Do you know what connects these images from left to right?

By coppicing a river bank you let more light penetrate the riffle section which increases the amount of algal growth. Invertebrate numbers increase due to this increased priamry production which inturn provides food for a healthy fish population. The fish population subsequently provides food for top predators such as the otter which can be further encouraged into an area by building an otter holt out of the coppiced wood!

Are you interested in becoming a Rivers Expert?

RIVER CORRIDOR MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT

The Trust will be running a river expert course which is a mixture of practical river-side skills and taught lab and classroom based identification. The course is open to anyone with an interest in the ecology and management of our rivers such as:

    * Fishing beat owners                                             * Natural history enthusiasts
    * Land managers                                                     * Invasive Weeds Controllers
    * Landscape designers                                            * Conservationists
    * Ecologists                                                             * Consultants

You do not need any specific qualifications to attend the course, however if you are concerned with if the course is right for you please contact the Trust.

STRUCTURE – The weekend course will run from 9am to 4pm on the 25th and 26th July 2009 at the Trust offices in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall and include:

Day 1 - Sat 25th July

• 9:30am Morning - River Ecology - why look at the river or the river basin, indicators of river health
• Lunch – River visit and short habitat survey, and invertebrate kick sample
• Afternoon till 4pm – Invertebrate identification and analysis

Day 2 - Sun 26th July

• 9:30am Morning – recap on river ecology and surveying – pressures and impacts on rivers
• Lunch – River Visit to look at various issues and record impacts
• Afternoon till 4pm designing solutions to problems

PRICE –The two day course costs £80 for general public and £60 for WRT supporters Places are limited so please reserve you place with the attached form and if you know anyone who would be interested in the course please forward this email.

VENUE – The course is based at the Westcountry Rivers Trust offices in Stoke Climsland (Rain-Charm House, Kyl Cober Parc, Stoke Climsland, Callington, CORNWALL PL17 8PY

To book your place please fill in the booking form below and send it to the Trust or for more information contact Dr Laurence Couldrick at laurence@wrt.org.uk

CLICK HERE to download the Course Information and Booking Form