Pickering Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pickering Beck |
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Fly Fishing in Pickering Beck
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| Other name(s) | The Duchy Water (above Pickering) Newtondale Stream |
| Country | England |
| State | North Yorkshire |
| Region | Ryedale |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Fen Bog 492 ft (150 m) 54°21′53.5″N 0°41′58.7″W / 54.364861°N 0.699639°W |
| River mouth | Kirby Misperton 76 ft (23 m) 54°12′28.2″N 0°47′45.5″W / 54.207833°N 0.795972°W |
| Length | 18.3 mi (29.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | River Derwent, Yorkshire |
| Basin size | 26.65 sq mi (69.0 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Pickering Beck is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It flows for over 18 mi (29 km) from its start in the North York Moors National Park. It winds its way through the town of Pickering and eventually joins the Costa Beck near Kirby Misperton. Many smaller streams feed into it. The beck is known for sometimes flooding, and new projects have been put in place to help prevent this.
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The Beck's Journey and History
The valley where Pickering Beck flows was formed a very long time ago by melting ice from glaciers. Scientists believe huge amounts of water carved out the deep, winding channel we see today. This happened during the last Ice Age.
The beck starts at a place called Fen Bog. This area is a watershed, meaning water here flows in two different directions. Some water goes north, and some goes south into Pickering Beck. The source of Pickering Beck is also close to the start of the River Derwent. Pickering Beck eventually flows into the Derwent.
Flooding and Protection Efforts
Pickering Beck has often caused flooding, especially quick floods in summer. This happens because the valley sides are steep, making water rush into the beck quickly. After serious floods in 2007, Pickering became a test area for a government project called Slowing the Flow.
The Slowing the Flow Project
The Slowing the Flow project aims to reduce flooding. It uses natural methods to hold back water.
- Leaky Dams: Workers installed 129 large wooden dams, called Leaky Dams. These dams let some water through slowly but hold back faster-moving floodwaters.
- Heather Bale Dams: On smaller streams that feed into Pickering Beck, 187 dams made of heather bales were built. These also help to hold more water back.
- New Floodplain: A special area was created near Newbridge, called Low Hunters Bridge. This area can hold up to 120,000 cubic metres (32,000,000 US gal) of floodwater during heavy rain. This helps protect the town.
The project began in 2014 and was officially opened in October 2015 by Liz Truss, who was then the Secretary of State for the Environment.
How Well Did It Work?
In January 2016, a journalist wrote that the new flood defenses had saved Pickering from flooding after heavy rain. Other nearby towns, like York, had flooded. However, some people argued that Pickering had not received as much rain as other areas.
Data from the Met Office showed that the area around Pickering did have more rain than usual. A local councillor from Pickering said the town was indeed very wet but was spared from flooding.
In spring 2016, the Environment Agency reported that the Slowing the Flow defenses had reduced the river's peak flow by about 15–20%. This means less water rushed through the town during heavy rain. However, experts warned that these defenses might not be enough for floods as big as the one in 2007. More flood storage areas might be needed.
Beavers Join the Team
In April 2019, two Eurasian beavers were released into Cropton Forest, near Pickering. Beavers build dams naturally, and their work will be studied for five years. This is to see if their natural engineering can help with the Slowing the Flow scheme even more.
The Beck's Path
Pickering Beck starts at Fen Bog, flowing through a narrow valley where the North Yorkshire Moors railway runs. It collects water from the southern part of Goathland Moor.
The beck first flows southwest, then turns south, following the railway through the narrow valley. It splits into two streams near Pifelhead Wood before joining again. It continues south past Levisham and Farwath.
Then, it heads west into Newbridge and south into Pickering town. In Pickering, the beck flows under several bridges, including Bridge Street, which is a historic bridge. After leaving Pickering, it flows mostly south until it joins the Costa Beck east of Kirby Misperton.
In its upper parts, above Pickering, the beck winds through thick woodlands. Further south, past Pickering, it flows through farmland where crops are grown and cattle graze. Both the local council and the Environment Agency consider Pickering Beck a main river.
Water Levels and Flow
Pickering Beck is usually between 0.1 m (3.9 in) and 1 m (3.3 ft) deep. The highest water level ever recorded in Pickering was 1.98 m (6.5 ft) on June 26, 2007. The town has flooded several times, with the 2007 flood causing about £7 million in damage.
The normal amount of water flowing from the beck is about 0.848 m3 ([convert: unknown unit]) per second. This is measured at a special station called Ings Bridge.
Past Industries and Uses
The narrow valley of Newtondale, where Pickering Beck flows, was used to build the Whitby and Pickering Railway. The railway crosses the beck six times and runs alongside it all the way to Pickering.
The beck's water also powered several watermills in Pickering. Three of these mills are still standing: High Mill, Vivers Mill, and Low Mill. Most of these mills were used for grinding corn. Low Mill has a 2 m (6.6 ft) drop at its weir, which can make it hard for fish to swim upstream. Today, these old mills have been turned into homes.
A trout farm was built next to the beck in 1971 because the cold, clean water was perfect for raising trout. This business closed, and the area where the trout farm's lake was is now a car park for the railway.
Wildlife and Nature
The upper parts of Pickering Beck, above Pickering, are part of a special protected area called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The beck also flows through the North York Moors National Park. Fen Bog, where the beck starts, is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). These protections help keep the environment healthy.
In 2014, work was done to prevent siltation (when mud and dirt build up) in the lower parts of the beck. This was happening because cattle were crossing the beck, causing the banks to erode. Special crossing points were built for the cattle to stop this pollution.
The beck flows over different types of rock, including sandstone and limestone. It also has areas with sand, clay, and gravel. Pickering Beck is home to wild trout and grayling. The Pickering Fisheries Association looks after the fish in the beck. Other fish like dace, chub, pike, minnows, and brook lamprey have also been seen in the lower parts of the beck.
Visiting Pickering Beck
The Pickering Fishery Association has the right to fish on most of Pickering Beck. Above the town, fly fishing is popular in the smaller, upper parts of the stream. Below the town, the beck becomes wider with pools, making it easier to access.
There are many places to visit along Newtondale, including Newton Dale Halt railway station and Fen Bog, which are close to the beck's source. A 2-mile (3.2 km) part of The Tabular Hills Walk runs next to Levisham Beck (a stream that feeds Pickering Beck) and crosses Pickering Beck at Farwath.
