The Yorkshire Post says: The natural world. Dales waterfall dries to a trickle

THE CASCADING waterfall at Janet's Foss in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is normally a spectacular sight in all weathers. The exception, however, is this summer after it slowed to a barely discernible trickle.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2018, 01:38 BST
Updated 16th Jul 2018, 17:41 BST
Wild swimmer Johnny Hartnell regularly takes an early morning dip in the natural pool at one of the Yorkshire Dales' most famous beauty spots but when he arrived at Janet's Foss earlier this week, the waterfall was a trickle and the crystal clear pool had all but dried up. Picture right shows Janet's Foss in full flow and picture left Johnny's wife, Michelle, stood in the dried up pool beneath a trickle of water that is now the falls. Pictures: Johnny Hartnell.Wild swimmer Johnny Hartnell regularly takes an early morning dip in the natural pool at one of the Yorkshire Dales' most famous beauty spots but when he arrived at Janet's Foss earlier this week, the waterfall was a trickle and the crystal clear pool had all but dried up. Picture right shows Janet's Foss in full flow and picture left Johnny's wife, Michelle, stood in the dried up pool beneath a trickle of water that is now the falls. Pictures: Johnny Hartnell.
Wild swimmer Johnny Hartnell regularly takes an early morning dip in the natural pool at one of the Yorkshire Dales' most famous beauty spots but when he arrived at Janet's Foss earlier this week, the waterfall was a trickle and the crystal clear pool had all but dried up. Picture right shows Janet's Foss in full flow and picture left Johnny's wife, Michelle, stood in the dried up pool beneath a trickle of water that is now the falls. Pictures: Johnny Hartnell.

Yet, while the heatwave is good news for the region’s tourism industry, it’s less so for the natural environment and scores of stranded fish at this particular spot were only saved by the quick-thinking actions of farmer Johnny Hartnell.

A wild swimming enthusiast, he – and fellow farmer Malcolm Wilson – set about catching dozens of fish and moving them to deeper waters where, hopefully, they will prosper until the rain does finally arrive.

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Public spiritedness at its best, it’s also a salutary reminder about the importance of monitoring conditions and either taking action, or alerting the authorities, when wildlife is imperilled. After all, the Dales – which give so much pleasure to so many people – are very much defined by their flora and fauna.

Related topics:Yorkshire DalesYorkshire Post