Friends of the River Yarrow

Achievements to Date

Buffer Strips
So far 13,000m. of stock proof fencing, with related gates and styles, has been completed ; creating 'buffer strips' along 80% of the riverbank subject to intensive stock grazing. Cattle crossings were provided where essential, as well as new drinking troughs in a number of locations to avoid the need for cattle to access the river. Over 3000 trees have been planted within these buffer strips - entirely by voluntary effort.

Obstructions
Funding of £5,000 in 2005 from "Awards for All" allowed the removal of the major obstructions to flow in the length from Pincock Weir to upstream of Duxbury Weir. These obstructions resulted from fallen trees, mainly willow, the branches of which trapped large quantities of floating debris, causing diversion of the river flow, which in in turn resulted in erosion of bank sides and consequent siltation. At least 25 more obstructions remain to be removed as funding permits.

Fish-passes
All four major obstructions to migratory fish have been removed by the construction of fish-passes by a specialist contractor in this field, William Pye:

Birkacre Weir Fish-pass: The first to be constructed in the autumn of 2002. Sea trout and brown trout were witnessed ascending the new fish-pass within days of its completion as well as a few salmon - the first fish to ascend the weir in over 100 years.
Duxbury Weir Fish-pass: The formal opening of this fish-pass took place in August 2005. Migratory fish, sea trout and salmon are known to have ascended the new fishpass. An 'Interpretation Board' was erected alongside the pubic right of way opposite the fishpass.
Pincock Weir Fishpass: The new fish-pass linking to the old mill race was also constructed in summer 2005.
Croston Weir Fishpass: The final fish-pass was completed in August 2009

Widening Interest in Fry
'Friends of the River Yarrow' now number around 100 in total. Members continue to take a keen interest in our work, in supporting our social functions and guided walks, as well as providing voluntary support for activities such as clearing Himalayan Balsam. One FrY event, the annual Raft Race, in early July, attracts a very large number of spectators - the biggest gathering of any event in Croston throughout the year. It is particularly gratifying to note the interest and enthusiasm being generated in local schools in Fry's role in improving the quality of the Yarrow and its environs. For example Trinity and St. Michaels School, Croston, produced a well researched document "TheYarrow Heritage Trail" covering the Croston area and this was carried out in association with FrY, Action Douglas and Yarrow and the Croston Parish Council.

Acknowledgement of FrY's Success

The 2003 Mersey Basin Dragonfly Award for the outstanding performance amongst North West voluntary environmental groups being presented by Mark Turner of the Mersey Basin Campaign (on left) to Mike Callery, Chairman of FrY, with Darren Wilson, EA Fisheries Officer and John Bamford, FrY's membership secretary on the right.