For many years now the riverbed bank and islands near the mill have remained undisturbed. This has meant that wildlife both water and land based has been allowed to create their own unique ecology with a healthy biodiversity. The slackwater is a safe breeding ground for a wide variety of speciies including extensive freshwater musselbeds and fish fry, which is a food source for all manner of Wind in the Willows characters all thriving on the neglect. Des O'Sullivan, a local amateur naturalist, wrote an article about this in our Spring 2009 newsletter.
We have to be alert to the serious risk facing this vulnerable area by possible unsympathetic development.
