Lake District river project wins wild fish award

The award was presented at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 17 October Credit: PSPB

A river restoration scheme in the Lake District has been recognised for its work in creating new fish habitat.

The Swindale Beck Restoration Project at Haweswater won the Wild Trout Trust Award for Best Large-Scale Habitat Enhancement scheme.

The award was presented at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 17 October.

For the past three years, the RSPB and United Utilities have been working alongside the Environment Agency and Natural England to carry out conservation work on Swindale Beck.

A few hundred years ago part of Swindale Beck was straightened to create more farmland, making it an unpleasant habitat for the fish.

Last summer project members worked to slow down the flow of the river by restoring its natural bends, and is already benefiting fish such as salmon and trout.Work in Swindale Valley has also included a fish pass to allow migrating salmon and trout access the restored section of the beck.

The RSPB say they are delighted with the achievement:

The Environment Agency’s River Restoration Project Manager for Cumbria and Lancashire, said:

The United Utilities North Area Catchment Manager added:

The Wild Trout Award is the second accolade the Swindale Valley Restoration project has won in 2017.

The Swindale Valley Restoration Project has been delivered under the Cumbria River Restoration Programme, which continues to restore watercourses across Cumbria.