Scalby Beck Project Scalby Beck is part of the Yorkshire work themselves with the local Trust’s River Derwent. Over 100 years ago a support. All the permissions are in place, man-made channel was cut from the plans have been approved, drawings headwaters of the Derwent to Scalby passed and the club is ready to go ahead Beck to take flood water as required. as soon as low flows allow the work to Scalby Beck discharges into the North progress. The materials to be used are Sea at a point north of Scarborough. As stainless steel brackets and expanding part of the flood relief channel a number bolts – the brackets will be used secure of weirs have been built to manage the oak timbers to the weir creating several energy of the floods. These weirs are a boxes for the fish to negotiate. These barrier to upstream migration for materials are an improvement on what was salmon, sea trout, eels and lampreys. A first used and so should stand up as well to number of years ago the Scalby Beck heavy flows as the original boxes. The Angling Club along with the Agency original pass is still functioning more than built a small wooden fish pass on one 10 years later (see photograph). The of the lower weirs. This is still in place positive thing about these type of materials and has worked well in relieving some is if there is a need for maintenance then of the pressure at a pinch point which is costs can be kept to a minimal. The Club the tidal limit. As this “home-build” fish has offered to share all the plans, method pass has been seen to work, the Scalby statements, risk assessments and other Club are hoping to replicate the initial relevant information with the Trust to pass on the next weir upstream. This enable any other interested parties to would involve the club undertaking the undertake similar projects. Anglers Monitoring Initiative and beyond! cold conditions of the 2010/2011 winter The AMI Scheme The AMI through freeze. Being able to report the Nationally launched in 2007 as a Riverfly photographic sighting of a kingfisher was Partnership leading project, the Anglers the East Yorkshire a pleasant task and shortly afterwards Monitoring Initiative involves training Chalk Rivers Trust sighting reports from locals started to volunteer groups to use a simple sampling come through. The second sequence of and recording method to assess the The EYCRT became involved with the AMI note was the ‘fishing’ pattern used by a biological quality of rivers. The at the launch of the scheme and sites in heron. Apart from a regular pattern of observations, usually made on a monthly the general area of were included movement around the edge of the basis, record the presence/absence of in the early days. During October 2011 a stream’s deep pool, one picture shows the eight aquatic invertebrate groups with the refresher AMI course was held at Foston bird wading into the water and raising its results being forwarded to a regional Beck chalk stream, near Driffield, where wings. Suggested reasons for this coordinator and delegated Environment ‘experienced’ monitors were updated on behaviour include the prevention of Agency officer. In essence, ‘the Riverfly procedures and identification of wetting the wings or to trick minnows into Partnership, in collaboration with local specimens to a higher level of recognition. the security of ‘overhead vegetation’. organisations, continues to lead the The course tutor was Stuart Crofts, a The at Sinnington is also initiative to meet its core aims of working to recognised authority on caddis flies, surveyed by members of the local angling help protect the water quality of supported by Joanna Hood, the regional club, through the EYCRT, under the AMI watercourses and conserve their riverfly EA biologist. scheme. Here the methodology used by populations, The Riverfly Partnership is a Additionally to the Anglers Monitoring members was updated through an AMI network of organisations committed to Initiative, to gain a greater understanding course held in October 2011. The AMI furthering the understanding and of ‘river life’, a remote infra red movement- courses, although instructive are also conservation of riverfly populations’. triggered camera was mounted on an old good fun and the sight of keen ‘samplers’ brick footbridge over the Gypsey Race at finding different river organisms in their Boynton for a week at the beginning of net, and asking about their finds, makes it August 2011. From some 3500 pictures, all worthwhile. Again, the Sinnington many triggered by passing birds, rain, survey goes a step further in that other wind, etc., several sequences were ‘finds’ in the catch, such as deer fly larva, notable. The first was the appearance on bullheads and stone loaches are taken several occasions of the ‘local’ kingfisher, into account and add to gaining more not seen by local people since the very information about the ‘living river’.

EAST YORKSHIRE CHALK RIVERS TRUST Newsletter 6 - July 2012

OUR CHAIRMAN IS AWARDED International Dealing with Invasive None Fisheries Science prize Native Species (INNS) A University of Hull professor who has awarded once every The Trust has been undertaking been actively involved in promoting four years, so to surveys along our watercourses to sustainable inland fisheries and receive it is a identify and ultimately deal with INNS conservation all over the world has won tremendous honour. on our rivers. the International Fisheries Science Prize. I very much see this Japanese Knotweed is one of these Professor Ian Cowx, who is Director of as not an award for species that has a minor foothold on the University of Hull International me, but as an award the Gypsey Race from the wolds to Fisheries Institute, has worked both in the for all the people who have supported me town centre. UK, Europe and across the world to raise through all these years to allow me to get The Trust has been involved in awareness, conserve fisheries and involved in the work that I do. Hopefully, starting to eradicate this plant. promote sustainable inland water the projects I have been able to complete Japanese Knotweed can damage ecosystems. will continue to benefit not just the people structures as it can grow through brick Projects have included developing affected across the world, but also my work and tarmac. It is very difficult to management plans for sustainable fellow staff and students at the Hull eradicate and can require several fisheries on Lake Victoria, the second International Fisheries Institute.” treatments. largest lake in the world, and assessing A spokesman for the American the potential impacts of damming on the Fisheries Society, co-sponsors of the prize fisheries of the Mekong River, a major with the World Fisheries Congress, said: food-source for many people living near “Professor Cowx has had an outstanding the river. career of diversified research and support Alongside this, he has trained more of global conservation of fisheries than 30 PhD and 300 MSc students from resources. He has demonstrated a strong at least 80 countries, ensuring the skills conservation ethic by promoting the and knowledge he has accumulated over importance of conserving global the years is carried forward. freshwater fish communities and fisheries The combination of Professor Cowx’s with his involvement in fisheries ground-breaking project work with his conservation in multiple developing educational legacy, has led to his countries in addition to many projects in receiving the International Fisheries Prize the UK and Europe. Professor Cowx’s – a sort of lifetime achievement award for contributions to both fisheries scientists in his field. conservation and the advancement of This prestigious award is only fisheries science on a global scale have presented once every four years, and is earned him the distinction as the recipient only the second time someone has been of the 2012 International Fisheries Science recognised with the honour. Prize.” Professor Cowx said: “I am Professor Cowx was presented with his overwhelmed by this award. It’s a very award at the World Fisheries Congress, important and prestigious prize that is only which was held in Edinburgh in May.

Gypsey Race - Disused Gauging Weir Gypsey Race – This structure used by the Environment Centrica River Agency and its predecessors to measure flows in this small stream is no improvement longer required. project. The Trust has discovered that the structure and its associated building Volunteers from Yorkshire Wildlife was ‘handed back’ to the County Trust and EYCRT undertook a tree Council in the late 1980s. planting programme on the banks of The Trust is intending to work with Gypsey Race as part of a habitat the present owners, East Riding of improvement project on this small Yorkshire Council, to remove the weir chalk stream. and reform the meandering course of miles of watercourse to all migrating the stream as it was prior to the weir fish species. When the structure has being installed. been removed the old stream course The project is at a very early stage will be reformed and any accumulated in its development and the funding is silt deposits caused by the weir will be being sort that will open up several removed. Gypsey Race Survey Water voles the Boynton Hall and Home Farm sheep YWT tree planting project. A survey, primarily for signs of water voles fields, also Willow Garth SSSI and the along the Gypsey Race, was conducted lower end of Carr Plantation. belonging to an otter and a spraint was on 28th July 2011. The Centrica site was found on a nearby fallen tree. The spraint not covered as this had already been Bird nest boxes contained the remains of a small mammal. surveyed and reported in the Annual Substantially constructed bird nest boxes In the sheep field an egret kept Ecological Mitigation Monitoring Strategy were positioned under the Boynton Hall company with both herons and crows. A 2001. cricket field, ‘broken’ bridge and on two perch for the resident kingfisher was Three areas were surveyed for evidence of trees in the field. The remaining boxes are quickly constructed by Alan Mullinger water vole activity, etc: stored for erecting in the near future. beside a riverside pool containing plenty • The sedge beds within the Thorpe Hall/ of kingfisher ‘size’ prey! Carr Plantation boundary Other species David Croft – EYCRT • The historical linear lake area in front of Within Carr Plantation signs of otter Alan Mullinger – EYCRT Boynton Hall presence were observed. In soft mud at Jon Traill – Conservation Project Manager • Part of the sheep field upstream of the sides of the Gypsey Race channel (small mammals) Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Home Farm. footprints were recognised by Jon Traill as and EYCRT

Evidence of water vole residences was found in the sedge beds and the linear lake, with chewed grass and droppings also found at the ‘broken’ bridge at the bottom of the linear lake. Exposed bankside holes are to be found on the vertical face of a steep bank between the two drain inlets in the Home Farm sheep field and may still be in use. Further upstream a water vole was disturbed and made its escape. The water vole survey is to be continued in the near future for the rest of Otter run, Carr Plantation. Thorpe Hall sedge bed.

Installing a different design nest box on Installing a nest box designed for Feeding perch for kingfishers. a tree. wagtails (and dippers). Millenium Green Project This project aimed at protecting the bank of a pond called the Keld that is adjacent to the Millennium Field. Over many years the bank had been damaged and eroded by waterfowl. The pond was also overgrown with willow and becoming silted and shallow. The aim of this project was to create several deep scrapes and coppice the willows growing in the pond margins. The margin of the Keld was repaired by using the willow material and the new bank was infilled with the soil from the scrape areas. Much of this speciality work was made possible by a local contractor. Mike Dee was able to create the scrapes in the pond and level the material after it had been moved to the Keld site. Working in very limited access between trees, he was able to undertake the part of the project that was initially going to be a very labour intensive operation. CHANNEL RESTORATION Pickering Beck is fed from the North The aims of the project are to use large the biodiversity of this wild trout fishery. Yorkshire Moors. It follows a meandering woody debris (LWD) and coarse woody The Trust are working with the course alongside the North Yorkshire debris (CWD) to stabilise the bed of the Environment Agency and NYMNP to Moors Railway as it approaches the town stream. This will also provide much enhance the Agency’s ‘Slowing the Flow’ of Pickering from the north. needed habitat for small fish and project. Part of this course is within a SSSI and invertebrates. This project is aimed at protecting the the boundaries of the North York Moors The majority of the river runs through a town of Pickering from flood flows by National Park. deeply-wooded valley creating very deep using the landscape in this valley to retain The soft sand substrate is easily shade and limiting the diversity of the high water on the land. carried into the lower tributaries and stream. It is proposed to remove small The Trust has been working with the causes siltation of gravel spawning areas sections of the dense canopy to allow Pickering Fishery Association and the Wild in the rivers Rye, Costa and Derwent. daylight to the stream bed and enhance Trout Trust to develop a strategy for management of this stream. The land and stream are part of the Dutchy of Lancaster’s estate. The Trust is working with the land agent, the Pickering Fishery Association and the WTT to identify and address areas of bank erosion and siltation. We have partnered this group in a training day to demonstrate the use of LWD to create in-stream habitat and A felled alder being prepared for Typical scour and deposition on this further enhance the above project. anchoring to its original tree stump. stream. Note tree canopy.

A group of anglers, EYCRT members and lecturers from a local fishery management college course were involved in a training day in partnership with the WTT. The site was used to advise on the use of LWD and CWD as a To protect the soft ground tool to enhance the in-stream habitat. horse loggers were used to move heavy logs to the sites where they will be used in the stream. River Derwent projects Improvement of The proposed project is to invest in a trial length of the straightened river, straightened upper approximately 1½ km and address the lack of morphology. This will involve using Derwent the reports provided by Dr Malcolm The Yorkshire River Derwent has been the Newson and Chris Bowles to use victim over many years of physical recognised river mending techniques and modification to address land drainage and green engineering methods to benefit the flood defence issues. This has had geomorphology of the river. numerous knock-on effects and land use The project will ensure that all has changed over the years. Lack of interested parties have the opportunities to connectivity to the Vale of Pickering flood feed into the overall management plan. plain, land shrinkage and a two-tier It is proposed that the Continual pre and post monitoring will drainage system. In turn this has had a recommendations of the report are carried be an integral part of the project, sharing negative effect on the ecology and out over a full calendar year. We will information with all parties to ensure biodiversity of the heavily-modified River monitor the effects on both the WFD complete understanding and mutual Derwent. The banks of the river and river failures as well as any land drainage and support. The trial length will employ many bed have been managed to a uniformed flood defence issues. If, after the first year, different types of ‘natural engineering’ – profile resulting in damaging effects to all parties are agreeable, it is then woody bundles, flow deflectors, woody both aquatic and riparian habitat. This is suggested that the 1½ km trial site be debris and pre-planted coir rolls. All will be reflected in the characterisation of the rolled out up and downstream along the inserted by hand so if there are any issues water body under the Water Framework straightened River Derwent and River that cause a detrimental effect they can Directive as being “poor”. Hertford. easily and cheaply be moved or removed.

River Derwent Update Reducing soil erosion Towards the end of 2011 The Trust has received support funding from the Environment Agency and Natural England to employ a project officer. The project and controlling officer will focus on the delivery of the Restoration Plan for the River Derwent SSSI/ SAC which stretches from Ryemouth, upstream of Malton and Norton, down to the sediment inputs to the confluence with the River Ouse at Barmby Barrage. In these early stages of the project the project officer has been gathering information of the other projects and river channel partners within the catchment and making links where appropriate. A brief update The Trust is working closely with Natural is below but please do look at our website for updates as we develop projects to England and the Environment Agency to action the Restoration Plan. coordinate Capital Grant Scheme applications and Higher Level Stewardship agreements with the actions Controlling invasive of the Derwent Restoration Plan. Willing farmers have already committed to alien plant species on implementing measures to decrease sediment input in to the river channel the Derwent through increasing the width of buffer This spring the Trust is coordinating the control of strips along the river edge and Giant Hogweed in the Derwent catchment. This considering alternative stock watering species can out-compete other species reducing facilities. The Trust is also liaising with the biodiversity of the river banks and, when it dies partners upstream of the SAC area, along back in late summer, leaves bare erodible banks the Derwent and the Rye, recognising exacerbating the sedimentation inputs into the river. that a catchment approach is required to Liaising with landowners and farmers along the tackle this issue. Derwent, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed is being mapped between Malton and Stamford Bridge. Whilst the high river levels during April and early May delayed the initial surveys we are on track for continuing the control programme of the species in partnership with the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Help needed If anyone spots Giant Hogweed or pleasant walks. All help would be greatly Japanese Knotweed within the Derwent appreciated! catchment (in particular near the watercourses) our Derwent Restoration N.B. Please be careful if surveying or Plan Officer would appreciate the walking on public footpaths where Giant information with as detailed a location Hogweed is present. Touching the and description as possible. If you plants can cause painful blistering and would like to take it one step further and severe skin irritation as the hairs contain volunteer to carry out a survey there are poisonous sap. many public footpaths that create Habitat enhancement Project officer Sarah with the Crane Valley Woodcock Partnership. I represented and floodplain Growing up in North the partnership at a Yorkshire I developed an strategic level, e.g. in the connectivity enjoyment of the development of the Colne & The Restoration Plan identifies the need to outdoors and interest in Crane Area Framework for investigate the function of the natural history which the All London Green Grid, embankments along the Yorkshire led me to study for an and delivered practical river Derwent. The project is in the early stages undergraduate degree restoration projects of identifying suitable sites for in Zoology. I then incorporating bank investigation. Projects developed at these studied for a part-time MSc in Ecology naturalisation, in-channel flow sites would be used as pilot and Management of the Natural improvement measures and BAP ‘demonstration’ projects that deliver on Environment whilst working as a habitat creation. This project work was multiple objectives of the Restoration Plan. Countryside Ranger managing riverine complemented by coordinating riparian and heathland sites for a Local land management through linking Authority. I worked in London for grazing initiatives and Higher Level More Information regional and national conservation Stewardship schemes on sites If you are interested in the project, would charities for eight years, most recently throughout the catchment. like to know more, or simply get involved, as the Conservation Programmes please contact our Yorkshire Derwent Manager for London Wildlife Trust. I am excited about this opportunity to Restoration Plan Officer who would be My work at London Wildlife Trust work for EYCRT and look forward to keen to discuss the project further with encompassed the development of the starting to deliver projects on the you. Contact details are sarah@ River Crane Living Landscape in liaison Yorkshire Derwent in the near future. eastyorkshirechalkriverstrust.org.uk or 07887 722961.

Focus on Barmby Barrage Fish Passage Barmby Barrage is owned by the Images of adult lamprey moving The Restoration Plan highlights the need Environment Agency and consists of upstream through the lock were to address in-channel structures that two vertical lifting gates set in a recorded along with images of large fish impede fish passage. The issues concrete structure, and a lock to allow judged to be migratory salmonids. surrounding each structure within the SAC boat passage upstream. Images of what were judged to be larval area are unique to each and the Trust is The structure is operated for several and pre-adult stages of lamprey and actively engaging in the discussions of purposes: eels were captured on the camera how to improve these barriers on a • To prevent water from the tidal River moving downstream. The largest case-by-case basis. As results come out of Ouse entering the lower River upstream movement of lamprey the investigations we will then actively Derwent; occurred just after the lock gates were engage in the development and delivery of • To ensure that water is deep enough open, on a neap tide, when river flows suitable projects. Please keep an eye on for abstraction to take place at the were increasing in the Derwent and the EYCRT website for updates on these strategically important Loftsome Ouse. investigations. Bridge Water Treatment Works, and; Of interest is the recorded increase • To keep water levels high enough in the number of salmon redds for boats to pass upstream. This is upstream in the River Rye at required to comply with Clause 13 Nunnington with 30 being recorded by of the Barmby Tidal Barrage Order, EYCRT trustee John Shannon in which requires boat access to be autumn 2011. provided. The Navigation Lock Trial is to be The Environment Agency continued this year targeted on implemented a navigation lock trial to knowledge gaps including the passage confirm if the operation of the lock of migratory salmonids. gates could be modified to effectively allow passage of lamprey upstream from the tidal Yorkshire Ouse into the River Derwent. Salmon attempting to jump Nunnington The Environment Agency’s report Weir on the River Rye. on the navigation lock trial in November/December 2011 has now been completed. The lock gates were manually opened when conditions were suitable for lamprey migration upstream and an acoustic camera used to monitor fish movements.

Right: Barmby barrage navigation local trial (EA, 2011). Kirkham Weir on the Yorkshire Derwent. Studying the grayling population in the River Seven A small team of Sinnington Angling Club members are involving themselves with an important study of the health and numbers of grayling in their club waters, by supplying SINNINGTON ANGLING CLUB scales of caught fish to Dr Ryan Taylor Grayling Project 2012 (University of Hull & Grayling Research Trust) Gathering data for assessment. Each team member has 1 Three scales taken from the shoulder region of the fish (all sizes caught). been supplied with a ‘scales’ kit for removing three scales from each fish, with details including the length and weight of fish, to Dave Croft of the EYCRT who is heading the SAC team. The scales are easily removed 2 Slide tweezers under a scale in the shoulder region (marked above) and gently pull. Put all three scales in one envelope and record details (3 below). from the fish and the missing ones will quickly 3 Record the date caught, length of fish, weight (optional) and sex (optional); date is important! regenerate; the fish are handled gently and Female each is carefully returned to the water. The project also has the interest of the Grayling Society, the Environment Agency and the East Yorkshire Chalk Rivers Trust. Male

River Bank Revetment at Kings Mill

4 The EA Brown Trout & Grayling Anglers Log Book has been included with the scale kits. After many years of planning a decision Most of the work will be labour has finally been made to repair the bank intensive and will be undertaken by of Driffield Beck near Kings Mill. volunteers and Trust members. The riverbank has been eroding at an An hydraulic machine will be used on alarming rate over many years. More site to undertake all heavy lifting and soil recently this has accelerated to a point back filling. where the public footpath is in danger of To facilitate safe working on the site being washed into the river. and in the interest of public safety, the The East Yorkshire Chalk Rivers Trust footpath will be closed for the duration of together with the Driffield Town Council the repairs. has secured funding to repair the bank which will safeguard its future use as a footpath between Kings Mill and Driffield On completion of the spiling work a bypass. coir geotextile was used to retain any The bank will be repaired by using soil particles from being washed into ‘green engineering’ techniques. This the river. involves the use of live willow to establish a natural growing river bank that should need little or no maintenance.

Erosion along the footpath.

An hydraulic long reach machine with a mounted cutter lifting the willow material onto the site. Submerged log pinned to river bed. Limb recovered from a willow acting as current deflector. Wansford Bridge to Snakeholme 2012 This 1½ km section of the has project site. been identified as being over wide, has • Create a secondary channel at one compacted gravels, silt beds, lack of side of a wide glyceria margin. This in-stream flow diversity and cover for will change the flow regime and help invertebrates, fish and mammals. Although protect an adjacent friable bank from the site has some vertical banks that are further damage. stable and provide habitat for Kingfishers Removal of dangerous limbs from a other sections need support from erosion It was originally planned to create a riverside tree. These limbs were used as at times of high flows. secondary channel into the right of the in-channel habitat and securely pinned The proposals are that a wide range of frame in an attempt to encourage the river to the riverbed. Small coarse material ‘green engineering’ techniques are used to flow around the outside of the bend from these limbs was used to protect to improve the overall biodiversity of the and prevent further settlement of the ‘toe’ of vertical banks and provide proposed project site. sediment. As the channel creation started habitat for voles, fry and kingfishers. • Remove encroaching glyceria margin it became apparent that the material was and establish a diverse plant too friable to stand as an island. It was Several large bushes were hinged into community to benefit nectar insects agreed that all the sediment would be the channel and secured to the bank. This and provide a seed bank at the top of removed and the banks stabilised by will create in stream cover for fish fry and this project site. using willow material gained from the tree invertebrates, and nesting sites for water • A stone groyne installed in the late ’80s thinning. fowl. will be removed. The stones will be used as revetment along with willow material on a piled bend where existing piles have been exposed. • Large woody debris on site will be placed into the channel and secured. • Some unstable bankside trees and bushes will be hinged and secured into the channel to create cover for mammals and fish and increase flow Left: Large woody debris (LWD) was inserted into the new bank line to enhance diversity. flow diversity. The logs were securely pinned to the river bed. Right: Removal of the • Several large willows on site are in stone weir was undertaken and the stones and silt have been placed behind the danger of being lost through wind nearby bank revetment. The new line of the bank was marked by pressing in posts damage. The trees will be surveyed where the willow spiling will be woven. and where necessary, the timber will be used as flow deflectors along the Once filled, the friable soil was protected by using a coir geotextile. The area will be allowed to recolonise with natural plant species.

A photo showing a section at the lower end of the site where a large silted margin had encroached into the channel causing a massive erosion problem to the bank on the left of the frame.