Mike Bridgen meets the first ever project officer aiming to improve the River Wear.

CHAMPION angler Steve Hudson has landed his dream job. The 26 year-old Cornishman has been appointed the first ever project officer for the Wear Rivers Trust.

Part of his role involves speaking to anglers and clubs about the state of the river and fish stocks.

The keen angler was three times junior angling champion at Bude in Cornwall and took up his new post in March. He wants to meet as many people, landowners and organisations as possible with connections to the river and the 900 miles of tributaries in its catchment area.

The Wear flows for 60 miles from its source at Wearhead in upper Weardale through Durham City and out to the open sea at Sunderland.

Mr Hudson said: “It is one of the best sea trout rivers in the country; as a fishery, it is absolutely brilliant. But it is patchy. There are some areas where the fishing is really good but some where fish stocks are not so good.”

Old lead mines and moorland grips (drains) in the upper reaches can cause problems of contamination, flash flooding and erosion, while downstream industry and debris can present risks.

Mr Hudson said: “This is the perfect job for me and I hope everyone who uses the river will get in touch and tell me of issues that need addressing, and identify where they are. We do have access to a certain amount of funding to carry out restoration work such as riverbank fencing, the creation of fish passes and other schemes.”

The European Union’s water framework directive has the ambitious aim of improving the ecological state of every river catchment area in Europe.

There are a number of schemes already operating in England.

The Wear Rivers Trust is an independent organisation which was launched in March last year with world-famous botanist Dr David Bellamy giving the keynote speech.

It wants to work with local communities to carry out environmentally based projects and events.

The concerns about fish stocks are partly caused by some of the traditional spawning grounds becoming inaccessible.

One of the trust’s first projects was to work with three angling clubs to rebuild a damaged fish pass using old, and heavy, railway sleepers. That single scheme has helped migratory fish travel a further six miles upstream to spawn in tributaries.

The spawning grounds sometimes become inaccessible through the water drying up in the head waters or from damage and blockages caused by floods and erosion or invasive weeds.

When fish are forced to spawn further downstream, it usually means they do not use the traditional and safe pools for rearing their youngsters, leaving them more vulnerable to predator attack.

The creation of fish passes not only restores access but helps improve the flow of water in the river.

Another early project for the trust, with the help of the Environment Agency, involved fencing the river bank at its Low Bat reserve between Stanhope and Frosterley. It stopped damage and erosion to the bank as livestock clambered in and out of the water.

Mr Hudson, who was one of the first graduates from the West Country Rivers Trust’s sustainable river basin management degree, has only been in post for a month but is already getting out and about meeting parties with interests in the river.

He is the central point of contact for any issues regarding the river and said: “I and all the stakeholders on the Wear will be looking at a range of possible projects to enhance what is a massively valuable resource for so many people.”

Armed with his degree, Mr Hudson also has experience in farm and event management and freshwater ecology.

He wants to work with everyone from landowners and farmers, anglers and canoeists, to people who simply enjoy walking along the banks.

“We would also welcome anyone interested in working as a volunteer on some of the schemes, particularly the Riverfly project in which we will be taking samples to assess the state of the invertebrate population,” said Mr Hudson.

The Environment Agency works with the trust and provides it with some funding.

Mr Hudson is also based at its offices in Pity Me, near Durham City.

The trust also works with Natural England, the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Highways Agency, railways, water boards and local authorities.

Mr Hudson said: “We are also looking to hold educational, and attend agricultural events, to explain our work.

“I want to get out and meet as many people as possible, but I do hope people will contact me and tell me of any issues and concerns they may have about the river and its tributaries.

“We also want to hear from anyone who would like to become a volunteer to help with projects.”

Mr Hudson can be contacted on 07849 178866 or at steve.hudson@wear-riverstrust.org.uk.