WELSH DEE TRUST NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2017

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1 WELSH DEE TRUST NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2017 Welcome to this latest edition of our newsletter. We hope you find it useful and informative. Don t forget you can keep up to date with all the news by following us on and like our Facebook page The Welsh Dee Trust. Also check out our website CONTENTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE TAKES UP POST MITIGATION FUND PROJECT UPDATE INVASIVE WORK NEWS FARMING MATTERS MIDDLE DEE CATCHMENT PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS TRY FISHING VOLUNTEER/DONATE TO HELP OUR WORK

2 NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN POST On the 1 st May Huw Evans took up the role of the Trusts first Chief Executive Officer. Huw a native of Llangollen has been an active volunteer with the Trust since A solicitor by profession Huw is based at the Trusts Malthouse office in Llangollen. Huw said I am excited by the challenges the Trust faces going forward. The issues of climate change and Brexit will alter the way we work. However, I remain cautiously optimistic that funding will become available to continue our aims. Anyone interested in supporting our work is always welcome to call into our office for a chat. ALTERNATIVE DEE MITIGATION PROJECT Richard White Trust project officer has moved to the delivery phase of the Alternative mitigation project. This is run in partnership with Natural Resources Wales to mitigate the loss of spawning habitat caused by the building of Celyn reservoir. The first project to be delivered is on the Afon Llynor within the Tilhill managed forestry to the North-East of Llandrillo village. Timber gravel traps are being installed to create suitable spawning habitats. Debris blockages are being modified to ease the passage of fish on all flow levels (photo left above). The second project is on the Afon Lliw a tributary that runs into the head of Llyn Tegid. Major floods have stripped spawning gravel from the river bed near Dolhendre Isaf farm below Coed Wenallt forestry. Timber and boulder gravel traps will be created along 1.2Km of the river. This will create new spawning habitat and sanctuary areas for juvenile salmonids. The third project is on the Afon Morwynion near Carrog.

3 The Morwynion is a significant spawning tributary. An old weir about 1.75Km upstream of the main river proves an obstruction to fish passage on low flows. The project will create a rock ramp style fish pass structure allowing upstream/downstream fish passage for all fish species under all flow conditions. The ramp will consist of 4-6 resting pools (illustration above). The weir will also be reenforced to prevent further degradation. INVASIVE SPECIES WORK The fight against invasive weeds and non-native species continues. The North Wales Wildlife Trust are leading on this project with the Welsh Dee Trust volunteers continuing to assist in tackling the problem of Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed. If you own land with any of these plants and would like advice on how to tackle them please get in touch. FARMING MATTERS

4 Our catchment advisors David Jones (Upper Dee) and Gareth Foulkes (Middle Dee) have been busy managing the catchment offers, hosting events and providing general advice to farmers. The advisors funded by United Utilities work for the Trust addressing catchment issues. The Dee catchment like most rivers in the UK faces many problems including: o Too much phosphate entering the river causing algal blooms and poor water quality o Episodic pollution from pesticides and slurry spills o Livestock encroachment and soil wash off o Impacts on water quality from pesticide usage. How do our catchment advisors address these issues? o Host events with experts to address specific questions such as the recent soft rush workshop (include picture) o Working with farmers to address farm yard infrastructure issues e.g., clean/dirty water separation, manure storage and application advice. o Advice/training on pesticide handling and disposal. Subsidised switch to ferric phosphate slug pellets from metaldehyde to reduce the risk to drinking water. o Soil management including use of cover crops or shifting to rotational grazing to avoid soil compaction. o General advice on the installation of buffer strips to protect water courses.

5 Free Weed wiper hire. Sprayer training PA/1/2/4/6. Allowance towards sprayer/pellet applicator MOT. Slug pellet subsidy for switch to ferric phosphate. Free pesticide/poisons disposal. Contact our catchment advisors for more information: - David Prysor Jones (Upper Dee) Tel david@welshdeetrust.com Gareth Foulkes (Middle Dee) Tel gareth@welshdeetrust.com MIDDLE DEE CATCHMENT PARTNERSHIP WORK

6 Emral and Aldford Brooks Projects These projects are aimed at addressing diffuse pollution caused mainly from farming activities. The main issues on both brooks are phosphates, pesticides and sediment. Both have sources of diffuse pollution due to lack of investment in farm infrastructure. The issues include: poaching of watercourses by stock and lack of fencing, poor guttering allowing clean water to mix with dirty water troughs and gateways too close to watercourses bank side erosion Maize stubble over winter The Aldford brook project is funded by United Utilities and the Environment Agency. The project is being delivered by Reaseheath College in partnership with the Welsh Dee Trust and the Woodland Trust. 30 farms have been visited with 22 water management plans produced highlighting issues with recommendations. The Emral brook project is funded by Natural Resources Wales, United Utilities and the Woodland Trust. The project is being delivered in partnership by Reaseheath College, the Welsh Dee Trust and the Woodland Trust. 34 farms have been visited and 28 water management plans prepared with recommendations for action and potential interventions. Assistance has been provided to farmers in applying for Glastir small grants to deliver some of the interventions identified to a value of 21,282. Going forward on the Emral further advice and interventions will be delivered this year with funding from NRW and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water. On Aldford advice is being provided to farmers on what interventions they can fund through the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further funding is being sought to deliver more interventions in 2017/18. The Aldford remains a priority catchment.

7 Black Poplar Planting The black Poplar is according to the Forestry Commission the most endangered native timber tree in Britain. Sites have been provided by farmers within the Aldford and Emral catchment to allow planting. The trees have been donated by Maelor Nurseries with stakes and guards donated by the Woodland Trust. To date 100 trees have been planted by Reaseheath college countryside students and farmers. Further trees will be planted as suitable sites are identified. Now the summer is with us why not try your hand at fishing. Maybe you fished as a child and fancy coming back or taking your family fishing. There are many locations within the Dee catchment to have a go. Some links are listed below to provide you with information. Your local fishing club will be only too happy to assist you with advice on getting started. Children under 12 do not need a fishing licence. Aged the licence is free but you need to register. Adults have to pay a fee. Full details can be found at You will also have to pay the fishery for fishing. Costs vary depending on the type of fishing.

8 Want to find out more? Then click on these links: Bala Angling Corwen and District Angling club Midland Flyfishers- day tickets for Trout and Grayling available from Watkin Williams (hardware store) Llangollen Llangollen Maelor Angling Bangor-on-Dee Angling club Fish Wales Fishing Passport Tuition Angling Trust VOLUNTEER OR DONATE If you are interested in our work and would like to assist please Huw Evans or ring him on to discuss. Donations assist us to draw down other funding to deliver projects. If you wish to donate contact Huw or call into our Malthouse office in Llangollen for a coffee and a chat. We always enjoy meeting likeminded people. Please ring in advance as the office is not always manned. Registered charity number Unit 30 The Malthouse Llangollen LL20 8HS