Community Water Management Project

We are joining the Community Water Management project run by the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust to monitor the water quality of the River Foss. A group of members will take samples on a regular basis to find out how healthy our river is at different points along its length. The tests are simple to do and training will be given … Read More

The River Foss and the Boxing Day Floods in York – looking back, looking forward

Our committee member Mark Gladwin has studied the five year plan proposed by the Environment Agency for York’s flood control following the Boxing Day 2015 floods that made such a mark on the city.  Here’s a useful summary … The report of the independent committee of inquiry into the floods was published on 22nd January 2017, and can be accessed at:   … Read More

Fracking: no threat to the Foss?

As far as the River Foss Society can tell at present, shale gas extraction in the Vale of York by means of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is unlikely to threaten the environment of the River Foss, despite the fact that the whole of the catchment is included within areas covered by Government-issued Petroleum Exploration and Development licenses (PEDLs). No applications have … Read More

Independent Inquiry Report into York floods published

The long-awaited report of the Independent Inquiry into the York floods of Boxing Day 2015 has now been published.    Comprehensive coverage of the report and reactions to it can be found in The Press newspaper on 24th and 25th January – with no doubt more coverage to come in the days ahead.    The full 120-page document is available on the … Read More

“Southern Gateway” development comes a step nearer

In September 2016, City of York Council introduced their consultation on development ideas for York’s “Southern Gateway”, the area running from Blue Bridge to Coppergate and centred on Piccadilly and the lower river Foss, which has long been a planning problem zone.  No specific plans were on the table at that time.   But on 4th January we learnt from … Read More

Black Dike bridge re-opened

In the Winter 2015/6 number of On the Foss, we reported that City of York Council had been obliged to close the footbridge over Black Dike near Walbutts Farm, Strensall (Grid ref SE 6483 6209) because floodwater damage had made the bridge unsafe.  So we’re delighted to pass on the good news from Richard Hoyland, CYC Public Rights of Way Officer, that … Read More

Otter sightings on the Foss

There have been numerous sightings of otters on the Foss at Strensall, but it’s even better when these sightings are backed up with a photograph. This otter was spotted recently about half a mile north of the Sheriff Hutton road bridge by RFS member Dave Russell.  Dave was walking his dog early one morning when he spotted the otter, but … Read More

Waxwing Lyrical

We are nearing mid-November, a time when you begin to feel that autumn migration has pretty much come to a close, and, while that may be the case for some species, it still feels like this autumn has more to give. Waxwings have been on the move all week with new flocks noted on the east coast. They breed in the … Read More

Eyes Peeled!

What Will Autumn Bring Us? We will be bringing you seasonal updates about the wildlife to be seen in the vicinity of the River Foss. Our first offering is from mid-October by Mike Gray, a contributor to the wildlife section … As the seasons change, so will the variety of bird species we see along and around the river. It … Read More