Atlantic salmon in stretch of river 'extraordinary'

Atlantic salmon have returned to the upper reaches of the River Ecclesbourne, conservationists said (stock image)

The sighting of Atlantic salmon in part of a river in Derbyshire has been called "extraordinary" by conservationists.

The young fish, known as parr, have spawned in the River Ecclesbourne, near the site of the former Postern Mill in Turnditch.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said it was believed to be the first sighting in more than 100 years, after a project had opened up more than 28km (17 miles) of the river and its tributaries for fish migration.

Jennifer Kril, living rivers officer at the trust, said: "It's been years in the making, but finding salmon parr here confirms we have achieved the extraordinary."

Led by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the project which began in 2023, was delivered in partnership with the Wild Trout Trust, Chatsworth, and Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK.

A new channel was created to bypass the last remaining weir on the Ecclesbourne, which is located between Wirksworth and where the river joins the Derwent near Duffield.

The weir, built in 1792, altered the river's flow, blocking migratory fish species, including Atlantic salmon, from reaching vital spawning ground, the trust said.

Ms Kril said that Atlantic salmon would have "died out" as a result.

The trust's data does not go far enough back to record exactly when salmon were last spotted in the river's upper reaches - but it believes the last sighting was more than a century ago.

The new channel bypasses the last remaining weir on the Ecclesbourne

Ms Kril said that the river was now a "healthier and more connected" ecosystem.

"When we set out to help bring Atlantic salmon back to this part of the River Ecclesbourne through this project, we knew it could only be successful with support from the community, collaboration with expert partners, and time."

The trust said an independent study, done in August 2025, recorded 52 salmon in the Ecclesbourne.

This was up from 13 salmon that were recorded in the river in 2023.

The trust also said that the project site was the furthest upstream that salmon had been recorded in the River Ecclesbourne.

Atlantic salmon in Great Britain were listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature when they were last assessed in 2022.

Fish passage has also been opened for other species recorded in the river, including the critically endangered European eel as well as grayling, trout, lamprey, minnow, stone loach, and bullhead.

Tim Jacklin, deputy director of the Wild Trout Trust, said: "At a time when Atlantic salmon and sea trout are facing an existential crisis in England, it's fantastic to see a project like this one on the Ecclesbourne make a tangible difference."