TheNewsletter Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust Autumn 2017

Dedicated to the environmental protection of the River Ouse and River Adur An EPIC project in Sompting

The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (OART) was formed in 2011 from the amalgamation of the Sussex Ouse Conservation Society and the River Adur Conservation Society. For more information on our work visit: www.oart.org.uk

Chairman: Dr Hew Prendergast The River Adur as it flows south from Upper Beeding [email protected]

Vice Chairman: Sam St. Pierre As regular readers will be aware, particularly focused on peoples’ for OART and there is work to be [email protected] OART was granted funding gardens), photography and art, done to ensure that OART has all Welcome by the Heritage Lottery Fund schools activities, soundscape the relevant systems in place to Membership: Neil Pringle to develop a project to restore recordings, archaeological undertake the project and is ready [email protected] from the Chairman the Broadwater Brook tributary investigations, ecological for the opportunities it will provide It was tempting to watch a recent television series about a journalist of the Teville Stream. This will monitoring and a whole host of through and beyond the funded Project Officer: Peter King see it de-culverted and passed other exciting activities. period. We then need to form the ( journeying down a river a bit longer (at 2,500 km) than ‘our’ own – the 07881 458 134 through a series of sediment structure of a post project legacy [email protected] Ganges. It appears to be as polluted as it is holy, as much a life-giver to millions as a bearer of cremated human remains and with an importance traps to remove polluted Whilst the core elements of the group who will be responsible Project Officer: Rachel Paget and relevance covering virtually every sphere of economic and spiritual sediment from the system. The project are nearly finalised there for ongoing management, ( 07789 442 687 activity. result will be a new, 1km long is still a fair way to go to be in maintenance and monitoring of [email protected] open section of stream which a position to submit the final the scheme once it is finished. All a bit unlike the Adur and Ouse. No religious significance here, no will be complemented by public bid to HLF. As such, we have Finally, all of this needs to be Field Officer:Jim Smith commerce any more – navigation and dependence on natural resources access to this currently private delayed our submission, originally compiled into a second stage bid ( 01825 750366 like fish have long gone - although we do have, at least with the Ouse and landholding. programmed for November 2017, and submitted to HLF. somewhat modestly, links to a cultural life as expressed in Virginia Woolf’s to be ready for Spring 2018. If Task Force enquiries: sad end, and by Olivia Laing’s recent descent of its course described in To To date we have received planning successful, this will still allow So a lot to do, but we are confident [email protected] the River (2011). The rivers’ traversing of the various Sussex landscapes, consent and are in the process the project to begin in 2018 with we will end up with a project which from High Weald to coast, also helps to define them although, as I have of finalising the construction the preparation work required to is beneficial to both people and written before, they can easily slip under roads, through fields, and by towns drawings to go to tender, enabling deliver the river works in 2019. wildlife and can be used as an www.facebook.com/ and villages without a notice to draw them to our attention. The worry is an accurate cost to be determined Whilst this is a little disappointing example of urban river restoration OuseAndAdurRiversTrust that this in turn can lead to a lack of awareness. There’s an analogy with prior to submitting the second- it is not surprising as the project which other organisations can wildlife: the first thing we want to know about a species we’re looking at is round application. In addition, is complex and we want to be learn from. We will keep you The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust Ltd is what it is. Here I quote from a Robert Macfarlane article in a recent issue of we have been developing a wide offering the best range of activities informed of progress on the bid a Registered Charity (No. 1082447) Plant Life (the journal of the eponymous charity) in which he in turn quotes range of community activities alongside the most appropriate and in the meantime have a great and member of the Rivers Trust. which span the proposed three- river design and we all agree it is festive period and I look forward to Registered address: Oakwood author-naturalist Tim Dee: “without a name made in our mouths, an animal House, Bridgelands, or a place struggles to find any purchase in our minds or our hearts.” year delivery phase of the project. better to take a bit longer and get catching up with you on the river. Cross, , BN8 5BW. The These activities are nearly finalised it right. opinions expressed in this newsletter The many tributaries of the Adur and Ouse are in fact named but they can and will be taken to community Peter King are not necessarily those of the Ouse be difficult to find - except on OART’S website. Were every parishioner to consultation in December to The next steps will see the & Adur Rivers Trust or of the Trustees get feedback and refinement evaluation and monitoring plan for and responsibility cannot be accepted know which of them – the evocatively named Black Sewer Steam, Pook for opinions herein. Bourne or Shell Brook among them - trickled through their ‘patch’, to know from local people. Our ideas the project completed, outstanding of their inhabitants, their specialities, their threats both chronic and acute include practical conservation, consents from the Environment (and the EA helpline to report them), it is difficult not to wonder that it would water quality testing, awareness Agency and Local Council applied be a great step towards watching over and improving them. raising campaigns and events, for, designs tendered and the urban wildlife projects (looking community consulted on the whole Hew Prendergast at connecting the greenspace scheme. Of course, a project of with the urban environment and this magnitude is a step-change Cover image: Students from Downlands Community School in Hassocks building a rain garden 2 3

Daubenton’s and Nathusias Sompting pipistrelle (a migratory bat to the OART UK with only c.1200 records held mammal nationally so a great find). POLO An early start on Sunday morning weekend saw us checking the small mammal SHIRTS traps set the previous evening. Again, this survey was set up to be Buy an OART polo shirt repeatable over the coming years and help raise our profile and we had some great results, and much needed money capturing wood mice, field voles for our river work and harvest mice, another difficult to capture and under-recorded species. Everyone got a chance to open a trap and identify, sex and age each capture, a real hands on experience thoroughly enjoyed by all participants.

The tracking tunnels revealed no hedgehog (although we are aware they are on site) but we did get signs of brown rat and weasel (and a toad). During this period we also checked wet areas of mud OART polos come in deep navy About the size of for tracks and discovered both fox with an embroidered logo. The a tennis ball, this and badger. 37 species were recorded by price of £20 includes postage and harvest mouse volunteers over the weekend the following sizes are available: nest is made Our final activity was a harvest from grasses Small 35-37” chest mouse nest search in the local and reeds Medium 38-40” chest wildlife site of Cokeham Brooks Large 41-43” chest which sits on the south east side of XLarge 44-46” chest Aided by local experts Dr Rowenna As part of the development the project area. Again success as 2XLarge 47-49” chest Baker and Lucy Groves, our 18 phase of the current Heritage our eagle eyed volunteers spotted volunteers started our weekend Lottery Fund project we are two nests within the reedbed area by setting small mammal traps trying to understand the current meaning this species is on both Name: ...... and hedgehog tracking tunnels condition of the site and what sides of the project area. wildlife is currently utilising across the site. This was followed Address: ...... by a bat walk on Saturday night. the area. Through the planning Overall we discovered 12 species The route started at the location ...... application process we of mammals and a total of 37 of the new channel and ended at collected a wealth of information species were recorded across the site entrance in Loose Lane, ...... from multiple groups of species the two days, a really satisfying taking us through arable fields and but these surveys, by their very result and a great time was had ...... past hedgerows. Every 100m we nature, are focused on protected by all. These records will be kept stopped for five minutes to record species rather than a general and submitted to the Sussex Phone: ...... bats foraging using hand-held bat overview of what is there. This is Biodiversity Record Centre, to be detectors. The route and method particularly so for our mammal used to compare with post-project Email: ...... was designed to be repeatable species where Dormice, Water results. Voles, Badgers and Bats form each year so that changes in bat Size & Quantity: ...... the focus of surveys. activity, in response to the new channel, can be monitored. As Peter King Please post your completed form, along with a cheque for So in September we organised our bats exploit wetland habitats due £20 payable to The Ouse & Adur to abundance of invertebrates it is first community activity to carry out Rivers Trust to: a weekend of mammal surveying, hoped that the new river channel focusing on those species which will increase foraging opportunities Neil Pringle are not accounted for in the for bats in the local area. After a Little Knowlands planning process (plus additional quiet start we started to get activity Spithurst Road surveys for bats). and recorded common pipistrelle, Barcombe BN8 5EF 4 5 the summer. Current Year SLOWING 9 students will oversee the TIME FOR A CHANGE planter and in the spring will THE FLOW AT plant further flowers amongst the small shrubs and plants OF ATTITUDE DOWNLANDS that were put in this autumn.

SCHOOL Mimicking how nature works It was all action at Downlands In urban areas hard surfaces Community School on such as roads, roofs, patios the 15th of November as and car parks collect rainfall OART and volunteers from which moves quickly across Hassocks sustainability these impermeable surfaces group HKD joined forces into pipes and drains. to construct the project’s Removing this water quickly final rain garden planter. may seem like a good idea, and it is very necessary in Built with help from Year 9 Fixing the sides of the planter students and members of some places, however it can the school’s Eco Club this also exacerbate flooding was the largest rain garden by overwhelming drains of the SuDS project to date and sewers and causing and can store approximately rivers to rise quickly. SuDS 1,500 litres of water. (Sustainable urban drainage systems) aim to help reduce This has not been a good year dependent on them. Much of the fertilisers rich in phosphate and urban flooding by allowing for the health of our local rivers problem lies with our antiquated nitrate, or complex pharmaceutical The installation took place rain water in towns and cities and the River Ouse has been legislation regarding consents to compounds playing havoc with the during Downlands school to act more naturally and mimic particularly affected. You will abstract and to discharge. The gender of fish. All these things are sustainability week and pupils the journey of rain falling in the all be aware of the disastrous majority of abstraction licences present in our environment today, worked hard all day and were countryside which has time pollution of the Plumpton Mill were granted during the last particularly in watercourses, yet involved in all aspects of the to soak into the ground and Stream reported in our last century, when the population was we still rely on legislation that is construction from sawing and slowly trickle and flow into our Winter issue. much smaller and there appeared over a century old as a basis for painting the wood to drilling rivers and streams. to be plenty of water to go round. regulation. and fixing the sides, fitting and This year we have had problems Dishwashers were virtually cutting the waterpoof liner and Small actions with pollution of the Andrew’s unknown, washing machines a It is time for us to speak up about finally adding the absorptive Overall the project has Stream and the River Ouse at rarity and it was not unusual for this disastrous situation and get a medium and plants. constructed and installed 6 Barcombe Mills. The first incident people to have a bath just once change in attitude. Things will only demonstration rain-garden was a discharge of sludge-laden a week! Demand for water now change if there is a massive public Once installed the planter was planters showing how SuDs effluent into Andrew’s Stream from is far higher, being around 160 outcry. I urge you to make your linked to a downpipe from the can be retrofitted to many South East Water’s treatment -180 litres per capita per day and voices heard. Contact your MPs, library roof, which will divert buildings. Each one is an plant. This occurred in June, just at with burgeoning development the Local Councillors, the Environment all the rain falling there to example of how small actions the time of sea lamprey spawning increasing demand for water is Agency or anyone else you can reduce the amount of water can help reduce flooding and and sea trout fry developing. It relentless. think of who may have influence entering the drainage system increase understanding lasted several days. Subsequent and tell them about your concerns. during heavy rain. The stored about what can be done to that and despite our dialogue Regulation of discharges to Support organisations that are water will be slowly released by the community. Other with SE Water on the matter of watercourses was instituted by a campaigning for environmental back into the drain through a planters have been installed pollution, the firm discharged Royal Commission into sewage protection, including of course slotted pipe fixed in gravel set on Hassocks Council water laden with poisonous blue/ disposal, set up in 1898 with its your Rivers Trust. “Turn your grief in the base of the planter. This Offices, ADASTRA Hall and green algae, first into the main findings implemented in 1910. It into action”. system will also help keep the at Hassocks Infant School river and later into the Andrew’s laid down what is known as the bed watered and the plants providing pupils with ongoing Cut allowing more toxic matter to 20:30 limits for effluents; no more flourishing. Sam St.Pierre learning opportunities to care enter Andrew’s Stream. than 20mg/litre Biological Oxygen for the environment. Demand (BOD) and 30mg/litre of Remembering Daisy If incidents like this carry on, suspended solids. It is astonishing The planter will looked after by Other ideas our local rivers and streams will that to this day permits for year 9 students as a memorial We all need to take deteriorate to mere convenient discharge are still being granted garden for Daisy Bushnell, responsibility for caring for conduits for unwanted and on this basis. In 1910 there a Downlands student who and (continued on page 9) damaging waste to the severe were no detergents, herbicides, sadly passed away during detriment of all life that is pesticides, fungicides, artificial 6 7 days. At first the fry feed on YOUR FISHERIES protecting our environment. invertebrates, later on small fish. You may not have the resources They become mature in 2–3 years STILL TIME TO to build a rain garden right now Robin Pepper explores and live for up to 12 years. The British rod record stands at 2.5 kg TAKE PART but here are some other ideas (about 5 ½ lb) although there are to consider. the perch family unverified accounts of much larger fish. Young Perch form dense Use less water shoals and, when food is in short Simply by using less water we supply, they become stunted as adults and resort to cannibalism. can all reduce the amount of water the drains needs to deal The Pike-Perch, Sander with. lucioperca is an introduced alien Thank you to all the fishing from central Europe. First brought Plant trees to this country by the Duke of clubs and individual anglers, Bedford in 1878 for his lakes at who have come forward to Trees, intercept between 10% Woburn, from where it has spread, request a survey. If you fish and 25% of rainfall and have both legally and illegally, to the the river Ouse or the Adur the added benefit of filtering other River Ouse in Norfolk and out air and water pollutants. Ruffe thence to other catchments. There and want to contribute your Adding the waterproof membrane showing is one record for the Sussex River knowledge by taking part its spiky Ouse catchment from a lake near in an online survey please Green a roof or wall dorsal fin Horsted Keynes but it is not yet get in touch and we will Outbuildings, sheds and widespread. As an alien species it send you a link or paper garages can be fitted with a is not welcome from an ecological The Perch family (Percidae) side and the orange pelvic and questionnaire. green roofs, which look great comprises three species found anal fins which become bright point of view but is welcomed by and add to biodiversity. Seek in the British Isles. Of these the red during the breeding season. some anglers. Contact: [email protected] advice with waterproofing and smallest is the Ruffe (10–15 cm), The Perch is a good sporting fish loading. the Perch at 20 - 30 cm is the and good to eat if you can avoid Also known by the more middle size and the Pikeperch the bones. During the Second euphonious name of Zander, the OART is one of eleven River (30–70 cm) is by far the largest. World War it was caught, canned Pikeperch is a large, voracious Permeable paving predator capable of growing up to Trusts piloting Your Fisheries, All three have spiny dorsal fins and sold as ‘perchine”. They are a new initiative which aims Car parks, play areas and and are fierce predators. to be found in slow flowing rivers 18 kg (almost 40 lb) at an average adult age of 10–15 years. It feeds to produce a multi-partner drives can be built from and lakes and, like the Ruffe, are materials that absorb rainfall, The Ruffe, Gymnocephalus indigenous in south-east waters. on smaller coarse fish in slow- perspective on the current cernuus is a pale, mottled flowing weedy rivers and in lakes. status of fish populations and some can even be constructed brownish-green but the distinctive Females lay 12,000 to 199,000 Superficially resembling the Perch, so water is stored underneath. it is a larger, more slender fish but angling opportunity in the feature is the dorsal fins that are eggs in shallow water in April Ouse and Adur catchments, joined together. It occurs in slow to June. The eggs are laid in lacking the red colouration of the ventral fins and the dorsal fins are along with the key actions Thank you flowing rivers, canals and lakes, ribbons up to 1m long, which the We are most grateful for the often in large shoals where it female winds around plant stems closer together. required to maintain or deliver feeds on invertebrates, especially or stones. They hatch in 15–20 improvements on the ground. financial support we have molluscs, and small fish. They are received from Postcode Local despised by anglers except as live Developed by The Rivers Trust - a grant giving charity bait, surely the lowest ignominy Trust in conjunction with the funded entirely by players of for any fish. But beware. When People’s Postcode Lottery. caught they become rigid and Environment Agency and extend their spiny dorsal fin. Take Angling Trust, the project is care or they may get their revenge. funded by rod licence income If your school is interested in Ruffe spawn in April and May in and is currently being trialled getting involved in SuDS work shallow water, the young mature please get in touch. after 2 years and can live for 2–3 in every River Basin District in years. . Rachel Paget The European Perch, Perca The perch has a greeny-brown back fluviatalis is instantly recognisable with a series dark vertical bars Fish Photo Credits Top: Tiit Hunt by the dark vertical stripes on its across the uppr sides. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Middle: Dellex (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Bottom: ELNuko (Self-photographed) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

8 Pike-perch are eatern throughout Europe 9 and heavy bank reinforcements installed from to Isfield. A very large plane tree Pond gets some TLC Jim ‘the fish’ was ripped out at the end of what A pond in good health is a wonderfully diverse and rich habitat for is now the industrial estate and a wildlife. Gentle thinning of very dominant plants such as reedmace, Smith recalls new sewage works built to meet Typha latifolia (often referred to as bulrush) can make room for less the needs of Uckfield’s expanding invasive species to grow. Reedmace thrives in still water and once his boyhood population. Water quality dropped established traps silt around its roots allowing it to quickly spread out and the weed went too. Then the into water previously too deep for it to survive. river was dredged and new cuts put and time as in around Owlsbury Farm. Other During the autumn the Task Force spent two days working on the sections were dredged too and so pond next to Plumpton Green Village Hall removing the dense matt of riverkeeper the river became more canal like. reedmace that was taking over much of the water surface and thinning It was the era of ‘get water away to out the bank-side trees. Shade from trees reduces the amount light sea soon as possible’. reaching the water and makes the pond a colder habitat. As a rule of on the thumb its best to keep 50% of a pond edge tree free (unless you have Around the same time the Lewes an established woodland pond). Leaves add tannins and nutrients River Ouse industrial estate was being which can have detrimental effect on water quality. constructed, right on the floodplain with tonnes of chalk from the For a copy of the Task Force calendar email: [email protected] 430m long Cuilfail tunnel to raise the levels of the floodplain. Both the uck an the Ouse continued to change over the following years as land drainage projects, which included removing all the trees and bushes for local streams.

When I started work on the rivers as riverkeeper in 1963 nobody thought to think how water services and sewage treatment would cope with the growing numbers of In the old days, Bridge Cottage permission for you to fish. The a picnic and rod with a senior people and their demand for more was lived in by Mr Johnson and whole river was tree-lined and you member and his wife. Then we’d and more water. A fish pass was Mr Fry, his assistant, who looked needed to find a gap to fish it. The perhaps pick some primroses and put in at Isfield sluice as the Uck after the old Uckfield sewage river bailiff for the area was Bob with luck leave with a couple of was an important sea trout run. works situated off the end of Bell Edwards who rode a Lambretta trout for tea. There are still trout in the river Lane. The works were operated with an ESRB motif. The river also today but not in the numbers that by Uckfield Rural District Council had a fair hatch of mayfly. In late 1960 we had a flood event there used to be. and they were immaculately kept. which was to change the Ouse The water in the outfall ditch was I have fished the River Ouse since and Uck completely as flood Conservation minded landowners, full of starwort and there were also I was six when I was given junior water washed out the railway in the middle reaches have more beds of it, along with ranunculus membership of the Ouse Angling line near the old oil mills and the recently been helping to protect in the main River Uck which was Preservation Society and could anchor crossing as well as the the river and the adjacent land overhung with trees all the way fish from Isfield to Uckfiled as town of Lewes, including all the attracts all sorts of bird life. It down towards Isfield. There was many times as I liked. I roamed preparations for bonfire night. In gives me hope that this little river, always a good flow of water and the Uck in those days. The angling response a decision was made which gave me so much boyhood the river contained plenty of trout, club used to stock brown trout into by the authorities to raise the pleasure will continue to thrive. chubb and roach. the Uck in the area around Worth banks to protect farmland and to Farm. The weir at Worth, which dredge the river from Barcombe I remember catching a trout for tea was later built by the Mackleys Mills down to Lewes and beyond. Jim Smith on many occasions on a worm. of Henfield as a gauging station, This transformed that section of The licence was one shilling for an was not then constructed and the river from a natural riffle/pool orange piece of paper from East fish had free movement up and sequence with a rich biodiversity Sussex River Board. However, you down the river. The angling club to a sluggish muddy bottomed and rarely saw anybody else, expect held trout competitions on Sunday featureless drain. The bank-side the odd farmer who had given afternoons which comprised of trees and bushes were torn down

10 11 What Next? Sam St. Pierre shares his views on the Great Repeal Bill Jim’s Diary

Wednesday 2nd August coming to drink as this is the infant Monday 28th August Saw some heavy rain in the Ouse Medway that rises near Withy Pits at Bank holiday and it’s hot - 80 plus valley which was very welcome, as Turners Hill, West Sussex and flows degrees, with mayhem at the Mills. A the river is so low and some sea trout into the Weirwood Reservoir. lot of landowners don’t like the right were moving about at Barcombe to roam as some people think they Mills as the they seem to get active can do as they please. We will see at the approach of rain. what tomorrow brings.

Thursday 3rd August Tuesday 29th August The Ouse was running coloured and A clear up with some six black sacks there was a small flood. Barcombe of all sorts of rubbish including Mills flood gates were open so I 12 discarded BBQ’s and the usual walked upriver to the Sutton Hall bags of dog mess and plastic and weir, but I saw no fish. Sea trout glass bottles. Why do people do often wait until the main flood falls this? It is beyond me. Leave only off to move. your footprints. Plastic rubbish is so I used to be a “hobby” farmer. I to read the following from the catcher. Indeed, successive UK dangerous to live stock. was inspired by John Seymour, Director of Compassion in World governments have been in the Friday 4th August who wrote a book in the 1960s Farming (one of my favourite vanguard of a few member states I saw ten or more sea trout of various Saturday 2nd September entitled “The Complete Book of charities). trying to water down the terms of sizes that had been laying up in the Sunday 20th August Saw myself in the Town Hall with Self Sufficiency”. Whilst I had “I am very sorry to report that the the Directive. I fear the rejection of lower River Ouse moving upstream. Took a walk along the Ouse from three other volunteers manning the no pretensions about being self government has now confirmed, Article 13 in the Great Repeal Bill Isfield to below Barcombe Mills. OART stand at the Lewes Societies sufficient, I wanted to produce directly to us, that they do not sends a signal that the watering Saturday 5th August Two kingfishers seen and a very late Fair, with people showing a lot of as much of my own food as intend to amend the Repeal Bill. down of legislation relating to the A mighty thunder storm with a tree brood of mallard. Large shoals of fry interest. possible so that I would know its When they convert EU law into improvement of our rivers may struck by lightening and very heavy in the cattle drink at the Anchor plus provenance and could ensure that UK law, they are determined to well be the next target. rain. a red kite just below White Bridge. the meaty bits came from animals ignore Article 13 of the EU Treaty that had been given a good life – which serves to acknowledge Additionally, the Environment Friday 11th August and were despatched humanely. I that animals can feel pain, suffer Agency is now subject to a The Ouse is in full flood and I counted still grow vegetables and fruit and and experience joy” recent piece of new legislation, 22 fish moving up through very keep a few chickens for nice fresh which obliges it when carrying coloured water – a welcome sight. eggs. You may ask what has any of this out its duties “to have regard I saw fish at Goldbridge and Sutton to do with rivers and freshwater to the desirability of promoting Hall and I was pleased to see the I have always been a protagonist habitats, so I will tell you. We economic growth” and to ensure water but a difficult time for farmers of “free range” in animal husbandry are heavily dependent on the that “regulatory action is taken trying to get in the remaining and having had them around me EU Water Framework Directive, only when needed” and that any harvest. for the best part of a lifetime I can which requires all member states action taken is “proportionate”. In assure you that they are sentient to bring their freshwater bodies other words, having had one hand Thursday 17th August beings. One only has to see the up to good ecological status by tied behind its back by swingeing A walk in the Kingscote Valley near evident joy experienced by lambs 2027. Without this Directive it is cuts in its budget, the Agency is the top end of Weirwood Reservoir gambolling in the spring or the extremely doubtful that any UK now having the other one suffer with lots of bird life including ecstasy on a sow’s face when you government of whatever political the same fate by depriving it of any cormorants, egrets, and various scratch it behind the ear to realise persuasion would have dipped meaningful regulatory function. ducks, a pair of nuthatches and a Peter Chase, Jim Smith and Simon that this is indeed true. It was into the coffers to facilitate these tree creeper. Deer were also seen, therefore a great disappointment improvements: it is not a vote Sam St. Pierre Turner at the Lewes Societies Fair 12 13 I‘ve cared for the River Ouse for 50 Tuesday 31st October The brightly coloured years and it’s total disgrace the way The last day of the sea trout season pumpkinseed fish, our rivers are treated as a dumping with the water levels in the river very Lepomis gibbosus has grounds for poorly treated effluent low. Found two people with rods but been introduced into no licence and they spoke no English UK watersways from from sewage works. The river Ouse America was closed for fishing, with notices so I moved them on. I did a winter posted up by the Environment clean up at the Mills and collected a Agency. My own phone was in sack-full of litter and removed bags meltdown with calls from concerned of dog mess hung on bushes. Why people. do people do this? Then a trip to the tip and home. Wednesday27th September It has happened again and the Iron Saturday 4th November River is full of blue-green algae and I expect plenty of people saw the dead fish have been found. The recent Beaver Moon - very large Beaver moon Sunday 3rd September Tuesday 12th September water company admits that the and very bright and this one also November 2017 I was doing a routine inspection of An early morning walk along the reservoir was a possible source of brought some big tides. Its is called the Andrews cut and a chap fishing Ouse where large numbers of the pollution. Rivers are such special a Hunters Moon or Beaver Moon as I will end this diary on what has been said he had caught three fish on red seagulls were flying north up the and delicate environments and we hunters used its light to stalk prey a year of odd weather, including the need to look after them and protect and set traps. From now onwards I maggot and did not know what they valley. They roost on Barcombe Thursday 19th October day of the Sahara dust when birds were. They were pumpkin fish – an reservoir. A fox was working on the them better. will expect to hear at night the arrival went up to roost as it got so dark I take a walk up through the woods of the redwings, a small thrush that alien species from North America so bottom of the old railway line, no and watch a jay picking up acorns, the sun was blotted out. I wish all I disposed of them. doubt looking or lunch. Also a pair migrates to the UK each winter. Its our farmers and landowners best it’s been a large crop this year. The name comes from the rusty red flash of heron disturbed on the Iron River jay flew in and out 27 times as I wishes for Christmas and New Year Wednesday 6th September that left squawking loudly and I on the bird’s under-wing which is and thanks for all their help and watched it from a distance, also a revealed during flight , a colour Saw a clear up around the village watched a buzzard on the ground squirrel doing the same thing and cooperation. with several black sacks of rubbish, with an earthworm through my which can stand out on a clear a pigeon too - it’s stock up time for winters night. Listen in the quietness all thrown from cars, full ready for binoculars. these species. Jim Smith the bin man. We also found two of the countryside and you will hear OART Field Officer & th them so lets hope both redwing and dead blackbirds, a barn owl, two Sunday 17 September Sunday 22nd October Honorary Bailiff of the River Ouse pheasants and a moorhen, all run After a heavy thunderstorm I went fieldfares get plenty of winter berries Blackbirds are feeding on the to feed on after having flown from down by cars that speed around the out to see what effect it might have hawthorn berries, perhaps soon village roads and lanes. on a very low river flow and walked Scandinavian winter to find food the red wings and field fares will in this country. I wonder what our to Barcombe but saw very little find fewer berries. A walk along the th winter will be like? I will hope for a Thursday 7 September difference. I talk to a few fishermen Ouse finds the fish pass at Sutton Walked along the Uck to clear and all is in order. successful sea trout and pollution Weir blocked by a fallen tree. With free spawning season with not too the mouth of Isfield fish pass of sea trout migration close to starting st many floods. rubbish, which was blocking the Thursday 21 September I call it in. main channel, and on to Owlsbury Saw several blackbirds tucking into trees, where buzzards were calling hawthorn berries at the bottom of Sunday 29th October overhead. the back garden. Later a number of Thursday 5th October The leaves are coming off fast with a goldfinches on the thistle patches. Walk the Ouse to Barcombe Mills to feel of autumn and a change towards No doubt the birds will find the check for any signs of algae. It’s a colder weather. The fungi are fruiting teasels as well - an important food full moon with big tides and a vixen in the woods in abundance. A few for them over winter. is calling at night locally and also a fisherman about but the water badger in the garden. is very low with a few pike being rd Saturday 23 September. caught with the odd very coloured The Ouse is under threat from a Wednesday 4th October sea trout showing near spawning serious event, the second in a short I gave a talk on ‘My Life on the River’ colours. time. First a discharge of filter waste to Lewes Ladies Conservative Club when a 18lb sea trout was picked up lunch, which was well received. dead in very low flow in the Ouse. Then today a discharge of poisonous Sunday 15th October blue-green algae which also entered Saw a quick walk in the area with the Andrews Stream – a breeding woodland trees starting to change Windfall apples ground for the rare brook lamprey. colour from verdant green to colours are a fource of And also for sea trout. I called this of autumn. food for filedfares event in to the Environment Agency. in winter

14 15 Will you help protect your local river and its wildlife?

Why not come along to one of our river Task Force events

For details email: [email protected] or call Rachel on: 07789 442 687

Dedicated to the environmental protection of the Sussex River Ouse and River Adur