Salmon are spawning in a Cumbrian beck after the river’s path was altered.
Swindale Beck, on the eastern fringe of the Lake District, was straightened in the 1800s to make more farmland available.
However, it caused water to move too rapidly, washing away the gravel banks required for fish to deposit their eggs.
The RSPB and United Utilities collaborated in 2016 to restore the Haweswater stream to its natural channel, which resulted in the recovery of 20 Atlantic salmon.
“To see fish spawning again in that river where they had previously had no opportunity to do so, in such a short time period, is just hugely inspiring and shows how nature can recover,” said ecologist and RSPB Haweswater senior site manager Lee Schofield.
“Salmon face so many different threats including a lack of food at sea it makes their migration so much more difficult and, with a lack of spawning habitat in the upper reaches of river catchments, we hope we’ve addressed one part of that picture.”
The work carried out by the RSPB, United Utilities, the Environment Agency and Natural England to return it to something like its original, bendy course will also slow the flow of the water to reduce the risk of flooding to people living downstream.
It is also hoped the return of salmon will benefit other wildlife in Haweswater’s ecosystem, such as kingfishers, goosanders, otters and foxes.
Kath Beattie studied Journalism at The University of Central Lancashire and now writes for several Travel publications. She recently moved to The Lake District and enjoys walking her 3 dogs every day across the fells.
