Wiltshire Fishery Association Weed Cutting Dates 2022

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

  1. 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.
  2. You MUST inform your downstream neighbour before cutting and when you have finished clearing down and of any subsequent problems.
  3.  Regular communication with your upstream and downstream neighbours is essential to ensure trouble-free weed cutting and clearing down.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.