Endangered crayfish returning to county waterways

The crayfish species is making a comeback in areas of Nottinghamshire

A rare species of endangered crayfish is slowly returning to its natural habitats, environmental experts have said.

The white-clawed crayfish is the UK's only native species, but it has been under threat for a number of years, particularly following the arrival of the North American signal crayfish in the 1970s.

The North American crayfish competes with other native species for food and habitats, and also carries a deadly fungal disease called the crayfish plague, which has been rapidly killing the white-clawed species.

But the white-clawed crayfish is now returning to areas of Nottinghamshire following work from environmental groups.

Staff and volunteers have been working to help the crayfish

The Environment Agency said it has been working with Natural England to secure the white-clawed crayfish's future across the country.

In Nottinghamshire, a partnership to protect the species has been formed among various groups.

This has included the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group, White Post Farm, and other environmental groups from further afield.

Staff and volunteers are creating new safe havens, known as "ark sites", for the crayfish to relocate to, and moving numbers of them that are under threat to these protected sites.

Erin McDaid, from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said losing the native species would be "heart-breaking".

He added: "Our waterways wouldn't be the same if they went extinct as they keep the ecosystems in our rivers healthy. If a native species like that goes, the environment around it is impacted pretty badly.

"We really want to prevent that, and volunteers play a vital role in helping to stop that from happening."

A group of white-clawed crayfish that had been saved during the project

Danielle Grieves, an officer at Natural England, said the work she has observed from volunteers in Bulwell gives her hope for the future of the species.

She added: "We are seeing fewer numbers of the North American invasive species in ponds at Bulwell Hall.

"It's been so rewarding to see vulnerable, native crayfish being moved to their new homes in Nottinghamshire.

"By protecting the white-clawed crayfish, we're helping to preserve the biodiversity and ecological health of Nottinghamshire's waterways for future generations."