Supporting Vital River Restoration: Fish Pass Construction at Holland Wood Weir

Back in 2020, we proudly supplied our machinery for an essential environmental project at the River Darwen in Holland Wood. This ambitious initiative, in partnership with Wade Group Ltd. and the Ribble Rivers Trust, aimed to improve fish migration by constructing a bypass channel around the historic Holland Wood weir.

A New Path for Migratory Fish

The weir, which stands over three metres high, was originally built to feed a water mill. While no longer in use for this purpose, the weir had become an obstacle for migratory fish such as anadromous species, which swim upstream from the sea, and catadromous species, which migrate downstream. Prior to the project, fish had to navigate a steep 3.15m concrete weir, a significant challenge for most species.

To address this, a new river channel was constructed on the north side of the weir in the surrounding grassland. Around 10% of the river’s flow was redirected through the bypass, providing an alternative route that allows migratory fish to access the river upstream and complete their natural life cycle.

Machinery for a Complex Task

To carry out these works efficiently and safely, we supplied Wade Construction with our Doosan DX235 Excavator. This powerful machine played a key role in shaping the bypass channel, ensuring the project could be completed within the planned timeline and to the highest environmental standards.

Supporting Environmental Initiatives

This project marks the beginning of a broader program to return migratory fish to the River Darwen, contributing to healthier river ecosystems and supporting biodiversity in the region. With the fish pass now operational, monitoring has shown a variety of fish species successfully using the bypass channel.

We're pleased to support this project that contributes to vital environmental efforts, including large-scale construction to initiatives like this fish pass that help protect our natural world.