Eel pass wins county award

We’re delighted to say we have added a prestigious new award to our trophy cabinet: we’ve been recognised for our waterways work by CPRE Gloucestershire.

CPRE Gloucestershire’s Awards are given out annually to projects that demonstrate excellence in enhancing the county’s environment and community life. The awards, sponsored by Loxley Solicitors, recognise projects in towns, villages, and the countryside that make an outstanding contribution to the county.

Celebrating SVP’s CPRE award for their eel pass are (left to right): Clare Mahdiyone, Stroud Valleys Project’s CEO; Madeleine Bunting, president of CPRE Gloucestershire; Karen Andrews of the Environment Agency; Liam Reynolds of Severn Rivers Trust; Stella Parkes, SVP’s chair; Dr Hannah Robson of Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and Sarah Wells, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

The SVP project recognised in this year’s roll of honour is our work at Arundel Mill Pond, an ancient mill pool and sluice on the River Frome, which had been choked by reeds, debris and silt.

“Through the project, the sluice and weir on the river have been repaired and silt has been removed, creating open water and islands and a good habitat for wildlife,” explains CPRE Gloucestershire vice chair Richard Lloyd.

“The really clever stuff has been the installation of an eel pass alongside the weir slipway to allow, and indeed help, eels move upstream. And it has worked. Local people have been taking water samples below and above the weir which were tested for eel DNA. This bit of citizen science has shown that the pass has been effective.” 

SVP’s CEO Clare Mahdiyone says, “Since we started managing this area of the Frome, we’ve made a huge difference. We’re extremely proud of the work we’ve done with our volunteers and our partners at WWT Slimbridge, Severn Rivers Trust, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, and the Environment Agency, so winning a trophy for this project feels particularly satisfying.

“We’re hugely grateful for this award from the CPRE, which is recognition of the outstanding partnership and community collaboration that has completely transformed Arundel Mill Pond, for people and for nature.”

CPRE, previously the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, is now known as the Countryside Charity. With a local branch in every county, the charity is passionate about supporting communities across England and creating better places for everyone to enjoy.