Denso Marston Wildlife Park Consultative Group R Aire Shipley

          Idle and Thackley AA have been members of the above group since its formation in 1990 and have worked with the group and the company in the development of a Wildlife Park at the rear of the factory in Otley Rd Shipley . The River Aire flows directly through the park which also includes a small pond.

          This area of the River has suffered very badly in the past from pollution from both industry primarily Textiles and also from sewerage from Treatment Works and Storm Water Overflows. The extent of industrial pollution reduced considerably with the decline of the Textile Industry and improvements in industrial processes from tighter regulations . Recently improvements have also been made to storm water overflows particularly into Bradford Beck and further work to improve the quality of sewerage from Treatment Works is continuing to take place.

          More controversial research into why fish do not breed as well has also suggested that the hormone traces in sewerage from the contraceptive pill is causing some male fish to change to females. It is said this is why there are low numbers of male fish which then  reduces reproduction rates.

          Before the Industrial Revolution the R Aire was one of the finest Salmon rivers in the Country and at its most polluted stage it was reduced to being incapable of supporting  fish life in the area of the wildlife park. Whilst it may never improve to the pre Industrial Revolution quality some improvements are now being observed .

          In the wildlife park section of the river small numbers of the following species have been observed to date:

                              Pike , Roach , Bream , Chub , Gudgeon , Dace , Minnows and Sticklebacks.

           Other positive signs such as the increase in the numbers of Kingfishers , Ducks and other river wildlife have occurred. During the last few  years there has also been positive signs that cleaner river sand is beginning to appear in some areas of the riverbed in place of the grey heavily polluted silt from decades of neglect. Shoals of fry have also been observed.

         Many of these improvements could however be seriously setback from just a few major pollution incidents and that is why it is important for us all to continue to lobby for further measures to improve water quality.

          Each year the company and the wildlife group have organised an annual riverbank clean up event to remove much of the rubbish and litter which becomes trapped in the trees and bank. The voluntary help of local individuals and groups has shown us what a significant difference this can make. In the early years in particular skip-loads of rubbish were removed . If only we could find a way of stopping all the plastic wrappings , most of which is from industrial sources, from getting into the river in the first place.

         The company at the suggestion of the wildlife group also did some limited experimental restocking with fish in the river to try to improve numbers. The species stocked were Chub and Dace in 1991.

          In  year 2000 it was also  noted that exceptional  numbers of fry were present in the river but fry numbers have been much lower since that exceptional year. In 2006 a shoal of 14 bream 2-4lbs in weight were sighted on the open day which is a further positive sign of a overall improvement of the river environment.

         We continue to work with the Company and the Group to attempt to improve the river and its immediate environment. More information about the other Wildlife Consultative Group's work with the Company on the Wild-life Park can be accessed via www.wildlifeatwork.supanet.com