A NATIONAL Highways scheme to construct a fish pass on the River Ashburn near Buckfastleigh has gone swimmingly well.

The construction of the new pass will help to support the ecosystem on the River Ashburn by assisting the migration of salmon, eels and other species through Ashburn Check Weirs within the Dartmoor National Park.

The need for the pass was first identified when Westcountry Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency learned that fish were unable to move upstream due to the four historic, stepped weirs close to the A38 slip road at Buckfastleigh.

The newly completed fish pass
The newly completed fish pass (-)

Thanks to an investment of £450,000 from the Environment and wellbeing fund, National Highways was able to fund a scheme to adapt these weirs to enable fish to navigate their way upstream to their traditional spawning grounds.

Work started in early June, and involved a total overhaul of the original weirs, cutting off their features, changing the gradient and creating new passages for the fish to pass through.

Given the environmentally significant location, the utmost care had to be factored into the construction work.

National Highways’ Environmental Advisor Ben Hewlett said: ‘Our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads, and through our Environmental and wellbeing fund, we’re investing in the environment and communities surrounding our network.

‘We’re delighted we could support such a worthwhile project which will help to support aquatic biodiversity close to the A38.’