Hungerford Weir Removal Visit
- Details
- Category: Conservation
- Hits: 25
LFCC are organising a visit to the Hungerford Town Water to see the results of a weir removal. If you would like to join the visit, please add you name to the Doodle Poll and tick which dates suit you best. The Dates are between the 24 and 30th June 2026
https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/06cce723-fbda-4123-84d5-2445b78554d0/select
Opposite-leaved Pondweed (Groenlandia densa)
- Details
- Category: Conservation
- Hits: 185
Opposite-leaved Pondweed is a once-common native water plant that has almost vanished from Hampshire’s chalk rivers and streams. Unrecorded populations may be hiding out there somewhere.
Where to look: ponds, lakes, ditches, and small channels near to chalk rivers and streams – especially around old mill sites, fish farms, or small feeder channels.
When to look: year-round, but most obvious April-October
Tips: Many paired, opposite, leaves >5cm. Grows in dense clumps of long, leafy stems, like a crowd of large, bright-green centipedes. Can grow with other plants e.g. Water-crowfoot, in still and flowing water.
If you think you have seen this plant, or would be interested in looking for it, please email Tristan Norton (Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland recorder for South Hampshire)
Defra - Water White Paper 2026
- Details
- Category: Environmental Issues
- Hits: 275
This white paper outlines our plans to reform the water sector and the wider water system to deliver safe and secure water supplies a protected and enhanced environment fair outcomes for customers and investors.It sets out how these changes will create a more efficient and integrated system.
52 pages of good intent but delivery will be challenging without proper investment and fish don't get a mention!
Link to file : https://www.lfcc.org.uk/downloads/23-other-publications/8-general?download=278:defra-water-white-paper-2026
Waterlife Recovery Trust - Smart Mink Raft & LFCC Subsidy
- Details
- Category: Conservation
- Hits: 249
The LFCC have been lucky enough to receive donations from the organisers of the Annual Swallowfield Show, held in August, by way of voluntary efforts by local individuals to aid the running of this event.
The committee have been looking for avenues in which to allocate these funds for the benefit of its members and have decided to aid in subsidising the cost of mink traps (up to a maximum of three traps), purchased by the individual, Club or Organisation, from the Waterlife Recovery Trust. The subsidy will be £50 per trap initially.
Where member clubs or individuals etc, have already purchased traps from the WRT that are currently in operation, the LFCC will reimburse the appropriate value back to that club or individual etc.
The Waterlife Recovery Trust is currently involved in the removal of this invasive non native species in efforts to return the native Water Vole to rivers & lakes throughout the UK.
Predominantly started in East Anglia, the outward growth of this project across other counties and catchments is slowly spreading.
All of the details about traps, trapping, running costs and the overall project can be found at the link above.
The Loddon Fishers & Conservation Consultative would recommend the use of these traps and the associated equipment that goes with them in order to minimise the baiting and daily checking of traps, especially on large bodies or lengths of water, where time constraints may be an issue by volunteers. We strongly recommend that everyone wanting to participate in this scheme follow the advice and guidance offered by the Waterlife Recovery Trust, and ensure that the respective group of individuals involved in each project are aware of their responsibilities and duties, especially those relating to the use of firearms. https://www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk/firearms-legislation-safety/
The LFCC will not be held responsible for any breaches in the law.
The LFCC has already been offered guidance on real time trapping to anyone seeking more information, by a member club that have been trapping for at least two years now, using the the above WRT scheme.
Please get in touch if you are interested in getting started with these traps and claiming the subsidy the LFCC is offering.
Please note that the LFCC is not affiliated to, or promoting the WRT in any way for any type of gain.
Criterea:
- You must be a current, paid member of the LFCC, either as a Club, Organisation or individual.
- Provide a receipt for the purchase of the traps from the WRT to claim the subsidy.
- The trap or traps must be used within the Loddon catchment.
Wet Wednesday Webinar: Stopping Storm Overflows with Keith Herbert from Southern Water
- Details
- Category: Environmental Issues
- Hits: 181
Keith Herbert from Southern Water, discusses how to stop raw sewage being released into the environment in December's Wet Wednesday Webinar.
The spilling of raw sewage into our rivers and seas via the use of storm overflow pipes, also known as Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) has been the subject of shocking news headlines for several years. Combining raw sewage with other pollutants in rainfall runoff from pavements and roads, these overflows discharge a very wide range of contaminants into our waterways. But what is being done about it?
Keith has worked in the water industry for nearly 20 years and has dedicated the last 4 years to reducing the use of storm overflows. Keith discusses how raw sewage gets into our waterways and presents a range of methods for reducing the use of storm overflows from permitting, optimisation to catchment investigation and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
You can watch the webinar at the link below:
Page 1 of 29