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In 1998 the Norfolk Branch of the Salmon & Trout Association funded an extensive survey and report by Dr Nick Giles on the restoration and development of one of Norfolk's premier trout fisheries. The survey of the river Wensum between Bintry Mill and County School on behalf of the Bintry Mill Trout Fishery was presented to the Environment Agency (EA) in the hope that the Agency would support and possibly provide some funding for the work proposed.

The EA made a bid for European 5B match funding for a number of scheme which, together, will comprise the River Wensum Rehabilitation Project. The bid for funding of the work on the Bintry Mill Trout Fishery's section of the river was successful and is planned for March/April, before the start of this season, all being well. The EA is keen that some of the projects will be joint ventures - particularly where there is an identifiable fishing interest - and to this end the Bintry Mill Trout Fishery will be making a financial contribution towards the costs of the works.

The project is of national significance in that if conerns the greater part of a complete river and the work is planned to provide assisted recovery which will be self-sustaining, rather than artifical restoration. A great deal of work and planning has gone into 11 priority schemes, the first three of which are scheduled for this year. Some 70,000 of funding is available for thes first schemes.

Dr Giles's recommendations form the basis of a more comprehensive scheme that has been designed by a geomorphologist so that the new riffles match the current substrates of the riverbed. As well as work in the river, the plans include tree planting, bank restoration and stock fencing. It is hoped that other schemes further upstream will reduce the current tendency of the river to flood after heavy rain falls.

Over the last few seasons the numbers of wild brown trout in this stretch of the Wensum have been increasing and it is hoped that the works will increase the amount of habitat suitable for mature wild trout to spawn as well as providing further stretches of nursery waters for the juvenile fish.

The Bintry Mill Trout Fishery is one of four fisheries in the county set-up by the Norfolk branch of the Salmon & Trout Association to provide quality river and stillwater trout fishing for members of the Association.

Further information on the fishery and applications for day tickets (limited numbers only) can be made to the secretary Terry Lawton, by e-mail: t.lawtonpr@netcom.co.uk