Rewilding begins at river altered by Sharlston Colliery closure

The River Went was artificially widened and straightened to receive mine water flows from Sharlston Colliery near Wakefield, but since the colliery shut in 1993 the Went has developed a uniform and very shallow depth.

The changes to the river have been found to limit the wildlife it attracts, so to increase its diversity, a project led by environmental bodies will see a natural sequence of deeper pools and shallow areas restored along a 500-metre stretch of the watercourse as it passes Ackworth School in Ackworth village.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will carry out work in partnership with the Environment Agency and the Wild Trout Trust in a project that Ackworth schoolchildren will also be playing a part.

Environment Agency fisheries technical officer, Jerome Masters said: “Our work will provide a variety of flows and depths, as well as places for animals to shelter, and this will make the River Went a better place for wildlife.”

Nick Simms, regional manager for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We are really excited about this project and look forward to working with Ackworth School to restore the River Went.

“It is important that we inspire the younger generation to care for nature and this is the perfect way to do so, helping to ensure Yorkshire’s wildlife is protected for generations to come.”

Equipment will be supplied to local schools to allow them to take part in the Wild Trout Trust’s ‘Mayfly in the Classroom’ programme, which sees river invertebrates raised in schools.

Equipment and training will also be given to staff and pupils at Ackworth School so that they can monitor riverfly.

The three-week project has arisen after the Environment Agency was contacted by a local resident who was concerned about a decline in wildlife he had observed along the river.