Throughout the country, rivers have faced huge challenges over the last century. From pollution from heavy industry to over-abstraction and other human pressures. In Derbyshire, we are lucky to have the hard-working angling clubs, rivers keepers and others in the angling community who have been stewards of our local rivers for over a century.
This hard conservation work is for the benefit of the river system and wildlife as a whole, whether it be looking after fish in the river, protecting the kingfishers nesting sights or making the sure site of special scientific interest are left free from public pressure by creating nature areas where water voles and other creatures can be left undisturbed. Knowing where not to go and leaving nature in peace, even if it’s just a small area left alone, can be a very important conservation measure.
The reason anglers are able to take these measures is because of the intimate knowledge of the river, river bed and the banks. Riverkeepers and anglers will be familiar with every underground rock, gravel bed and submerged log. Only by being in and around the river for so long and so often over the past 100 years and passing this knowledge down through generations can we continue to help conserve this unique environment.