Author: JW

We seem to hold a special affection for otters – and these pages have already looked at otters along the River. Indeed, emotions can run high, as in this piece from 2004 demonstrated, looking at otters on the river Sid: how a habitat was destroyed.  Perhaps […]

One of Sidmouth’s secret jewels is the online resource Sidmouth Nature – which is absolutely bursting with fascinating and useful information about the wildlife and habitats in the Sid Valley. Looking at what it has to offer on the River Sid, there are several pages with nature […]

The River Sid Catchment Group have been working at School Weir and helping salmon along the Sid with partners the Westcountry Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency – and they are progressing with their River Sid Catchment Plan. They are providing an update on where they’re at tomorrow, […]

Considering the idea of “future-proofing Sidmouth” by looking after the Sid, what better can we do than ensure salmon can once again find their way up the river. Not only would this be a sure way of ensuring the health of the river itself, it would […]

The River Sid is perhaps the key to the future health of the Sid Valley, both for its people and for its wider natural environment. In fact, as the civil parish of Sidmouth covers the whole of the Sid catchment area, it could be said […]

A lot has happened on the River Sid over the last year. Here’s a look back in the press on the local news and themes of 2025 and before – from balsam bashing to dredging, from fishing to fish ladders (or the continuing lack of […]

Over the last months, the School has put together an extraordinary and ambitious project – its Confluence – the River Sid and Its Tributaries, which brings people, ideas, knowledge and action together to protect, conserve and enhance the river and its tributaries. [And there are some great photos […]

A couple of weeks ago, when no fish were caught during the River Sid fish lift event, it was suggested quite reasonably by RSCG chair Charles Sinclair that “the large number of fish jumping last week have vacated the weir pool, probably because of predation by cormorants.” Indeed, […]

As reported in the Herald, no fish were caught during the River Sid fish lift event a week ago, but volunteers are confident about the future: Charles Sinclair, chair of the River Sid Catchment Group, said: “A fascinating though disappointing result from the fish lift today. The large number […]

We were giving fish a helping hand up the Sid, yesterday, Tuesday 18th November at School Weir The River Sid Catchment Group were there to catch the ‘fish lift’ – with a short video and report: Thank you to everyone who came to support the annual […]