GYR delivers the 2nd Barrier Assessment and Removal Course for partners

On the 8th & 9th July 2026 GYR delivered the 2nd Barrier Assessment and Removal course to partners on the banks of the River Don in Sheffield.

17 delegates from 10 partner organisations attended the training in the Niagara Conference Centre on 2 very hot days, fortunately the air conditioning made for a very pleasant learning environment! Delegates enjoyed presentations from 6 speakers imparting their expert knowledge, that included:

• Barrier prioritisation (Josh Jones, The Rivers Trust)

• Technical requirements for barrier removal (Jon Whitmore, JBA)

• Construction…or should I say ‘Destruction’! (Ben Fisher, Ebsford Environmental)

• Considerations on what are barriers and if they should be removed (Scott McKenzie, Trent Rivers Trust)

• Community engagement and barrier removal (Paul Gaskill, Wild Trout Trust)

• Modelling and barrier removal (Seb Bentley, Dynamic Rivers)

Delegates were then put into groups and given scenarios to discuss options to address real life barriers in Yorkshire using their new learning and understanding.

Finally, we finished Day 2 with a walk along the River Don, guided by Matt Duffy from the Don Catchment Rivers Trust, to look at 4 sites where there were barriers that had been removed, where a barrier may need altering to improve fish passage and 2 sites that were currently being considered for interventions. This really help embed what had been discussed over the 2 days.

GYR would like to send a huge ‘thank you’ to all the speakers who came along and delivered fantastic presentations that inspired, motivated and helped build capability within everyone to deliver the GYR Vision.