A FARMER has called for urgent action to halt the decline of birds and mammals which he says are disappearing from the River Derwent.

Derek Beal from White Hall Farm near Yedingham, claims the recent flooding, which swamped almost all of his 80 acres of land, has highlighted the ecological problems caused by a mass of plants, trees and shrubs clogging up the river.

Since taking over the maintenance of all the watercourses in England and Wales, the Government's Environment Agency, abandoned the traditional dredging of rivers.

The farmer and conservationist says the plants which now flourish block the flow of the water causing them to flood nearby land and washing away nests and animal burrows on the banks.

"I have farmed around the River Derwent all my life and the devastating result of this policy is something I cannot ignore.

"The Environment Agency refuse to clean the river out and I cannot make them understand how this has obliterated the wildlife that was once common around here.

"The river gets blocks with silt and plants and now the water comes up really quickly.

"With all the wet weather we have had lately, it would have flooded anyway but when the river is clogged the water do not go away. My fields are a black, stinking mess.

"Twenty years ago I could stand on the river banks and watch shoals of fish of all kinds, kingfisher, water vole and moorhens were once a common sight.

"This year I have only seen one duck with a few ducklings and this could all be reversed if only the Environment Agency would back down."

Over the past few years the farmer has been encouraging other birds and animals by planted trees and hanging owl boxes.

But his appeal to the Environment Agency to reverse the decline of the river wildlife has fallen on deaf ears, he said.

"With all the machinery they have these days it would be simple to halt this terrible decline - all they need is one man and one tractor to clear the river which would drop the water levels, " he said.

"We wouldn't have floods on the scale that we do if the river was maintained properly - it's that simple.

"I have spoken to the environment agency many times about this matter but they say it's down to a matter of cost. I feel like I have hit a brick wall."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We have been working with the farmer on this issue and we are aware of his concerns regarding biodiversity on the River Derwent.

"An officer will be monitoring the area and the species on that stretch of river and if there has been any impact on the wildlife."