Lugg & Arrow, Radnorshire
Whatever is done to improve fish access within a river system, benefits only occur in proportion to the quantity and quality of the newly opened spawning and nursery habitats. Further, the economic benefits to the local and national economy are only achieved if these habitats produce sustainable stocks of fish to meet demand.
This is the driver for the Lugg and Arrow Radnor Project, which focuses on the restoration of habitats in the headwaters of the Wye's largest tributary system.
Building on work delivered by the Foundation and its partners within the RES and Leader + Projects in Herefordshire (which established fish access within the lower Lugg and Arrow), the Project's aims are: restoring the riparian habitat that will sustain a natural population of fish; encouraging the diversification of rural businesses to meet the demand of the growing angling interest and thereby enhance the economy of Radnorshire.
We have clear targets to meet but an even greater challenge to make the changes in land management. The realisation of the economic benefits of the healthy natural environment should be a reality in the day-to-day lives of people in the area.
This will be achieved by implementing the following measures:
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A comprehensive survey of the environmental/ecological issues within the Lugg and Arrow catchments.
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Targeted restoration of 25km of riparian habitat, directly ourselves and in association with landowners and other conservation organisations such as the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust.
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Restoration of fish access especially for brown trout within the subcatchment.
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Aiding the skill acquisition of landowners and others within Radnorshire to ensure the sustained management of the rivers in the future.
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Supporting small enterprises within Powys that have an interest in the natural environment.
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Supporting local fisheries through marketing initiatives.
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Supporting the diversification of existing businesses to make sustainable use of the economic value of the natural environment.
To date work has concentrated on the Gladestry Brook, an important tributary of the Arrow, where coppicing and fencing has been undertaken on over 3.5km of river. Further sections of this tributary are to receive restoration. The Lugg at Pilleth and at Dolly Green have been fenced and coppiced too. Most encouraging of all is the response from landowners, who are beginning to realise the reason for the work and the undoubted benefits that accrue.
Regeneration of bankside vegetation following the fencing out of stock on the Gladestry, an upper Lugg tributary. The river has narrowed and deepened, providing much better habitat for juvenile salmonids.
The Radnor Project is also geared to increasing the economic value of this natural resource, through increased access to new fishing, appropriate marketing via the Passport scheme, and increased opportunities for small and medium establishments within Radnorshire Powys to benefit from this green tourism. The success of the RES Project establishes a clear methodology for such a delivery. In 2007, two new fisheries have been included in the 2007 Passport Scheme and three businesses have benefited from diversification and angling orientated enhancement advice. More will follow before the end of the project's life. The model is clearly of interest to business, since it works!
What next? Seminars will be organised on appropriate management of the river habitat and the economic requirements of fishery orientated businesses - linking environment with economics. Meanwhile, the ground work will continue with habitat restoration and securing access in the smaller tributaries for trout spawning. This project links with work done on the rest of Lugg and Arrow and ultimately the whole Wye catchment.
