Be grateful if members could sign this petition to help raise awareness of proposals involving Canops Ponds, Lydney which could be removed due to ageing dams not meeting modern standards. TIA
Canop Ponds Petition
Forestry England are looking at closing Cannop, endangering the local wildlife and taking away a massive part of the forests history.
Copied from the petition;
Cannop Ponds were created in 1825 and 1829 for industrial purposes, which makes them 193 years and 197 years old respectively, Yorkley & District Angling Club have leased the ponds for coarse fishing from Forestry England and its predecessors since 1958. The ponds contain a variety of uk native freshwater fish such as Roach, Rudd, Perch, Tench, Eels, Bream, Carp, Pike, Dace, Brown trout and Sticklebacks. During its 64 years of stewardship of Cannop Ponds as a fishery Yorkley & District Angling Club members have carried out many thousands of volunteer hours, maintaining and improving the ponds for the benefit of its members and the general public, these include but are not exhaustive of, repairs and maintenance of footpaths, creation and maintenance of fishing pegs and fishing platforms, control of non-native invasive pond weed, water quality monitoring/correction and management of fish stocks. Over the years the clubs relationship with its landlord Forestry England and its predecessors has been a good one, particularly with local based Forestry Rangers and office staff.
The ponds are fed by The Cannop Brook which flows through Cannop 2 then flows down to and through Cannop 1, at the moment there two distinct ecosystems, the brook ecosystem and the pond ecosystem, if Forestry England's plans are implemented there will only be one ecosystem the brook ecosystem.
All the fish currently in the ponds with the exception of Brown Trout, eels, dace and sticklebacks would not survive in the brook ecosystem and would have to be removed and relocated elsewhere. The Swans, Mandarin Ducks and most of the other waterbirds would not be present in a brook ecosystem, also the ponds amphibians & Invertebrates such as the Great Crested Newts, Frogs, Damselfly larvae etc would not survive in a brook ecosystem and would need to be relocated.
Forestry England have told the club that both ponds are classified as reservoirs and are therefore subject to the Reservoirs act 1975, this legislation gives a strict responsibility to reservoir Owners to inspect, maintain and repair, it appears to the club that rather than face the financial burden of the repairs required to the ponds Forestry England has decided to try and avoid its obligation to repair by removing the ponds completely thus ending its current and all future liabilities. Cannop ponds are two Iconic, historic beauty spots in a unique ecosystem, they are used and appreciated by 1000s of local people and visitors alike, they are also the final resting place of many departed loved ones whose ashes have been spread over the ponds surface, the ponds also have a positive effect on people's mental health and wellbeing, not just anglers, but birdwatchers, cyclists and walkers amongst others.
The Club strongly condemns Forestry England's Proposals and ask them to quickly reconsider, and take the responsible course of action which is to repair. The club also asks for the support of other Forestry England Stakeholders, our local MP Mark Harper and other local politicians, The Environment Agency, The Angling Trust and the General Public in opposing Forestry England's Hairbrained scheme.
Article from local paper: Hereford Times
BBC News
HELP SAVE CANNOP PONDS
Canop Ponds Petition
Forestry England are looking at closing Cannop, endangering the local wildlife and taking away a massive part of the forests history.
Copied from the petition;
Cannop Ponds were created in 1825 and 1829 for industrial purposes, which makes them 193 years and 197 years old respectively, Yorkley & District Angling Club have leased the ponds for coarse fishing from Forestry England and its predecessors since 1958. The ponds contain a variety of uk native freshwater fish such as Roach, Rudd, Perch, Tench, Eels, Bream, Carp, Pike, Dace, Brown trout and Sticklebacks. During its 64 years of stewardship of Cannop Ponds as a fishery Yorkley & District Angling Club members have carried out many thousands of volunteer hours, maintaining and improving the ponds for the benefit of its members and the general public, these include but are not exhaustive of, repairs and maintenance of footpaths, creation and maintenance of fishing pegs and fishing platforms, control of non-native invasive pond weed, water quality monitoring/correction and management of fish stocks. Over the years the clubs relationship with its landlord Forestry England and its predecessors has been a good one, particularly with local based Forestry Rangers and office staff.
The ponds are fed by The Cannop Brook which flows through Cannop 2 then flows down to and through Cannop 1, at the moment there two distinct ecosystems, the brook ecosystem and the pond ecosystem, if Forestry England's plans are implemented there will only be one ecosystem the brook ecosystem.
All the fish currently in the ponds with the exception of Brown Trout, eels, dace and sticklebacks would not survive in the brook ecosystem and would have to be removed and relocated elsewhere. The Swans, Mandarin Ducks and most of the other waterbirds would not be present in a brook ecosystem, also the ponds amphibians & Invertebrates such as the Great Crested Newts, Frogs, Damselfly larvae etc would not survive in a brook ecosystem and would need to be relocated.
Forestry England have told the club that both ponds are classified as reservoirs and are therefore subject to the Reservoirs act 1975, this legislation gives a strict responsibility to reservoir Owners to inspect, maintain and repair, it appears to the club that rather than face the financial burden of the repairs required to the ponds Forestry England has decided to try and avoid its obligation to repair by removing the ponds completely thus ending its current and all future liabilities. Cannop ponds are two Iconic, historic beauty spots in a unique ecosystem, they are used and appreciated by 1000s of local people and visitors alike, they are also the final resting place of many departed loved ones whose ashes have been spread over the ponds surface, the ponds also have a positive effect on people's mental health and wellbeing, not just anglers, but birdwatchers, cyclists and walkers amongst others.
The Club strongly condemns Forestry England's Proposals and ask them to quickly reconsider, and take the responsible course of action which is to repair. The club also asks for the support of other Forestry England Stakeholders, our local MP Mark Harper and other local politicians, The Environment Agency, The Angling Trust and the General Public in opposing Forestry England's Hairbrained scheme.
Article from local paper: Hereford Times
BBC News
HELP SAVE CANNOP PONDS
In reply to Post #1
You may want to add that the option being explored is removing the dams to return the river to its natural processes. Please tell the full story, saying “for redevelopment” makes it sounds like building something to profit from on the land when in reality they are looking to work with Arup on restoring natural processes of the river valley by removing them, likely increasing biodiversity due to the more complex habitat structures.
Won't be signing.
You may want to add that the option being explored is removing the dams to return the river to its natural processes. Please tell the full story, saying “for redevelopment” makes it sounds like building something to profit from on the land when in reality they are looking to work with Arup on restoring natural processes of the river valley by removing them, likely increasing biodiversity due to the more complex habitat structures.
Won't be signing.
In reply to Post #2
Viktor, that's absolutely fine and thanks for the feedback. I've updated the post and removed reference.
I've shared the petition and a relevant article, people can make their own opinions on it from that. Regarding the Arup work, you've made an assumption based upon a feasibility study which hasn't yet been concluded - all a matter of opinions.
Ultimately, the ponds have been there for 200 years and all life there would not be supported should that be removed.
Viktor, that's absolutely fine and thanks for the feedback. I've updated the post and removed reference.
I've shared the petition and a relevant article, people can make their own opinions on it from that. Regarding the Arup work, you've made an assumption based upon a feasibility study which hasn't yet been concluded - all a matter of opinions.
Ultimately, the ponds have been there for 200 years and all life there would not be supported should that be removed.
Signed..
I remember all the bs ,when one of my much loved venues was allegedly leaking ,this led to re location of the original fish..
The leak was no where as bad as stated,and the fishery is still open..
I note ,recently ,some venues across the country have been found to be trying to remove angling from established lakes, using various excuses to do this ..
A perfect time or excuse to remove or stop angling or other associated activities..tip of the iceberg..
I remember all the bs ,when one of my much loved venues was allegedly leaking ,this led to re location of the original fish..
The leak was no where as bad as stated,and the fishery is still open..
I note ,recently ,some venues across the country have been found to be trying to remove angling from established lakes, using various excuses to do this ..
A perfect time or excuse to remove or stop angling or other associated activities..tip of the iceberg..
In reply to Post #1
Signed
Signed
In reply to Post #1
Signed already, glad to see so many engaged with this campaign Alex.
I find it very hard to believe that wildlife havens like Cannop Ponds could be at risk in this day and age.
Cheers
Ox
Signed already, glad to see so many engaged with this campaign Alex.
I find it very hard to believe that wildlife havens like Cannop Ponds could be at risk in this day and age.
Cheers
Ox
I've heard a tickle that the dam inspection price is some of the reasoning for turning it back to a brook no dam to inspect no cost for inspections which are quite an expense, do the fishing club cover the dam inspections?