Fishing along the River Aire

At the turn of the 19th Century, the River Aire was brimming with salmon, making it one of the best salmon fisheries in the country at that time. Over the ensuing almost two hundred years the River was terminally polluted with industrial waste which killed off local wildlife and fish here.

In recent years, especially since 1990, the river has been substantially cleaned up, with coarse fish such a perch and carp returning and even porposies seen in its lower region. Particularly in this lower region which is the site of the wildlife park a number of other fish species have also been spotted, such as bream, roach, pike, gudgeon, minnows and sticklebacks - even shoals of fry abound now. Chub and dace were added in 1991.