Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 82

Country life
Countryside news
By Tony Ridd
Improving fish passage
on the River Yar
The presence of fish is not only an
excellent indicator of the health of a
river system – it can also provide some
delightful sights.
Indeed, spotting a brown trout patiently waiting for its
prey, or catching the flash of an eel slipping through
the reeds is one of the great pleasures to be enjoyed
when taking a riverside stroll. This is why, as part of
the project Gateway to the East, they are working to
remove some of the man-made barriers between
Alverstone and Horringford that are preventing the
passage of fish of all species up the River Yar.
The works to date include the installation of timber
baffles onto concrete sills under bridges and the
construction of downstream rock ramps or pre-
barrage weirs to overcome excessively shallow and
fast-flowing sections of the River.
The works, which form part of a wider and ongoing
package of river improvement works, have been
expertly undertaken by local contractors, Graham
Atrill Civil Engineering Ltd and overseen by the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
www.downtothecoast.co.uk
Dormice in Briddlesford Woods
Join PTES on 21st October at their
reserve for a rare chance to see
dormice in their natural setting.
October is a good month for
plenty of sightings, as the dormice
are still fattening up for the winter
and will be using the nest boxes to
stay out of the cold during the day.
You will be able to help check
some of the 400 nest boxes in the
woods, and learn about the ecology
of this tiny rare mammal and the
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management of the woodland.
Keep an eye out for red squirrels
too, as they are particularly active at
this time of year. The event will be
led by PTES Dormouse Officer Ian
White. The event will start at 10am
and last approximately 3 hours.
After the walk, tea and cake will be
served and you will have a chance
to learn more about the work of
PTES. Book online at www.ptes.org/
events