Nature

River Mel Group

This winter, unusually, the River Mel Restoration Group will not be holding any in-river working parties. This is due to the positive affect our restoration work has had on our chalk stream. Following a fish survey by the Environment Agency, combined with sightings of trout in the river, the Ecology Officer for South Cambridgeshire District Council believes that there is a good chance of trout spawning on the gravel riffles this season. This good news means that we have been advised to stay out of the river during the months November to March, due to the fact that any disturbance of silt on the riverbed will have a detrimental affect on trout eggs and subsequent hatchlings.

Trout lay their eggs in the gravel beds of chalk streams like the Mel. The female builds her nest, known as a “redd”, from the middle of November onwards. The length of time it takes for the eggs to hatch depends upon the temperature of the river water, the cooler the water the longer the incubation period. After hatching, the young trout live in the gravel for a further 14-30 days, feeding off the remaining yolk sac that is still attached to their body. This time period is again temperature dependent. Once the yolk has been exhausted, the young trout, at this stage known as “fry”, emerge from the gravel to start feeding on tiny insects in the water.

During the egg and newly hatched stage it is vitally important that that the gravel stays loose and clean. We are concerned the silt that is disturbed during our restoration work may smother the gravel and so deplete the oxygen that is so essential for the survival of the eggs and young trout at the beginning of their life cycle.

In the past trout were often seen near the bridge in Station Road and further downstream in Meldreth. It would be a wonderful testament to the quality of the water and the health of the river if we could encourage spawning and the regeneration of the local trout population, so increasing the numbers of fish in the Mel.

However, the group will not be idle during the winter months. We will continue to meet regularly to undertake bank side work, including the regeneration of the areas of dead hedging.

For further details about volunteering or the dates of future working parties, please telephone Maureen Brierley on 01763 262752.

The village Fox

A solitary fox was living on the waste ground next door to us in Station Road. When the building of the house next door started, the fox moved to the plot in Rose Lane where he quickly acquired a pretty little wife, though they still made forays back to the old haunts via our garden whilst the building work was going on. (Could be something to do with chickens kept in the garden behind?) I have never fed them, but during the very cold and snowy weather last winter they soon discovered food put out for the birds and I took this photograph through my kitchen window.

They later had two dear little cubs who had a propensity for stealing gardening shoes left on back doorsteps, as several of us have learned to our cost. One of the delights of a summer evening was to see the cubs playing on our lawn with an old shoe – just like puppies.

However, even though they look cute, they ARE vermin and potentially dangerous so enjoy them if they appear - but I do not think we should feed them and make them dependant on us! Mavis Howard.