Local angling club Avon and Tributaries Angling Association are working with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) on a project to restore a section of the Midford Brook through Monkton Combe near Bath.
The river supports populations of fish such as brown trout, chub, dace and grayling.
However, previous over-widening of the river and impoundments by weirs has restricted the flows, causing excess sediment to deposit on the riverbed and smothering gravels essential to invertebrates and spawning fish.
Volunteer work days will take place at the beginning of September and will involve building in-stream structures from natural woody materials to enhance habitat within the stream and restore natural flow conditions, thanks to support from Wessex Water.
Harriet Alvis, Project Officer at Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, said: “These volunteer work days will be a fantastic way for Bristol Avon Rivers Trust to work together with the Avon and Tributaries Angling Association and Wessex Water to make immediate improvements to the Midford Brook.
“The Midford Brook is a fantastic resource, supporting a number of fish species as well as birds and small mammals but is suffering from a number of issues due to human alterations.
“We are looking forward to working with local people to restore it to more natural conditions for the benefit of people and wildlife.”
If you or your company are interested in getting involved in these fun, practical work days, email [email protected] to find out more.
BART have longer term plans, subject to funding, to extend their improvement works along the total length of the Midford Brook and surrounding rivers.
