My predictions about the weather yesterday proved a little over confident and slightly wide of the mark.  By lunchtime we had a return of the stiff cold breeze that has plagued us over the early part of the week end, the sky had turned grey and it felt (was) cold.  This morning we still have the breeze from the east, but it's brightening up, the cloud is melting away and if the wind drops it may warm up a touch.

My visitor to the river on Sunday has responded very positively with some enthusiastic comments about the fishery and its management.  He has formally applied for membership so his fate now rests with Council.  A worthwhile mornings work.

Crayfish Paul dropped by during yesterday afternoon after visiting the site where we plan to eradicate the last pocket of crayfish plague on the river. It seems that all is progressing well with planning the project and despite not yet having final confirmation of the funding needed this should merely be a formality so work will begin next month.  This is an exiting project, unique in its aims and projected outcomes. No one has tried before to eliminate crayfish plague from a catchment and subsequently reintroduce native crayfish so there will be much attention on the work and a great deal of professional interest if it succeeds.  Maybe in a few years it will be possible once again to lift a rock in the Ribble and find white clawed crayfish.  If so then Paul and Neil should receive much praise.  I shall report progress.

Ian