Despite grey skies for much of the morning yesterday the rain that was forecast failed to materialise so the river remains pretty low, but just about fishable.  The forecast for the week ahead suggests that we may be in for a wetter spell so fingers crossed.

The much delayed work on the Pennine Bridleway that will come down across Low Moor, over the river above the Tarn and up Drain Mires Lane began this week and so far several hundred tons of limestone have gone up past me to resurface Drain Mires so that heavy equipment can get down to the river with the new elliptical wooden bridge.  The work is planned to take the next three months so there will be a fair bit of disturbance on the beat above the Tarn for the rest of the season. 

I have been assured by the project manager that the contractors will keep to a minimum removal of the new trees we planted in the winter up to the site of the bridge.  Any that are removed will be replanted further down the beat.

Work should begin next week to replace the old stile above the lodge with a self closing gate and to rebuild the wall down to the water's edge.  This should make progress round the Tarn a great deal easier and safer.  So no more busted gussets or hernias lugging tackle over the stile.

Ian