Mike Blackmore
@blacky-himself.bsky.social
Environmentalist, Conservationist, River-restorationist! Opinions expressed are my own
#RiverRestoration
#RiverRestoration
Early start to head up to Birmingham. Talking about a national strategy for beavers with DEFRA
November 27, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Early start to head up to Birmingham. Talking about a national strategy for beavers with DEFRA
We don’t really do “leaky dams”!
November 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We don’t really do “leaky dams”!
Tricky commute this time of year...
November 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Tricky commute this time of year...
De-silting vs Dredging.
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
November 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
De-silting vs Dredging.
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
Interesting time at the River Guardian Summit with @paulpowlesland.bsky.social and @lawyersfornature.bsky.social over the weekend.
Amazing venue, passionate people, great food and great conversations
Amazing venue, passionate people, great food and great conversations
October 22, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Interesting time at the River Guardian Summit with @paulpowlesland.bsky.social and @lawyersfornature.bsky.social over the weekend.
Amazing venue, passionate people, great food and great conversations
Amazing venue, passionate people, great food and great conversations
Reposted by Mike Blackmore
@blacky-himself.bsky.social seeing you bested by a beaver at the @colnecan.bsky.social conference 😜
October 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM
@blacky-himself.bsky.social seeing you bested by a beaver at the @colnecan.bsky.social conference 😜
"Supplimenting" a species.
Helping expand the endangered white-clawed crayfish population of the upper River Itchen
#ChalkStream #conservation #crayfish
Helping expand the endangered white-clawed crayfish population of the upper River Itchen
#ChalkStream #conservation #crayfish
October 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"Supplimenting" a species.
Helping expand the endangered white-clawed crayfish population of the upper River Itchen
#ChalkStream #conservation #crayfish
Helping expand the endangered white-clawed crayfish population of the upper River Itchen
#ChalkStream #conservation #crayfish
Fish live in trees. Sometimes fallen trees need managing, but every bit we can keep in the water is valuable habitat
September 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Fish live in trees. Sometimes fallen trees need managing, but every bit we can keep in the water is valuable habitat
Un-stocked, un-manicured, proper wild catch-and-release fly fishing on the (restored) River Test!
We very happily explained this approach on the Fly Culture podcast.
Apple podcast
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify link
open.spotify.com/episode/6Kgu...
#flyfishing #ChalkStream #trout
We very happily explained this approach on the Fly Culture podcast.
Apple podcast
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify link
open.spotify.com/episode/6Kgu...
#flyfishing #ChalkStream #trout
The Test with Mike Blackmore and Neil Swift
Podcast Episode · The Fly Culture Podcast · 30/07/2025 · 1h 5m
podcasts.apple.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Un-stocked, un-manicured, proper wild catch-and-release fly fishing on the (restored) River Test!
We very happily explained this approach on the Fly Culture podcast.
Apple podcast
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify link
open.spotify.com/episode/6Kgu...
#flyfishing #ChalkStream #trout
We very happily explained this approach on the Fly Culture podcast.
Apple podcast
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify link
open.spotify.com/episode/6Kgu...
#flyfishing #ChalkStream #trout
So long Ofwat, and thanks for all the (dead) fish!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...
Final report into 'broken' water industry says regulator Ofwat should be scrapped - live updates
The major review led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe was issued by the government to
www.bbc.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 6:11 AM
So long Ofwat, and thanks for all the (dead) fish!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...
Restoring a dredged river.
Awesome result!
#RiverRestoration #ChalkStream #conservation #habitatrestoration
Awesome result!
#RiverRestoration #ChalkStream #conservation #habitatrestoration
July 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Restoring a dredged river.
Awesome result!
#RiverRestoration #ChalkStream #conservation #habitatrestoration
Awesome result!
#RiverRestoration #ChalkStream #conservation #habitatrestoration
Flashback to 2015 when a community restored their local river with almost no budget.
An Environment Agency and Wild Trout Trust partnership project
@wildtrouttrust.bsky.social
An Environment Agency and Wild Trout Trust partnership project
@wildtrouttrust.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Flashback to 2015 when a community restored their local river with almost no budget.
An Environment Agency and Wild Trout Trust partnership project
@wildtrouttrust.bsky.social
An Environment Agency and Wild Trout Trust partnership project
@wildtrouttrust.bsky.social
A few tickets left:
www.orvis.co.uk/products/uk-...
www.orvis.co.uk/products/uk-...
June 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A few tickets left:
www.orvis.co.uk/products/uk-...
www.orvis.co.uk/products/uk-...
Out yesterday with @fishtwitcher.bsky.social and came across something private 😳
June 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Out yesterday with @fishtwitcher.bsky.social and came across something private 😳
Out today doing my “other job”, managing the River Wylye. Seems like every work party we come across new signs from our wild #ChalkStream beavers 🦫🌳🐟
I hold a license but so far haven’t encountered a single problem requiring intervention.
I hold a license but so far haven’t encountered a single problem requiring intervention.
June 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Out today doing my “other job”, managing the River Wylye. Seems like every work party we come across new signs from our wild #ChalkStream beavers 🦫🌳🐟
I hold a license but so far haven’t encountered a single problem requiring intervention.
I hold a license but so far haven’t encountered a single problem requiring intervention.
Before ☠️ and after 🐟🌱:
This is what makes the job so worthwhile #ChalkStream #RiverRestoration
Recommendations from a @wildtrouttrust.bsky.social report, followed up and delivered by Wessex Rivers Trust
This is what makes the job so worthwhile #ChalkStream #RiverRestoration
Recommendations from a @wildtrouttrust.bsky.social report, followed up and delivered by Wessex Rivers Trust
June 14, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Before ☠️ and after 🐟🌱:
This is what makes the job so worthwhile #ChalkStream #RiverRestoration
Recommendations from a @wildtrouttrust.bsky.social report, followed up and delivered by Wessex Rivers Trust
This is what makes the job so worthwhile #ChalkStream #RiverRestoration
Recommendations from a @wildtrouttrust.bsky.social report, followed up and delivered by Wessex Rivers Trust
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
Delighted that the 2 main water companies in the Wessex region, Wessex Water and Southern Water are banned from issuing executive bonuses this year.
However this is just one step on the journey, with further reform required from the industry and regulators
Delighted that the 2 main water companies in the Wessex region, Wessex Water and Southern Water are banned from issuing executive bonuses this year.
However this is just one step on the journey, with further reform required from the industry and regulators
https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
June 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
Delighted that the 2 main water companies in the Wessex region, Wessex Water and Southern Water are banned from issuing executive bonuses this year.
However this is just one step on the journey, with further reform required from the industry and regulators
Delighted that the 2 main water companies in the Wessex region, Wessex Water and Southern Water are banned from issuing executive bonuses this year.
However this is just one step on the journey, with further reform required from the industry and regulators
Without a ‘complete’ ecosystem we’ll always have winners and losers…
May 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Without a ‘complete’ ecosystem we’ll always have winners and losers…
We’re #hiring!
Join a team creating and restoring some of the rarest habitats in the world, the iconic rivers and chalk streams of the Wessex region.
environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/105833-...
Join a team creating and restoring some of the rarest habitats in the world, the iconic rivers and chalk streams of the Wessex region.
environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/105833-...
Project Officer
The Project Officer will be responsible for developing, preparing and delivering a range of projects, from concept to completion. Projects will range from small, community-led habitat improvements ...
environmentjob.co.uk
May 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
We’re #hiring!
Join a team creating and restoring some of the rarest habitats in the world, the iconic rivers and chalk streams of the Wessex region.
environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/105833-...
Join a team creating and restoring some of the rarest habitats in the world, the iconic rivers and chalk streams of the Wessex region.
environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/105833-...
A six month old river… 🌱💧
May 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A six month old river… 🌱💧
Do you want to work restoring beautiful, iconic, and globally rare chalk streams?
Join an innovative, creative, supportive and committed team at the cutting edge of freshwater conservation.
Become a Wessex Rivers Trust Project Officer!
www.wessexrt.org.uk/vacancies.html
Join an innovative, creative, supportive and committed team at the cutting edge of freshwater conservation.
Become a Wessex Rivers Trust Project Officer!
www.wessexrt.org.uk/vacancies.html
May 13, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Do you want to work restoring beautiful, iconic, and globally rare chalk streams?
Join an innovative, creative, supportive and committed team at the cutting edge of freshwater conservation.
Become a Wessex Rivers Trust Project Officer!
www.wessexrt.org.uk/vacancies.html
Join an innovative, creative, supportive and committed team at the cutting edge of freshwater conservation.
Become a Wessex Rivers Trust Project Officer!
www.wessexrt.org.uk/vacancies.html
Another year, another UK River Restoration Centre conference. I think will be my 15th. I must be getting old! 😂
River people… ASSEMBLE!
River people… ASSEMBLE!
April 1, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Another year, another UK River Restoration Centre conference. I think will be my 15th. I must be getting old! 😂
River people… ASSEMBLE!
River people… ASSEMBLE!
Standing on a buried riverbed!
The previous landowner went to staggering efforts to gain a fragment of extra farmable land.
But water is relentless, and this field (and the road downstream) are collapsing back into a steep valley.
The river always wins
The previous landowner went to staggering efforts to gain a fragment of extra farmable land.
But water is relentless, and this field (and the road downstream) are collapsing back into a steep valley.
The river always wins
March 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Standing on a buried riverbed!
The previous landowner went to staggering efforts to gain a fragment of extra farmable land.
But water is relentless, and this field (and the road downstream) are collapsing back into a steep valley.
The river always wins
The previous landowner went to staggering efforts to gain a fragment of extra farmable land.
But water is relentless, and this field (and the road downstream) are collapsing back into a steep valley.
The river always wins