CONSERVATION MATTERS AT BAY MALTON

LYMM DAM REGENERATION PROJECT – JUNE 2024 UPDATE

Work continues to be done on the Dam to improve bank side vegetation to create stabilisation, habitat improvement for inverts / insects, water quality  improvement, bio diversity improvement, providing spawning ground for fish. The work also supports the butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies by providing sources of nectar and pollen enabling them to thrive.

The first job was to lay coir matting, then the installation of the temporary fencing so the plants can establish undisturbed. The club has invested in a number of plants, British native plant plugs, lillies which have been  locally sourced. What plants did we plant? Waters edge plants plugs (5 of each) – Common Valerian, Marsh Cinquefoil, Marsh Violet, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Flag Iris, Brookline, Ragged-Robin and Water Forget-Me-Not Wet / Damp Grassland plugs (5 of each) – Black Knapweed, Hemp Agrimony, Meadow Crane’s-Bill, Meadowsweet, Sneezewort, Bugle, Meadow Vetchling, Square Stalked St. John’s Wort Lillies – 6 x White British Native Lillies. Once all the plants and fencing had been installed we then hand sowed marginal plant seed to provide an extra boost to the area should we loose any plants over the next few weeks. British Native plants from Cumbria Wildflowers have also been sourced by the club.

Special thanks from the Management team of the club go to Lee, who has been the lead force behind all the hard work and regeneration project at Lymm Dam. Thanks also to all the team of people who are supporting Lee with this incredible work.

FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

In January 2024 the Environment Agency announced that £730,000 had been made available to support local projects to protect and enhance fishing in local communities and to help and create sustainable & resilient fisheries.

2024 will be the 10th year of the Fisheries Improvement Programme, investing in English rivers by funding projects to protect and improve fish stocks and habitats, provide new facilities for anglers and to give more people the opportunity to try fishing.

The Environment Agency’s recent move to reduce printing costs by removing illustrations from rod licences has meant an additional £230,000 has been added to the initial 2024 Fisheries Improvement Programme, bringing the overall budget to £730,000.

The EA works closely with a wide range of partners including the Wild Trout Trust, the Canal and River Trust, commercial fisheries and angling clubs. In 2022/23 nearly 200 projects were completed, improving a total of 72km of rivers and 237 hectares of still waters.

In March of this year Bay Malton secured a healthy stocking of 5000 fish at Cranage & Robinsons Meadow through ongoing discussions and agreement with the Environment Agency. The fish were made up of 1000 10 inch Barbel & 4000 chub, dace & roach. These fish were stocked courtesy of the Environment Agency and were sourced from their fish farm at Brampton. The stocking of the river Dane remains an important and ongoing stocking and conservation project for Bay Malton.

A huge thanks to the Environment Agency and all those involved in overseeing this exciting project. On behalf of the club and Environment Agency, we politely ask that members keep us updated on the health and wellbeing of the fish.

BELLA’S LEGACY WILDLIFE AND FISH RESCUE

We were recently notified of a cygnet on Lymm Dam with fishing line in it’s beak. We contacted the wonderful people at BELLA’S LEGACY  WIDLIFE AND FISH RESCUE straight away and they were there that afternoon. They carefully caught the signet and after scanning there were indications that it had swallowed the hook and possible weights. The signet was transported to the emergency vets and underwent minor surgery to remove the hook. After receiving antibiotics and painkillers he was wrapped in a warm towel and given a bed of thick straw, followed by a nice swan continental breakfast. He has now been returned to the Dam where mum, dad and his sibling eagerly awaited his return.  SINCERE THANKS to everyone at BELLA’S LEGACY WILDLIFE AND FISH RESCUE for everything they have done to rescue and care for this signet. The club has subsequently made a donation to this wonderful charity and would like to remind all it’s members to be mindful of surrounding wildlife and the implications of your actions.

Anyone wishing to donate BELLA.S LEGACY WILDLIFE AND FISH RESCUE donations can be made to paypal colsproule1@gmail.com

Lymm Dam has had stocking of 50 carp recently with 3 to 5lbs fish, this should give the water a good range of fish from 3lbs to 30lbs+.

The regeneration of the environment and stages at Lymm Dam has been a priority for the club over the last 12 months. Intensive work has been undertaken, building new stages, fences and additional planting to improve the ecosystem and environment. Work has been carried out to include floating fish shelters for the well-being and sustainability of the fish.