Q: I can see pollution in the River Ver, what should I do?
A: Full details are here on our website.
Q. Is there anywhere I can fish on the River Ver?
A. The Ver Valley Society does not control any fishing on the Ver. There is one fishing club with small lakes at Redbournbury Fishery that also allow fishing on a short narrow stretch of the Ver. This is best fished April and May, in the wettest years before water levels drop and the vegetation grows over the channel.
Q: I have spotted people fishing in the river. Is this allowed?
A: To fish a river in England an angler requires permission from the riparian owner (owner of the bank) AND a valid fishing licence. Fishing without permission (including attempts to fish) is a ‘theft of fishing rights’. Taking fish without permission from the riparian owner is theft. Both should be reported to the Police via 101.
Fishing without a valid licence, fishing out of season and similar offences are reportable to the Environment Agency (EA) on 0800 807060 or via this website: Report illegal fishing in England.
Further good advice is available here: Angling Trust Guidance: Enforcement
NB St Albans City and District Council (SADC) does not allow any fishing on its stretches of the Ver through Verulamium Park, alongside the Cottonmill allotments, on Sopwell Nunnery Green or the Sopwell Mill Open Space.
Please see this link Angling Trust Guidance: Enforcement which gives advice on contacting the Environment Agency and the Police.
Q: My garden backs into the River Ver. Who is responsible for maintaining the bank of the river?
A: Bank maintenance is the responsibility of the riparian owner (i.e. the person who owns the land) or the leaseholder if maintenance of the bank is in their lease agreement. Riparian owners have rights and responsibilities – see these links for more information:
Generally, the Ver Valley Society’s volunteers are only involved in assisting riparian owners working on natural banks. Our expertise is working with natural materials like willow rather than on banks supported with shuttering like piles or sleepers.
Q: A tree has fallen into the river at the bottom of the garden. What should I do?
A: Trees are the responsibility of the riparian owner. It will be you if it’s fallen from your garden or the riparian owner opposite, if it has fallen from across the river.
You can report this to the Environment Agency using this link and, if they believe it is causing an immediate flood risk, they will probably arrange its removal. These days the general approach from the Environment Agency is to favour natural processes and if there is no imminent threat of flooding it is preferred to leave woody debris to act as cover for fish and invertebrates.
Q: One of my neighbours has built a structure that goes into the river. I am unhappy about this. What can I do?
A: It is likely that construction of any structure on the river bank or in the river requires an Environment Agency Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP). It might also need planning permission. If you feel your neighbour does not have the appropriate permissions you can report it to the Environment Agency via their incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 or this website.
Q: Are there specific walks I can do along the Ver?
A: The Society recommends eight circular walks along the Ver, as well as the Ver Valley Trail covering the whole 17-mile length of the river. Maps can be downloaded from our website, www.riverver.co.uk/walks or a printed set collected at one of our Open Meetings.
Q: To whom should I report a blocked footpath or other problem with a footpath?
A: The best route to a resolution is to report rights of way issues to Herts CC via this page:
or in the upper Ver valley around Kensworth to Central Beds Council
Q: I have concerns about Himalayan balsam/Japanese Knotweed/Giant Hogweed growing on the river bank nearby. What should I do?
A: Thanks to a small grant from Affinity Water the Ver Valley Society is able to provide access to FREE professional assistance to deal with the two most troublesome ones – Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. Himalayan Balsam is less problematic and our volunteers remove it by hand in the summer months. For full details look here on our website.
Q: I have heard that there are crayfish in the river. Am I allowed to set traps to catch them?
A: You must have a license to remove crayfish or set crayfish traps and permission from the riparian owner. See also UK Government guidance on invasive non-native (alien) animal species: rules in England and Wales.
In summary:
- You need permission to put a trap in the water to catch crayfish.
- Once you’ve got permission, you can take crayfish that you humanely kill on the riverbank away, for example to consume at home.
- You must not take live crayfish away from the riverbank. You must kill them where you caught them.
Q: I am a keen wild swimmer. Where can I go swimming in the Ver?
A: There are no designated swimming spots on the Ver and most of the river is on private land. Generally, the Ver is a shallow river and not suitable for swimming.