Staff from the Environment Agency will be placing root plates of willow trees into the bank of the brook to help vary the flow of the water and to provide refuges for young fish. The work is part of the Salmon in the Stour project, which is helping to improve the river for both wildlife and people.

Jess Nott, a conservation officer for Worcestershire Wildlife Trust who is leading the project, explained “It’s really exciting that this work is coming to fruition. The Environment Agency has already removed vast quantities of plastic that had been blocking the brook in this area so it’s great that we can move onto the next stage.

The River Stour rises in the Clent Hills and meanders through the Black Country before flowing through Worcestershire. The Salmon in the Stour project is working to improve both the river and its tributaries, such as the Hoo Brook, for wildlife and people.

The River Stour is an important part of the heritage of the area and the project not only wants to see salmon breeding in the catchment headwaters again but also wants to see wildlife like otters, kingfishers and water voles thriving along its length.

An ambitious project, it is already working with local communities, businesses and volunteers to make a difference.