2023 Photographic competition winners

The three winning photos can be seen on the photo competition page – congratulations to all three, and thanks to everyone who entered. The judges said that had a struggle to decide amongst some high quality entries.

River Foss Society 50th Anniversary Celebrations.

For the finale of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, we re-enacted the inaugural Foss walk from 12th July 1975 – OK not quite 50 years, but who’s counting? Around 30 of us, including the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of York, founder Bill Session’s sons, Mark and Michael, local councillors and members of the Society retraced the walk from Yearsley baths … Read More

Volunteers needed! Foss Green Corridor project.

St Nicks are leading a project to improve and connect all the green areas alongside the Foss – and there are plenty of them from Monkbridge all the way up to and beyond Strensall! If you look closely, there is an almost continuous green band near the banks – sometimes trees, sometimes hedges, occasionally just grass and scrub. Imagine how … Read More

Fairy Trail and its access improved yet again!

A big shout out for this wonderful footpath improvement that Tracy has organised with the TCV. It will make a big difference to people using the Fairy Trial especially those with reduced mobility. Well done Tracy and her her helpers!  

Wanted – Committed Citizen Scientists to Help Monitor the Health of the River Foss by Kick Sampling

The River Foss Society is soon to be part of a Citizen Science project, working in partnership with the Environment Agency, St Nick’s and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, to monitor the entire river catchment including chemical and biological water quality, the presence or absence of water vole, otter and mink, the improvement of bankside vegetation management, etc. An important part of … Read More

Cuppa’n a Chat social – September 2nd.

Crayke Nursery café 2nd September at 1000.   Mill Green Farm, Crayke, York YO61 4TT Come along for a chat and a chance to meet other members, and find out more about what we do and how you can join in! We’ll be doing some “kick testing”, looking at which macroinvertebrates are present and explaining why they are important.

Britons urged to help monitor state of rivers, streams and canals

This article appeared in the Guardian yesterday – whilst we have been doing monthly chemical checks on the river for several years, and are about to start macroinvertebrate surveys, such mass action can only help by showing support. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/11/britons-urged-help-monitor-state-rivers-streams-autumn-water-watch The link below takes you to the organiser’s website and contains a video as well as another link to the App. … Read More

Nettle Monoculture

Nettle control: A few days ago-a group of a dozen or so volunteers tried their hands at nettle scything on the river banks near All Saints Church in Huntington, in preparation for the start next year of our attempt to introduce some biodiversity into areas dominated by a monoculture of nettles. Nettles are a bit of a conservation conundrum. On … Read More

The Silent Killer of UK Rivers

The Silent Killer of UK Rivers: new study shows English rivers exhibiting increased chemical stress and declining invertebrate diversity