pembrokeshire rivers trust february 2014 newsletter

8/12/2019 Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust February 2014 Newsletter

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Dear Rivers Trust Supporter

Welcome to the Spring 2014 edition of our Newsletter.

Thank you to all of our supporters who contribute so muchto the work of Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust.

www.pembsrt.org

The PRT web site is regularly updated with information

about volunteers activities, including our Twitter feed of

Riverfly sample results and articles on all projects featured

in this newsletter.

Llys-y-Frn Catchment project

Volunteers have been dodging rain and wind over the

winter months to assist with surveys on the Afon Syfynwy

and its tributaries as part of the Llys-y-Frn Catchment

Project. The Afon Syfynwy, which rises in the Preseli

Hills, flows into Rosebush and Llys-y-Frn Reservoirs and

lies within the Eastern Cleddau River Special Area of

Conservation

(SAC).

The project is a

trial collaborative

partnership

between Afonydd

Cymru (in

association with

Pembrokeshire

Rivers Trust), Natural Resources Wales and Dr Cymru

Welsh Water. In recent years Llys-y-Frn Reservoir has

been susceptible to Blue Green Algae blooms and the aim

of this project is to achieve a better understanding of factorsimpacting on water quality and nutrient loading in relation

to land use within the catchment. This includes carrying

out river walkover surveys, water quality and invertebrate

monitoring, as well as providing soil sampling, nutrient

management plans and practical advice for a number of

farms in the area. Working closely with catchment users, it

is hoped to deliver positive measures to improve water

quality, minimise the risk of pollution incidents and help to

gain favourable conservation status.

To get involved or for more information contact

[email protected]

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust /Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro

February 2014

Also in this Newsletter Page

Chairmans Report 2

Riverfly Monitoring 3

Lampreys in Pembrokeshire 4

www.pembsrt.org 1 [email protected]

Afon Syfynwy at Farthings Hook

Bridge

The Afon Morgennau runs from its confluence with the

Teifi at Llechryd to its source near Boncath, north

Pembrokeshire. Today the carefully tended grounds of

Hammet House Hotel give no clue to the areas industrial

past, described in former times as: a pleasant place, and a

resort of anglers; and a bridge over the river, communicating

with the charming grounds of Castle Malgwyn. A large

weir formerly was here, preventing salmon from ascending

the river; and was destroyed, in 1844, by a large body of the

Rebecca rioters. (GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of

Llechryd, in and Cardiganshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through

Time. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/11171, viewed 12/11/2013)

While the weir may

have disappeared the

Morgennau has been

affected by a blockage

to the culverts, a

legacy of an old tin

works, which has

virtually sealed it from

the main river, making

the passage of

migratory salmon and

sea trout impossible.

In October 2013

obstructions and largetrees were carefully

removed from the

culverts, with grant

money from the European Fisheries Fund. This work was

carried out just before the first of the Winter spates, and the

culverts now once again carry the Morgennau into the Teifi

and, importantly, the upstream catchment is now open to the

passage of migratory fish. Volunteers from PRT and Teifi

Rivers Trusts have now completed a full walkover survey of

the Morgennau to assess upstream fish spawning areas and

to identify other potential habitat projects .

Before: blocked culverts on the

Morgennau

Aer: perfect for migratory sh

Afon Morgennau Easement Scheme
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Chairmans Report As Chairman and Trustee of Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust I am very pleased to

introduce our Spring 2014 newsletter, with details of our many activities and achievements during the last 12

months. At the heart of everything the Trust does are the efforts of our volunteers, who have made a huge

contribution to protecting and improving the rivers and wildlife of Pembrokeshire. Big Lottery Funding together with a grant

from Countryside Council for Wales (now NRW) enabled us to swell our Riverfly monitoring team to 40 by holding two

training workshops to equip and train volunteers to collect crucial information on the biological health of local watercourses.Volunteers also tackled Himalayan Balsam, litter and fly-tipping, and carried out river walkover surveys on the Anghof,

Narberth Brook, Morgennau and Syfynwy, important work which enables the Trust to pinpoint areas requiring habitat

improvement projects. The Afonydd Cymru project team has delivered several projects including an important improvement

scheme on Rosemarket stream in south Pembrokeshire, a fencing scheme with drinking arrangements to exclude animals

from a section of the Knock Brook near Haverfordwest and the unblocking of culverts on the Morgennau near to Llechrhyd

in north Pembrokeshire to once again make it open for the passage of migratory sea trout and salmon. There is always more

to do and if your community has a river or wetland area which needs conserving or if you would like to get involved please

do contact us. On behalf of the Trustees I would again like to express my sincere thanks to all our volunteers and supporters.

David Prichard, Chairman, Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust

PRT volunteers carried out a walkover survey of the Rosemarket stream in Summer 2012 and identified several problems,

including bank erosion and in-stream

barriers to fish migration. The stream

in its lower reaches follows the route

of the Neyland cycle path, which was

originally a Brunel railway line,

flowing through Westfield Pill and into

Milford Haven via Neyland marina.

The stream has been failing to meet its

water quality status objectives set

under the European Water Framework Directive, and Afonydd Cymru made a

successful bid for funds to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to carry out habitat

improvement measures. These measures involved fence repairs, removal of an

old mill diversion structure and built-up woody debris, modification of a railway

culvert weir to help the passage of migratory fish, and installation of spring -fed

troughs to provide alternative drinking water for livestock. In addition

Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) removed two large tree trunks stuck in a

stream culvert where the stream, road and cycle path converge, to the south of

Rosemarket village. This work complemented major repairs by PCC and NRW

to the fish passes in Westfield Pill, opening up the Rosemarket catchment for

migratory fish. Westfield Pill nature reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust of

South & West Wales, and is a fantastic location to explore.


Become a Volunteer: If you are interested in river conservation activities and have time to spare please come and

join us -visit our web site at www.pembsrt.organd click on Volunteer, or call 01437 783070.

Improved: spring-fed trough & fence

to exclude livestock from streamRemoved tree trunks

stuck in stream culvert

FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro

Rosemarket Stream Habitat Improvement work

Removed: secon of collapsed fencing

Removed: structure causing erosion &

debris build-up

Pembrokeshire & Tei Rivers Trusts together with the West Wales

Biodiversity Informaon Centre are planning a volunteer training day

covering Invasive Non Nave Species and the development of Local

Biodiversity Acon Plans. Details to be conrmed, likely venue will be the

Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Cilgerran Visitor Centre, in March.
http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/


3/4www.pembsrt.org 3 [email protected]

PRT Otter & Education ProjectHakin Community School

During 2012/13, thanks to sponsorship from South Hook LNG and Countryside Council for Wales (NRW), 219 children

from 9 schools took part in the PRT Otter and Education project. Now in its 5th year, this project forms an important part of

PRTs Education Programme, raising awareness of, and an interest in, river ecology and the need to protect river habitats

and wildlife. Each school has 3 teaching sessions, including a lively classroom session and two field trips, during which

children learn about river and coastal habitats focusing on the otter and other key wildlife, such as the slow worm, a reptile

with the amazing adaptation of detaching its tail in order to escape predators.

These were excellent visits which the children really enjoyed. They learnt so much about the habitat and lifestyle of lo-

cal otters, as well as developing keen observation and thinking skills. We are very grateful to the Pembrokeshire Rivers

Trust for providing such an experience for the pupils of Hakin, as well as opening up the wonderful Pembrokeshire

countryside and coastline to us. ~ Nick Dyer, head teacher, Hakin Community School.

In order to continue the project again in 2014 the Trust is seeking support through sponsorship from local

organisations. For further information please contact [email protected], Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust, Llys Afon,

Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest SA61 2BQ Tel: 01437 783070.

34 PRT volunteers attended Riverfly monitoring workshops at the Salutation Inn in

Felindre Farchog by the Nevern river in April 2013. The volunteers were all supplied

with sampling equipment and thigh waders in order to carry out river invertebrate

monitoring on their local watercourses and their monitoring results are being passed on

to Natural Resources Wales (NRW). This provides increased scrutiny and interest in the

health of local rivers and in particular more focused attention on causes of pollution.

This will ultimately benefit river and coastal communities by deterring polluters and

enabling pollution incidents to be acted upon more promptly. The training was funded

with a grant of 3,600 from the Big Lottery fund and 1,000 from the Countryside

Council for Wales (now Natural Resources Wales). All PRT Riverfly monitors carry

out risk assessments prior to entering a river and monitoring is never to be carried out in

water above knee depth or during high flows.

Some of the more unusual creatures seen

by volunteers this summer include the Mysid Shrimp, which was found in

the lower reaches of Goodwick brook, and Lymnaea, a species of snail

which were found in the Western Cleddau, these generally prefer

slow-flowing or still waters.

FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER

River invertebrate monitoring

Year 9 children of Hakin

School at Tregarne

Angling Centre

A slow worm

handle tail with care!!!

Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro

SAFETY FIRST!! Rivers can kill! High river flows during Winter spates areextremely dangerous due to the sheer volume and strength of water flows.

Mysid shrimp

(50mm length)

Lymnaea snail

(90mm length)
http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/


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Flytip by the Brynberian stream

How to Make a donation to Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust

PRT is managed by a voluntary Board of Trustees and the Trusts work is carried out by

a dedicated team of volunteers. Funding from donations and sponsorship is very

important to ensure we can continue to deliver habitat schemes and community

educational initiatives such as the Otters & Education project. If you are able to make

just a small donation to our work, you can easily do so with a simple text message.

Amounts of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 can be made by texting as shown here.


Lampreys in Pembrokeshire - Chris Lawrence, Natural Resources WalesAs part of ongoing NRW species monitoring I would like to hear from PRT volunteers or members of the public who

have seen any lamprey in Pembrokeshire watercourses. Lamprey are jawless, eel-like creatures with mouths surrounded

by a round, sucker-like disc and rasping teeth. The teeth vary in shape, size, position and number according to the

species, and are an important aid to identification. Although well

camouflaged, sea lamprey can sometimes be seen on the river bed waiting

until dusk to migrate up-river to spawn. Both the Western and Eastern

Cleddau rivers are of special interest for river lamprey and brook lamprey,

with sea lamprey also occurring in the lower reaches. Please email details of

any sightings to me, via [email protected],with details of location,

date and a description of the river conditions. Thank you.

~ Chris Lawrence, Senior Conservation Officer, Natural Resources Wales

Following a report of fly tipping on the banks of the Brynberian

stream in north Pembrokeshire, members of Nevern Angling Association in

conjunction with Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and Keep Wales Tidy organised a

working party to clear the site. Keep Wales Tidy and Pembrokeshire County

Council helped to remove the rubbish, including glass and metal for recycling

and nearly 20 old tyres, all of which was heaved up a steep bank and sorted by

hand. The tip was located very close to the waters edge, with the potential in

high river flows to wash downstream into the river Nevern and beyond to the sea

at Newport beach. Nevern Angling Association plays a very important

stewardship role for the rivers and streams in the Nevern catchment, with work parties, habitat surveys, flylife

monitoring and working closely with landowners to protect riverbanks. Fly tipping is a common problem and

particularly damaging to watercourses. To report a fly tip or any pollution problem especially fish-kills, call the Natural

Resources Wales Hotline as soon as possible on 0800 80 70 60.

PRT volunteers tackled Himalayan Balsam following a training presentation

at Pembrokeshire Angling Associations Centre in Treffgarne, with Gill

Wislocka of St Dogmaels Community Association. Himalayan Balsam is

an invasive non-native species which outcompetes native plants, it thrives on

riverbanks where its decaying roots cause erosion and consequent damage to

fish spawning habitats in winter. PRT volunteers also helped pull Balsam atthe Old Mill woodlands in Haverfordwest. Having the opportunity to show

volunteers the extent of the problem and that it is possible to do something

about it is really important: people really can make a difference!

Volunteers tackle Himalayan Balsam on the Western Cleddau

WANTED: contribuons for our next newsleer, especially any panoramic river photos: please send to [email protected].

We would be grateful for unused kick nets, waders etc to be returned to PRT for re-use at our next Rivery workshop, thank you!

Who Me?

Brook Lamprey BBC.co.uk

Volunteers tackling Himalayan Balsam

beside the Western Cleddau

Flyp removed from Brynberian stream

FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd Sir Benfro
http://www.pembsrt.org/http://www.pembsrt.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.pembsrt.org/

pembrokeshire rivers trust february 2014 newsletter

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