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TOWN BRIDGE SEAT CROSTON
Friends of the River Yarrow (FRY) used a novel way to raise money to buy a seat for the village of Croston - they held a Sponsored Chest Wax in the Lord Nelson. Three hairy volunteers,Jeff Almond, David Jackson and Aubrey Parkinson, assisted by beautician Tina Wade, raised almost £600 for the seat.  The seat is now in place by Town Bridge, an ideal place for people to observe the River Yarrow, which runs through the centre of the village. Three small plaques have been placed on the seat with the names of the brave volunteers, and also one in the shape of a fish, which gives the web site of FRY -
                        www.friendsoftherivervarrow.co.uk.

The company who supplied the seat, Lost Art, said it is the first one they have provided with a web site on the plaque. Croston isn't such a backwater after all! Grateful thanks to everyone who sponsored the Chest Wax, includingTina the beautician, Jo at the Lord Nelson and the three brave volunteers.                                                              Kath Almond.

Friends of the River Yarrow feature in case studies of European wide initiatives to clean up our rivers
At the Friends of the River Yarrow Annual General Meeting,at the Croston Old School, on 28TH November, 2007 Mike Callery in the course of his chairman's annual report mentioned a recent publication entitled " Water: local planning and management" produced by ENMaR (the European Network of Municipalities and Rivers).  The book describing the European wide 'Water Framework Directive' initiatives included amongst its 'Case Studies' the success of FrY in reducing diffuse pollution on the Yarrow by means of fencing and buffer stripping much of the heavily stocked farmland adjoining the river banks, resulting in "a more attractive habitat for invertebrate species, voles and otters".  Quoting further "The first signs of these have recently been spotted.  Also, the first salmon in living memory have been seen in the river following construction of three fish-passes." "key players" are quoted as "Friends of the River Yarrow; a local community group of volunteers and a local fencing contractor, Anthony Rogerson, a farmer who specialises in riverside fencing"
The Case study also refers to the need to remove a large number of fallen trees and branches obstructing the line of fencing and the fact that "Volunteers have planted over 3,000 trees and removed some of the alien plant species such as Himalayan Balsam."  The chairman also mentioned in his report the recent removal of bank side Giant Hogweed between Croston and Eccleston by the voluntary effort of FrY Board members Dave Massam and John Bamford. 
The support FrY received from the Lancashire Environmental Fund, Chorley Borrough Council, Awards For All and the Environment Agency was acknowledged in the publication "plus fund-raising from local events such as raft races, canoeing and social events"
  The Board of Fry is proud of the acknowledgement of its efforts over the past seven years to clean up the much loved River Yarrow in Lancashire.