The River Blackwater

I always used  to think of the river which runs through my home village of Wellow as  a hazard which is prone to flooding and catching motorists out who try to cross the two fords when the river runs higher than usual.
Far from it.  According to the local parish council there are five kilometres of the river and up to nine kilometres of tributaries running through the village, and all provide vital wildlife corridors.
I didn’t know the river, its smaller tributaries and fishing lakes and ditches support rare native crayfish along with many species of birds, fish, dragonfly and riverside plants.  According to the parish council’s Nightingale Times publication, run-off from surrounding fields and woodland tends to be acidic leading to the river being fairly dark in colour, although the smaller streams appear to be cleaner.  But if you’re lucky you can spot otters and kingfishers among the habitation.
Yet, according to the council, the invasive weed, Himalayan balsam is a major conservation problem, leaving other plants in the shade resulting in sparse  plant life on river banks and in turn presenting a danger of erosion.
The native crayfish  are a protected species and nationally they are in declining numbers, yet no doubt thrive in the Blackwater because of its acidic nature. White-clawed Crayfish, as they are known, need water with a mineral content  to help them grow their shell.

But try to trap them without a licence, and you could find yourself in trouble with the Environment Agency., and even land yourself in court and a possible fine..