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Thursday 27 August 2015
Government Faces Legal Challenge
After Failing to Protect Some of England’s Most Precious Rivers

The High Court has granted permission for WWF-UK, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal to challenge Defra and the Environment Agency over their failure to protect some of England’s most precious rivers, lakes and coastal areas from agricultural pollution.

The focus of the court case is on habitats that are protected by law and known as Natura 2000 sites (1). They include national treasures like Poole Harbour and the Rivers Avon, Wye & Eden, where pollution is having a harmful impact on species that should thrive in these habitats. The UK government is required by law to take all the necessary steps to ensure they are at good health by December 2015, but it is not going to achieve this (2).

This is because current action is not sufficient to tackle the scale of the problem. To protect these special habitats adequately, WWF, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal want the government to use all the tools at its disposal to ensure these precious places are properly protected and restored for people and wildlife.

This would include Water Protection Zones (WPZs), which were identified by the Environment Agency in 2009 as its preferred tool to reduce pollution if voluntary measures were not successful. (3)

David Nussbaum, Chief Executive, WWF-UK, said: “The health of our rivers and lakes is one of the most critical concerns for WWF-UK, the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. Not only are they vital for important species such as Atlantic salmon, bullhead fish, bittern and kingfisher, but they are also important for recreational activities such as fishing, walking and birdwatching, […]

All content and articles is with the layout/ design team and they fully appreciate the urgency.

It will take a few weeks for the printing to be completed, so as soon as we have a firm date for delivery we will let you know.

Once again our sincere apologies, rest assured we are doing our utmost to minimise the delay.

Many thanks

The Barbel Society
Midlands’ Rivers Annual Research & Conservation Fundraiser

Fellow Angler,
This new project aims to raise funds, primarily for the Severn catchment, but will cater for all future Midland rivers research and conservation projects.

The Society is helping with funding and supporting two PHD studies, one of which is currently taking place on the river Teme and will be looking at barbel populations throughout the lower and middle reaches.

As time goes The Barbel Society will face a growing list of habitat restoration projects and enhancement schemes that will not only benefit the barbel but all species, as well as improving habitat for all wildlife along the way.

Our first Midlands’ fundraiser event will be held on the 12th September 2015 and consist of a friendly fishing match taking place in the day over three prolific fisheries on the river Severn (car permits and maps will be issued to all guests prior to event), followed by a fantastic 3-course meal and auction in the evening at The Abbey Hotel with Angling Trusts Martin Salter as guest speaker.

A cost of £50 per head will include your entry to the fishing match, dinner at the hotel in the evening and a chance to bid on some fantastic lots in the auction.

For those of you intending on an overnight stay at the hotel, you will need to book early to avoid disappointment as we only have a certain amount of rooms reserved for the event. All details and references for bookings will be provided with each application. Alternative accommodation in and around the malvern hills can be provided upon request.

If you would like to receive an invitation to this years event please contact Bobby Baker mrbbaker@icloud.com

We look forward to hearing from […]

Sat 27 June 2015 – 8.00 am til late

Are you:
• A river fishing enthusiast who would love to fish three great rivers from one car park?
• A keen angler wanting a change from the predictability of carp lakes?
• A lapsed fisher who is tempted to get back into it but doesn’t know how?

If so, why not come along to the Twyford & District Fishing Club Open Day on Saturday 27th June 2015. Our fantastic fisheries on St Patricks Stream, the Loddon and the Thames can all be fished and walked around for free on one day only. Gates open at 8.00am for the early birds and we’ll be around until late afternoon.

Club stalwarts Jim Deasy and Steve Dunbar will be holding a trotting and pole workshop. Renowned local angler Sam Meeuwissen will be holding a barbel fishing workshop. Ian Law, a river carp specialist, will be joining us and expert Phil Wakeford will be on hand to offer advice on pike fishing.

River guides will be available to walk the banks with you and answer any questions.

Just turn up with your tackle, bait, unhooking mat, EA licence and a smile! We will keep you refreshed with free tea, coffee, burgers and bacon butties. There will be a collection box for donations to Fishing for Forces.

If your day encourages you to join up, we will be accepting new members on the day (cash, card and cheque).
Directions – Look for Loddon Drive and the TDFC Open Day signs off the A4 between Charvil and Twyford, near the bridges over the Loddon. The nearest post code to our car park is RG10 9RY

For further information and regular updates see the Twyford & District Fishing Club website www.tdfc.org.uk

Everyone welcome!

Take part in the Angling Trust and Fish Legal Spring 2015 raffle and you could win one of 10 great prizes. Top prize is a dream fishing holiday for two in Venezuela worth £8,500 provided by Roxtons Field Sports. Other prizes include a short-break holiday at one of the Forest Holidays centres in the UK, Daiwa tackle vouchers worth a total of £3,000 and annual subscriptions to Bauer Media Group angling titles including Angling Times, Sea Angler and Trout & Salmon. The minimum entry is just £2.

Full details and entry at www.anglingraffle.net Please could you promote this at every opportunity. We have some publicity going out to Bauer media readers shortly, but it would be really helpful if you could get this out via e-mail, word of mouth, Facebook, Twitter and if necessary shouting from the roof tops!

Many thanks for your support as ever and all best wishes, Mark

Mark Lloyd
Chief Executive
Angling Trust, Fish Legal