Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Quite a different kettle of fish

As well as raising sea trout the Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust (working with the Environment Agency and an organisation called Crayfish in the Dales) are planning to help another species in the Ribble Catchment.

From July schools could also be raising White Clawed Crayfish.  This endangered species was until recently quite common in the upper reaches of the Ribble, but now our White Clawed Crayfish are under threat from the American Signal Crayfish and pollution.

Simliar tanks to the trout hatcheries will be used to nurture crayfish that can then be reintroduced into streams where they have been lost.  The first tanks will be installed in the Settle area.

Hatching around the patch

Stephen Hatton (Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust) has telephoned with good news today. The tanks in all the schools are working well and the eggs are hatching. When the fry are a little bigger and are swimming up to the top of the tank he will send some photographs. So far we are on course to release the trout just after Easter. ><((((º>`·. . · `·. .· `·. . ><((((º> `·. . · `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`·. .· `·. .· `·. . ><((((º>`

More fish to blog about

Welcome to 2009 and Year 3 of the Trout in the Classroom programme in the Ribble Catchment.  The schools who took part in the last two years are joining in again and the Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust are delighted to take two more schools on board.  Pendle Juniors (Clitheroe) and Derby Road Juniors (Longridge) bring the total number to six schools who will be rearing trout in their classrooms this year.

Thanks to the Environment Agency once more for their funding towards the new tanks and to Ribble Valley Borough Council for matching the funding.

Good luck to all the schools - we hope you enjoy this project.

May all your wishes be fishes, may all your fishes come true!

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More Fishy Poems. Taylor's Poem

Beautiful Golden White Fish

You and me,

Sitting on a tree tree.

Watching the fish

Making a special wish.

At the sea sea,

Have a cup of tea tea.

Fish in the sea,

Jumping with lots of glee!!

I saw a fish,

Eating a fish bowl dish.

Singing “yum yum

It’s lovely in your tum”.

Fish in the sea sea,

Learning all about me me.

In out in out,

Jumping all high and about.

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Laura's Poem

CLEVER RIVER

Flutter flutter togther,

Some fish are very clever.

The fish try to talk,

With the heron there to stalk.

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Anna B's Poem

RIVER ROD

To the river I went,

Over the water I lent.

Brought my rod I did.

But they know I have a net,

They’ll swim away I bet.

Brought my rod I did.

What should I do,

I’ll think in a minute or two.

Brought my rod I did.

I put down my rod,

And went for a plod.

Brought my rod I did.

Then I went home,

I had a groan.

Brought my rod I did.

I will be back tomorrow,

Dan’s rod I will borrow.

Take his rod I will !!!

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Rachel's Poem

What Fun Today

Down the river bank I fly,

See people eating pie.

I have a wish,

Then I see a fish.

The river is rippling by,

I fly high in the sky.

A king fisher I am,

I go slam.

What a juicy fry,

I go bye to that fry!!

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Rachel's other Poem

What a Beautiful River

Down the river bank I trot,

Hear the birds tweeting a lot,

Fish jumping high,

Looking at the light blue sky.

I smell nice flowers,
Water falls, April showers.

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Joe's poem

A Silly River

I went on a boat,

But it couldn’t float.

I saw some funky fish,

In the style of a dish.

Whoever saw a fish,
As silly as a dish.

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Thomas's Poem

Fishy Water

I saw a fisher man,

Ready with a frying pan,

I saw a heron fishing,

Stood in the water wishing.

Look at the fish flipping,
Listen to the water dripping.

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