Nature
River Mel Restoration Group This month we have turned our column over to one of our working-party volunteers, Norman Shippey. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ volunteer, nor are they all local. Norman travels from Cottenham to join us and you could count the number of working-parties that he has missed on the fingers of one hand. Being a fisherman he understands the river and its importance both to wildlife and the wider community. Over to Norman… ‘Most residents of Melbourn and Meldreth will be aware of the River Mel Restoration Group. A dedicated environmentally aware group, who in 2006, began the process of consulting with the various interested bodies, gaining their permissions, drawing up plans and, most importantly, seeking agreements with the many riparian owners along the course of the river. I am privileged to be a member of the Group having joined early in 2007 when the physical work in the river was about to begin and as a fly-fisherman was immediately attracted to a conservation project restoring a chalk stream. It is a sad fact that many water authorities during the 1950s/1970s with good intent and little forethought canalized and dredged many of our rivers from which many have still not fully recovered. The Mel has remained neglected for too long, fifty years perhaps, and it is evident by the blossoming membership of the Group that a significant
number of residents think so too and are prepared to give up their spare time for the river and for the flora and fauna that it supports. Nothing demonstrates the enthusiasm for our local environment than how the project, which started in Meldreth, was so quickly extended into Melbourn creating such a strong mutual endeavour. Much of the early work has now matured and with vegetation restored softened some of the raw visual aspects of the river. I have in mind
Well connected...
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