River Parish Council have commissioned The Wild Trout Trust to make an advisory visit to the Dour in order to assess the watercourse and recommend practical and affordable actions to improve the habitat and eco-system.
You will be aware that Dour is a very sensitive water environment and subject to low flows. Over the last four years we have lost all of the valuable aquatic plant Ranuculus or ”Water Crowfoot”.This plant is very important to for the wildlife of the river; it acts as an oxygenator to the water and important habitat for insects, invertebrates and our resident Brown Trout, as well as helping hold up water levels during low flow periods.
As well as being ecologically important, Water Crowfoot produces beautiful white and yellow flowers which breach the water during the summer and really add to the character to the river.
The W.T.T visit will take place between 11am to 2pm on April 4th. It will be necessary for the survey team to enter the watercourse at some points where access is obstructed. Please do not be alarmed if you see persons in the river at this time. The team will be accompanied by a Parish Councillor. Please feel free to engage the team if you have any questions about the project.
If you have an interest in the conservation and restoration of our river Dour please let us know as we will be putting together a citizen project which you may wish to volunteer for. We believe that the Dour deserves wider recognition among the local community and wish to facilitate participation in it’s preservation.