by donations given to the FP&WDFA. Oliver Letwin MP officially unveiled the new fish pass at a special ceremony.
Charles Dutton, Richard Slocock with Richard Cresswell (Regional Director SW from Environment Agency)
Press coverage: Environment Agency and the BBC (including a video clip)
Filed under Conservation, Dorset Wildlife Trust, East Stoke Fishery Research Station, English Nature, Environment Agency, Fish Pass, Funding, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Loud’s Mill, Salmon, Westcountry's Rivers Trust.
The Chairman opened by quoting the Associations mission statement: “To conserve and enhance the native fish-stocks and the natural habitat of the Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Rivers”
River Frome Webcam
