PRACTICAL work to benefit salmon is underway at a key wildlife site on Dartmoor.
The Cherry Brook, which runs into the River Dart, is an important salmon river and contains a number of key salmon spawning areas.
One of these lies downstream of Lower Cherrybrook Bridge, near Two Bridges.
Over the years the site has deteriorated as a salmon habitat and Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Environment Agency and the Dart Biodiversity Project are working together to reverse this decline.
Susan Bragg, Dart Biodivsersity Project Officer, said: 'This site is one of four areas for salmon within the River Dart catchment area and we are keen to ensure the site continues to be used as a spawning ground.
'A range of works to enhance the site for salmon will shortly be carried out and will include bank stabilisation, using granite boulders to prevent erosion, fencing off a small section of the river to aid the establishment of native vegetation thereby helping to protect the river bank in the future and to provide a cattle drinking area for stock and ponies.
'Once the work has been completed the site should again flourish as a habitat for salmon and other important wildlife species.'
The work, which began this week, is being co-ordinated with the Moor Care Campaign which has already undertaken repairs to the river bank just below the bridge.