Is Clearing Your Own Swim Allowed?

Now that the rivers have “opened” again, anglers are reporting the need for fishing spots to be made more accessible. Whilst some “gentle trimming” is allowable, generally you must make the most of what you see when arriving at the river. However, in the case of the River Derwent, this being an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), indeterminate ‘hacking and slashing’ is a definite “no-no”, and no-one should even be thinking of “digging out” new pegs. It is not widely known that it is a condition of Natural England that we can only ‘maintain’ fishing spots and NOT create new ones as part of the Derwent SSSI status. Anglers should respect the tranquillity of the countryside and the importance of the Derwent as a SSSI and how we, as responsible anglers, can help with protecting the environment.