THE Environment Agency has delivered an early Christmas present to the River Wey in the shape of a consignment of fish which have just been released into the river where it flows through Bishops Meadow in Farnham.

The 18-month-old roach and dace were transported in oxygenated tanks of water from the Environment Agency’s fish farm in Calverton, Nottingham. The farm produces more than 450,000 fish each year which are released into rivers and lakes around the country.

Adrian Bicknell, Environment Agency fisheries officer, said: “We expect we will get a high survival and growth rate from these fish which should thrive in this environment.”

Bishops Meadow was chosen as a site to release the fish after habitat improvements were carried out in the river in the summer of 2014. The work was done by the Environment Agency, Surrey Wildlife Trust and their volunteers during River Wey Rivers Week.

Future plans for the River Wey as it flows through Farnham will see the creation of a baffle and brush fish pass on the gauging weir to aid migration for both coarse fish and eels.

The Bishops Meadow Trust and the Environment Agency will also be carrying out further in-stream habitat improvements for fish and wildlife in the local area.