Brown trout spawning site to get special protection

A close up of a brown trout swimming just below the surface of clear water. It is moving from right to left, with the water is relatively clear, allowing stones and the streambed beneath to be seen.Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Brown trout thrive in clean and fast-flowing rivers or streams

Matthew Lockwood
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

A project to protect a brown trout spawning "hot spot" on a rare chalk river has been completed.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said large wood feaures had been added to the River Hiz at Ickleford, near Hitchin, to help accelerate water flows and create areas of "shaggy cover" to benefit the fish.

The work follows a seven-year project to restore a 4.3-mile (7km) stretch of the River Ash at the Easneye Estate, near Hertford, to its original course.

Sarah Perry, from the trust, said: "These unique ecosystems support a rich diversity of wildlife and some of our most vulnerable species, including water voles, wild brown trout and aquatic plants such as water crowfoot."

A group of volunteers carrying out river restoration work in a shallow stream. Dense trees and overhanging branches form a canopy above the water. The riverbank is heavily vegetated with shrubs, ivy and undergrowth.Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

The project saw trees partially cut and bent over the river to create "shaggy cover" for brown trout to help improve spawning conditions

The project, which took over two weeks to complete and has been funded by the Environment Agency, has also included practical restoration training for volunteers from the River Hiz Conservation Group.

The trust said the volunteers would now be "instrumental" in maintaining and monitoring the 1.5km (0.9mile) stretch that has been improved.

The River Hiz rises south of the village of Charlton, on the outskirts of Hitchin, and winds its way through north Hertfordshire before joining the River Ivel north of Ickleford.

It is one of only about 260 chalk rivers in the world.

The trust said that in England only 14% of rivers have good ecological status, with very few naturally unmodified rivers remaining.

A water vole in a wetland habitat, partially surrounded by reeds and aquatic vegetation. It is standing on a surface covered with bright green duckweed and moss-like vegetation.Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Hertfordshire is home to about 10% of the world's chalk streams, providing important habitat for species such as water voles

A dense patch of water crowfoot, an aquatic flowering plant, growing in a shallow, slow-moving waterway. The water surface is largely covered by green submerged foliage, with numerous white flowers rising above it. Tall reeds and grasses form a natural backdrop along the far bank.Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Water crowfoot can form mats in ponds, ditches and streams during spring and summer

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