RIVERS REVITALISED

Fish and other aquatic creatures are benefiting from work to improve the health of two rivers running through the Rhug Estate, aimed at ensuring a future for the habitat the estate to conserve and restore local fish populations.

The Welsh Dee Trust has been busy undertaking interventions that will improve the rivers’ ecological health and biodiversity. These include natural-based run-off attenuation features (or RAFs) to direct floodwater, improving water quality and boosting carbon capture.

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate said, “It greatly saddened me to see so many rivers choke up and run dry. I welcome the input of the Welsh Dee Trust here. Their interventions are well-aligned with our own work and I look forward to seeing these take effect and develop.”

During what was an extremely dry summer last year, Rhug Estate enlisted the help of the Welsh Dee Trust to improve two rivers that run through its land, to ensure a future for the fish that depend on them. The Camddwr and Nant Ffrauar are tributaries of the River Dee, which is highly designated for the species it supports. Despite Rhug Estate being organic for over 20 years and making improvements to riverbank habitat under agri-environment schemes, there is still much that can be done on

The water course has been straightened under past policies, reducing the quality of the habitat over time. Flow deflectors have now been used to scour out gravel downstream, increasing turbulence and boosting flow diversity. Pinning woody debris in the water creates a pool downstream and builds up upstream, creating refuge for invertebrates and fish.

Gareth Jones from the Welsh Dee Trust said, “We are confident that the work will bear fruit, with clean gravel scoured out of the riverbed providing excellent habitat for spawning for fish.”