Ballinderry Crayfish Project plays host to the Association of Rivers Trusts UK & Ireland

A sand and gravel pit owned by Acheson & Glover near Cookstown, attracted delegates from River Trusts across the UK recently, keen to catch a glimpse of the endangered White-clawed Crayfish, now successfully breeding there.

Once a common sight in rivers and lakes, white-clawed crayfish are now on an ever-increasing list of globally threatened species. But in an effort to turn the tide for crayfish, Acheson & Glover joined forces with the Ballinderry River Enhancement Association and other partners to create a purpose built habitat Ark site for the Ballinderry White-clawed Crayfish – a sanctuary in a working sand pit.

When River Trusts from all over the UK and Ireland met in Cookstown recently for a major conference, they took time out to visit a number of sites in the Ballinderry River, including the Ark Site at QPANI member Acheson & Glover’s sand pit.

“We were delighted to show the delegates around,” said Lyle Cairns, Operations Manager at Acheson & Glover.

“We constructed a shelved habitat bay using concrete slabs and broken stone. Thousands of tiny nooks and crannies provide homes for these freshwater ‘lobster-like’ creatures. Even the company’s Heritage home building bricks (with holes through the middle of them) have been used to make homes for the crayfish.

“As land managers, biodiversity conservation is an important part of environmental management at all of our sites by means of careful planning, operation and progressive restoration.

“We are committed to the continual improvement of our company’s operations where our activities have an impact on, or opportunity for, biodiversity, as confirmed in our Biodiversity Policy.”

The Association of Rivers Trusts is an umbrella organisation representing Rivers Trusts – community led charities established by local people to resolve problems, and improve the water quality and biodiversity associated with particular rivers which have led to the degradation of the freshwater environment and loss of precious wildlife.

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