On Monday July 22, as pupils from Carsington & Hopton C of E Primary School neared end of term, they went with their parents and teachers to Cromford Meadows to help anglers from Cromford Fly-Fishers Club monitor insects in the River Derwent.
This was a new experience for all the school children - they had never caught insects out of the river before.
The children caught samples of the insects from the river bed in nets; these were then put in buckets, and poured into trays in the Club’s Fishing Lodge.
There they were counted to make sure the numbers present were what was expected at that time of year. This helps Cromford Fly-Fishing Club ensure the river is healthy enough to support the right amount of insect life - and provide food for all the wildlife that relies on them.
Afterwards all the samples of insects - and a few small fish that were in there too - were carefully put back in the river.
The children tried some other fly-fishing related activities as well, including handling some fly rods to get the feel for the gentle art of casting.
Several members of Cromford Fly-Fishers Club, including: Phil Thompson, Keith Griffith and Tim Ireland, helped support member, Peter Massey who had the idea in the first place.
Peter Massey said, “It was an absolute pleasure to see their smiling faces as they learnt about the nature in the river. The children enjoyed their outing and that it was an enjoyable way to bring their term to a close.”
Phil Thompsons, the club’s treasurer said, “We would like to run more of these sessions to help the children understand the insect life in the river and the wildlife that lives in or near the river. Hopefully the children will enjoy developing a connection with nature. If there are all as keen and well-behaved as these pupils were it will be an absolute pleasure.”
At the end of the session each child was given a commemorative angling cap to celebrate Cromford Fly-Fishers Club’s 150th anniversary.
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