Fallen trees removed from river (From The Northern Echo)

Fallen trees removed from river

3:53pm Tuesday 21st February 2012 in Consett News

FALLEN trees which were blocking a river have been removed.

Several beech trees had fallen into the River Browney, near Lanchester, causing a blockage which was preventing salmon and sea trout from swimming past.

A team from the Environment Agency was sent to clear the trees after the problem was reported by a local farmer.

Agency staff said the job was made difficult because of problems getting access to the riverbank, partly due to a strong fence designed to keep the farmer’s pigs from escaping.

Workers threaded a rope through the fence and winched the trunks clear.

Andrew Foster, from the Environment Agency, said: "The trees had sunken into the riverbed, making it difficult for fish to get past.

"We managed to get the two very large trees out of the river and we’ve cut them up so the farmer can use it for firewood."