A SAFE HAVEN FOR NATIVE CRAYFISH
We’ve spent the summer working with a group of volunteers to monitor the locations and population of native white clawed crayfish in the River Rede, as part of our Native North Tyne project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Our Native North Tyne project celebrates what’s interesting and unique about the River North Tyne and the River Rede which sit at the top of the Tyne catchment. It helps people get out and discover the local landscape, as well as the unique and endangered species that are only found in this part of our river.
To map crayfish populations we used crayfish refuges which simulate the crevices that native crayfish usually hide in to establish where they can be found on the River Rede and its tributaries.
The protected species are at risk due to disease from non-native signal crayfish. The information we’ve collected will help us to provide safe areas for white clawed crayfish to survive.
Over the winter, the Native North Tyne project will be continuing with volunteer conservation tasks including tree planting, willow management and bankside erosion repair. We will also be working with tourism businesses to engage visitors in our local river life, as well as talking to river users about how to prevent the spread of diseases and non-native plants.
