News Archives - Wiltshire Fishery Association

New WFA Chairman Appointed

With the untimely and sudden death of Tom Putman the position of WFA Chairman has been vacant for some months.

The Committee of the WFA are delighted to announce the appointment of Peter Curtis to take the organisation forward. Peter might be well know to some as he is an avid fly fisherman and a member of two local fishing clubs.

Peter Curtis

Peter has enjoyed 2 very different career paths. Following on from his degree in Geology he undertook a PhD on alkaline granites in northern Sudan. This lead to 2 years working for the German Government in central Sudan before joining an airborne geophysical survey company where he worked on numerous natural resource exploration projects through Africa and the Middle East. He progressed into the sales and marketing of integrated exploration and natural resource compilation projects and into general management. The sad demise of this company led to a career based on his passion for hockey and he founded TK Hockey UK and took it from a start up to a major hockey brand in the UK market before selling up in 2016.

As a keen fisherman he enjoys all types of fishing and this has taken him to places like Egypt and as remote as Ascension Island. He regrets not having taken up fly fishing and road cycling until much later in life but has found a home fishing on the Hampshire Avon with both Salisbury (SDAC) and the Services (SDFFA) . He has lived close to this river for many years in the Woodford Valley and gazes on it almost every day.

He has chaired a number of local projects including the delivery of the impressive pavilion at South Wilts Sports Club and many community based activities and roles in the Woodford Valley. These have included the successful opposition to recent applications to develop open farmland for industrial use and the broader opposition to an ever expanding Amesbury.

Peter says that what he lacks in fishing skill and casting finesse is made up for by a strong desire to pursue the truth and do what is right for the rivers and countryside we all enjoy.

By William|2024-07-29T13:55:20+00:00July 29th, 2024|News|Comments Off

Wiltshire Fishery Weed Cutting Dates 2024

Wiltshire Fishery Association Weed Cutting Dates 2024

Read below or download HERE

River Wylye – Bathampton to Chilhampton		No
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN	Days
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Sat 13th – Tue 23rd May	Wed 24th & Thur 25th May	13
Wed 28th June – Thur 13th July	Fri 14th & Sat 15th July	18
Wed 16th – Wed 23rd Aug	Thur 24th & Fri 25th Aug	10
		44
River Wylye – Below Chilhampton
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Tue 16th – Fri 26th May	Sat27th & Sun28th May	13
Fri 30 Jun – Sat 15th July	Sun 16th & Mon 17th July	18
Fri 18th – Fri 25th Aug	Sat26th & Sun 27th Aug	10
		44
River Nadder
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Sat 13th – Tues 23rd May	Wed 24th & Thurs 25th May	13
Wed 28th June – Thurs13th July	Fri 14th & Sat 15th July	18
Wed 16th – Wed 23rd Aug	Thurs 24th & Fri 25th Aug	10
		44
River Avon – Above Crossing ‘C’
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Sun 23rd April to Sun 7th May	Mon 8th & Tues 9th May	17
Mon 12th to Sat 24th June	Sun 25th & Mon 26th June	15
Mon 24th July to Wed 2nd Aug	Thurs 3rd & Fri 4th August	12
		44
River Avon – Below Crossing ‘C’
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Thurs 27th Apr to Fri 11th May	Sat 12th & Sat 13th May	17
Fri 16th to Wed 28th June	Thurs 29th & Fri 30th Jun	15
Wed 26th July to Fri 4th August	Sat 5th & Sun 6th August	12
		44

*Free Weed Cut – River Wylye & Nadder

Allows for a Maximum 3-days light cutting (by hand only) from 14th to 27th April, which includes clearing down. You MUST inform your downstream neighbour before cutting and when you have finished clearing down. Clubs should try to remove cut weed where possible only allowing the minimum amount to travel downstream. Representatives from EA, NE & WFA will continue to monitor weed cutting.

*EA weed booms will not be deployed during the period of the Free weed cut.

*Areas where there are salmon and trout redds and a potential for juvenile fry emergence, especially after a cold winter/early spring, should be left uncut.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 – ‘Exempt Water Discharge Activity’ – The Environment Agency allows members of the Wiltshire Fishery Association to cut weed on the agreed dates and in accordance with the conditions of the exemption.

This programme of dates is now agreed for 2022 and there is no intention to amend it, unless circumstances arise when this is necessary. In that event, the changes will be posted on the this site under “NEWS” and circulated to River Email Groups. Before you cut weed, it is your responsibility to check both the website and your email group.

With the exception of the *Free Weed Cut in April on the Wylye and Nadder (see separate notes above), cutting MUST start at the beginning of the dates allowed.
You MUST inform your downstream neighbour before cutting and when you have finished clearing down and of any subsequent problems.
Regular communication with your upstream and downstream neighbours is essential to ensure trouble-free weed cutting and clearing down.
Cutting of weed outside of the authorised dates, without the Agency’s consent, constitutes an offence under Section 90 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Unauthorised cutting should be reported immediately to the Environment Agency using their Pollution Hotline Tel: 0800 80 70 60 – Note the exact location (grid reference), date & time & take photographs. Do not enter neighbouring property unless you have permission to do so.
Weed cutting should be undertaken in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of the river habitat. Overzealous cutting of in-river weed or marginal vegetation can significantly reduce water levels, which can have a negative impact on invertebrates, fish and other wildlife.
In all cases the final two days, as shown separately in the table above, MUST be regarded as ‘clearing down’ days and any weed not cut before these days, left uncut. In some circumstances, especially in low water periods, you may need to extend the period of clearing down beyond two days, to ensure there’s plenty of time for cut weed to move through the system.
Report all blockages and any other weed related issues immediately to the WFA Hon Sec:

For WFA membership and other enquires contact: Martin Browne – Honorary Secretary

Mobile: 07768354788 email: Please use sire contact form.

By William|2024-05-03T07:53:02+00:00May 3rd, 2024|News, Weed Cutting|Comments Off

WEED CUTTING & EXTRACTION

WEED CUTTING & EXTRACTION – URGENT NOTICE – Dated 24.05.23

Environment Agency gives notice of cessation of weed boom extraction operations on the River Avon and Wylye with immediate effect.

The Wiltshire Fishery Association committee has received notice from the Environment Agency that, for Health & Safety reasons, they will no longer be able to operate their weed extraction booms at Chilhampton on the River Wylye and/or Salisbury on the River Avon. A copy of the letter received from Jim Flory (EA) is shown below.

Without having the EA’s booms installed, the WFA cannot meet the conditions of its existing weed cutting exemption. It therefore falls upon members (and non-members) to make their own arrangements for weed cutting and/or weed extraction for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Legal Position

It is an offence under Section 90 of the Water Resources Act 1991 “to cut vegetation in inland waters without taking reasonable steps to remove it”. If you cut or uproot a substantial amount of vegetation in any inland freshwater (or so near that it falls into an inland freshwater) and don’t take reasonable steps to remove the vegetation from the water, you are undertaking a water discharge activity and may be committing an offence.

You may be exempt from the requirement to hold a permit if you can meet the following conditions:

Vegetation removed from the water is disposed of safely and in accordance with Defra guidance.

If it is necessary to allow vegetation to pass downstream –
- You give prior notice of the activity to anyone that may be affected.
- There is sufficient flow to convey the vegetation.
- You register the exempt activity with the Environment Agency.
- The activity does not cause pollution.

The WFA committee are only well-intentioned intermediaries in this matter and cannot be held responsible for any damage resulting from weed cutting and/or weed extraction. Riparian owners and lessees allowing weed cuts within their waters should obtain the appropriate permit or exemption from the Environment Agency.

The WFA committee continues to work closely with the Environment Agency to try resolve these issues.

If you have any questions, please contact me by email (see below) – and I will respond as soon as I can.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Wellard –
robertwellard@btinternet.com

On behalf of Wiltshire Fishery Association

By William|2023-05-27T18:51:27+00:00May 27th, 2023|News, Weed Cutting|Comments Off

WFA 2023 AGM & Newsletter

The Wiltshire Fishery Association AGM with be held on Wednesday 25th Febuary 2023 at Enford Village Hall starting at 10:30

AGENDA
1 Apologies for absence
2 Approval of the minutes of the 2022 AGM
3 Matters arising from the 2022 AGM minutes
4 Financial report on accounts for 2022/2023
5 Chairman’s and Officers’ reports
6 Swans and piscivorous birds
7 Election of Officers and Committee
8 Water Quality Group report
9 Any other business.

Following the formal AGM, at approximately 1200 there will be a talk on river water quality issues by Fergal Sharkey.

Download AGM Agenda and Newsletter

By William|2023-01-17T17:00:38+00:00January 17th, 2023|News|Comments Off

Wiltshire Fishery Weed Cutting Dates 2023

Wiltshire Fishery Association Weed Cutting Dates 2023

Read below or download HERE

River Wylye – Bathampton to Chilhampton		No
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN	Days
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Sat 13th – Tue 23rd May	Wed 24th & Thur 25th May	13
Wed 28th June – Thur 13th July	Fri 14th & Sat 15th July	18
Wed 16th – Wed 23rd Aug	Thur 24th & Fri 25th Aug	10
		44
River Wylye – Below Chilhampton
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Tue 16th – Fri 26th May	Sat27th & Sun28th May	13
Fri 30 Jun – Sat 15th July	Sun 16th & Mon 17th July	18
Fri 18th – Fri 25th Aug	Sat26th & Sun 27th Aug	10
		44
River Nadder
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Free weed cutting period – Thurs 14th to Wed 27th April		3
Sat 13th – Tues 23rd May	Wed 24th & Thurs 25th May	13
Wed 28th June – Thurs13th July	Fri 14th & Sat 15th July	18
Wed 16th – Wed 23rd Aug	Thurs 24th & Fri 25th Aug	10
		44
River Avon – Above Crossing ‘C’
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Sun 23rd April to Sun 7th May	Mon 8th & Tues 9th May	17
Mon 12th to Sat 24th June	Sun 25th & Mon 26th June	15
Mon 24th July to Wed 2nd Aug	Thurs 3rd & Fri 4th August	12
		44
River Avon – Below Crossing ‘C’
CUTTING	CLEARING DOWN
Thurs 27th Apr to Fri 11th May	Sat 12th & Sat 13th May	17
Fri 16th to Wed 28th June	Thurs 29th & Fri 30th Jun	15
Wed 26th July to Fri 4th August	Sat 5th & Sun 6th August	12
		44

*Free Weed Cut – River Wylye & Nadder

Allows for a Maximum 3-days light cutting (by hand only) from 14th to 27th April, which includes clearing down. You MUST inform your downstream neighbour before cutting and when you have finished clearing down. Clubs should try to remove cut weed where possible only allowing the minimum amount to travel downstream. Representatives from EA, NE & WFA will continue to monitor weed cutting.

*EA weed booms will not be deployed during the period of the Free weed cut.

*Areas where there are salmon and trout redds and a potential for juvenile fry emergence, especially after a cold winter/early spring, should be left uncut.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 – ‘Exempt Water Discharge Activity’ – The Environment Agency allows members of the Wiltshire Fishery Association to cut weed on the agreed dates and in accordance with the conditions of the exemption.

This programme of dates is now agreed for 2022 and there is no intention to amend it, unless circumstances arise when this is necessary. In that event, the changes will be posted on the this site under “NEWS” and circulated to River Email Groups. Before you cut weed, it is your responsibility to check both the website and your email group.

With the exception of the *Free Weed Cut in April on the Wylye and Nadder (see separate notes above), cutting MUST start at the beginning of the dates allowed.
You MUST inform your downstream neighbour before cutting and when you have finished clearing down and of any subsequent problems.
Regular communication with your upstream and downstream neighbours is essential to ensure trouble-free weed cutting and clearing down.
Cutting of weed outside of the authorised dates, without the Agency’s consent, constitutes an offence under Section 90 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Unauthorised cutting should be reported immediately to the Environment Agency using their Pollution Hotline Tel: 0800 80 70 60 – Note the exact location (grid reference), date & time & take photographs. Do not enter neighbouring property unless you have permission to do so.
Weed cutting should be undertaken in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of the river habitat. Overzealous cutting of in-river weed or marginal vegetation can significantly reduce water levels, which can have a negative impact on invertebrates, fish and other wildlife.
In all cases the final two days, as shown separately in the table above, MUST be regarded as ‘clearing down’ days and any weed not cut before these days, left uncut. In some circumstances, especially in low water periods, you may need to extend the period of clearing down beyond two days, to ensure there’s plenty of time for cut weed to move through the system.
Report all blockages and any other weed related issues immediately to the WFA Hon Sec:

For WFA membership and other enquires contact: Martin Browne – Honorary Secretary

Mobile: 07768354788 email: Please use sire contact form.

By William|2022-11-02T08:08:07+00:00October 26th, 2022|News|Comments Off

Gordon Mackie

The WFA is sad to announce the death of Gordon Mackie, author and long term member of both the Wilton and Salisbury & District Angling Clubs.
His funeral will be held at the West Wilts Crematorium Semington on Thursday 30th June at 1;45pm.

The Committee of the WFA send condolences to the Mackie family.

Martin Browne

By William|2022-06-21T06:47:13+00:00June 21st, 2022|News|Comments Off

WFA AGM 2022

Wiltshire Fisheries Association – Annual General Meeting.

The 2022 AGM of the WFA will be held via zoom on Friday the 18^th of March 2022 at 10:30 am

To attend this virtual meeting please email the Honorary Secretary wfa.honsec@gmail.com for meeting Link, ID and Passcode

By William|2022-03-08T16:30:41+00:00March 8th, 2022|News|Comments Off

Beaver Consultation – WFA Response

On 25^th August 2021 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a public consultation seeking views on its proposed approach to beaver reintroduction and management in England. The consultation is still active but closes shortly on November 17^th. Having been involved in this subject to date and having particular concerns within the chalkstream environment the WFA committee has discussed, drafted and submitted the following response.

Beaver Consultation – Wiltshire Fishery Association (WFA) Response

Click HERE to Read.

By William|2021-11-16T19:49:26+00:00November 15th, 2021|News|0 Comments

Weed Cutting Update

I can confirm that for the remainder of this summer WFA members may continue weed cutting in the upper Hampshire Avon catchment (includes all Avon tributaries upstream of Salisbury) without an Environment Agency permit or exemption as long as the following conditions are met:

Weed cutting is kept to the minimum amount required to allow angling to take place. Where possible this should be a hand cut only.
All cut weed is to be removed in situ and must not be allowed to drift downstream.
Any boom or structure used to catch weed that is installed into the river should have a permit where it is not an existing structure or set of hatches for example.
Weed should be left to rest for a short time on the bankside to allow invertebrates to re-enter the watercourse, before being removed to a sufficient distance to ensure nutrients from the breaking down weed do not enter the river.

Message ends.

23.07.20

Bob Wellard – WFA Hon Sec

By Robert Wellard|2021-12-19T12:07:50+00:00July 23rd, 2020|News|0 Comments

Weed Cutting – Update 17th April

Dear All,

If you haven’t already heard (see previous posts), the Environment Agency has confirmed they will not be installing the weed booms during the C-19 restrictions and have issued a stop on weed cutting unless you can self-extract.

Latest message from Phil Rudd (EA – Fisheries Technical Specialist) as follows:

‘All cut weed should be removed within the fishery. At the moment we couldn’t allow any activities that may increase the likelihood of our operations team needing to be called out to clear blockages etc. however small that risk.’

We still have a way to go before the weed cut in May; we will keep you posted if there are any changes.

If you have any questions please contact Bob Wellard – Hon Sec

Email: wfa.honsec@btinternet.com

By Robert Wellard|2020-04-17T08:36:52+00:00April 17th, 2020|News|0 Comments