Allendale Co-op nominated Allen Valley Angling & Conservation to receive the Co-operative Retail Trading Group Pioneer Award. The awards have now been made and the group is set to receive £2000. Read on to find out more about the Angling group’s work to improve and manage the natural environment of the River East Allen.
Allen Valley Angling & Conservation
Allen Valley Angling & Conservation (AVAC) was established in July, 2011 by local environmentalist and fishing enthusiast Paul Frear. Allen Valley Angling & Conservation is based in Allendale, Northumberland in North East England. Discovering that his local river – the River East Allen – was a considerable undeveloped fishing resource, Paul set up Allen Valley Angling & Conservation to facilitate the sustainable development of this resource. The organisation has a growing membership of people who share Paul’s passion for conserving and improving the river habitat – as well as for fly fishing!
The organisation is not-for-profit and this means the money anglers pay to go fishing goes straight back to the fishery – with revenues contributing towards conservation efforts to improve fish stock and riverside access. In effect, simply by going fishing on the AVAC waters, anglers are in fact helping to protect and improve the Allen Valley’s fisheries.
Improving river habitat
As an organisation, we’re committed to improving and managing the natural environment of the River East Allen.
We undertake all kinds of projects – from path creation & bank management to tree canopy management and removal of harmful debris from the river itself.
Projects
We have identified four immediate priorities that will enable us to start to make a real and noticeable difference to the River East Allen and local community, we have run a number of events and initiatives to get these projects under way but continued support and funding is required for us to continue with this work. The money we have received via the Co-op will make a real difference and help AVAC to fund these projects, below are four projects where we would like to invest this money.
Project 1: Eradication of Himalayan Balsam
We estimate that it is possible to completely eradicate this non-native, highly invasive plant from the source of the River East Allen to our bottom limit at Allendale within 3 years.
Benefits:
- Allow native plant species to re-establish
- Over time, stabilisation of river banks
- Benefits to riparian owners
- Improve success rates of similar projects downstream
The problem is that the species spreads rapidly and grows in dense clusters – choking native species, reducing the ecological value of the land and leaving the soil vulnerable to erosion. When the spread and growth of this species is allowed to continue unchecked, smaller native plant species can be completely prevented from growing. This causes problems on riverbanks which are dependent on the root systems of the native species to provide stability. Without the native plants binding the soil with their roots, when the Himalayan Balsam dies back in autumn the riverbanks are susceptible to erosion in periods of heavy rain fall.
Project 2: Bank repairs
Many sites along our river have are being eroded away. We aim to put more willow spilling in (a none invasive technique) to help combat this. There are already a few sites along the river where we have used this method to great success. We would also like to involve community groups alongside professionals – to learn the art of willow spilling and help open up the river to more of the community.
Benefits:
- Town Beat is most popular, this will ensure the safeguarding of the riverbank
- Halt rapid erosion of land
- Protect nearby trout pools
- Community involved / aware
- Protect the riverside footpaths used by members of the public
- Create an improved wildlife habitat
Project 3: Careful tree work
We aim to sympathetically manage woody debris, using groups of organised volunteers for the easier work whilst involving professional tree surgeons to tackle trickier obstructions.
Benefits:
- Improve fish passage
- Manage overhang to improve access for angling
- Retain essential camouflage
- Reduce flood risk
- Reduce the damage caused by erosion
- Improved habitat for wildlife
Project 4: Youth work
We have been working closely with the local Cubs. We have been teaching them about the ecology of our river and what lives in it. We have had them out doing some kick samples, looking at the invertebrate life to be found in the East Allen. In future, we aim to continue working alongside the Cubs and possibly the Scouts and local schools to get them involved in activities such as Balsam pulling, willow spilling and education about our local river ecology.
As well of course getting juniors into Angling!
Finally, a massive thank you to Allendale Co-op, from everyone at Allen Valley Angling and Conservation!