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Project protects key wild brown trout Hertfordshire spawning site
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- A project to protect a brown trout spawning site on the rare chalk River Hiz at Ickleford near Hitchin has been completed, involving the addition of large wood features to improve water flow and create cover for fish.
- This effort follows a seven-year restoration of a 4.3-mile stretch of the River Ash near Hertford to its original course, highlighting ongoing river conservation work in the region.
- The project, funded by the Environment Agency, included practical restoration training for volunteers from the River Hiz Conservation Group, who will now help maintain and monitor the improved 1.5km stretch.
- The River Hiz is one of only about 260 chalk rivers worldwide, with England having very few naturally unmodified rivers and only 14% of rivers classified as having good ecological status.
- These chalk river ecosystems support diverse wildlife, including vulnerable species like water voles, wild brown trout, and aquatic plants such as water crowfoot.
