It was a quiet week up to the weekend and then we had the first significant rain for some weeks.  This, by the application of Mr Murphy's well known law, coincided with my plans to do the monthly invert check.  This may not now get done as I seem to have managed to damage my left shoulder humping bags of proven and am currently typing one handed with my left arm in a sling.  Great!

The rather better news comes via the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust who are planning to submit an application for a substantial (over £2m) grant to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a programme of works in Ribblesdale.  Some of this money may fund projects around the river corridor.  I had a very fruitful meeting with the programme director last week in my capacity as Parish Clerk at Horton and it seems that a first level application for grant will be made in February which, if successful, will lead to a full application in June/July.  Assuming this all goes through we may see money being spent at the back end of next season.

Added to the work that RCCT are currently doing this funding should make a significant impact on improving the quality of habitat along the upper river and lead to increased salmonid recruitment. as I said last week.

Ian