BW installing fish refuges

BRITISH Waterways is installing four specially designed fish refuges on the  Lee Navigation as part of a drive to improve water quality and wildlife habitats along the river ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

It will install 500 yards of environmentally friendly reed bed fringe across four locations along the Lower Lee Navigation in Hackney.

Wire reed baskets

Ecologists from BW, local volunteers from Thames 21 and Leabank Square residents, along with contractors, will make the wire reed bed baskets before the contractors install them along the line of the canal wall.

Leela O'Dea, British Waterways' Environment Manager explained:

"This reed bed project will bring great environmental benefits to this area of the Lee Navigation. Not only will it provide a new lush green boundary along the waters edge, the plants will also support zooplankton and macro-invertebrates."

"Once the reeds begin to establish they will, along with the micro organisms living in the underwater root system, help filter and keep the canal water clean. This is particularly good news for fish and will hopefully encourage them to spawn and ultimately boost their population along this stretch of water"

The reed bed fringe will be installed near Island House at Three Mills, Leabank Square, Lee Conservancy Road and alongside the Hope  & Anchor Pub.