Sat 18th Feb Hogsmill habitat enhancement

Hi Dave -

Just to add that while the Wandle Trust has been successful in bidding for fish passage funding for the Hogsmill from the Catchment Restoration Fund (with the EA's encouragement - basically big expensive heavy engineering jobs to help meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive) this certainly doesn't mean that we're aiming to monopolise efforts on the river - quite the reverse, in fact!

Over the next few years, our aspiration is to set up a model of local stewardship for the Hogsmill very similar to what we've developed on the Wandle - habitat work will be a big part of this, and everyone's hands on and help will be most welcome. As far as I can tell the EA's Dave Bartlett seems to have disappeared at the moment, but I see no reason at all why EA, TAC and the Wandle Trust shouldn't still try for some early wins in terms of habitat work if anyone can identify them... however it may be better to let the weir reductions bed in a bit, see what the river really wants and then start making proper plans?

As you say, ongoing cleanups will also be a key part of improving the river, which anyone can do at any time

Theo

Thanks Theo

I spoke to Dave B last week and he is drowned in the environmental aspects of the Thames Tunnel so think thats why.

Fair points above

Aha, cheers Dave - I do need to speak to him about the Wandle too, so will give him another try sometime soon...

Theo