Diglis Weir

Many thanks to Unlocking the Severn and The Canal and River Trust for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation.  Unlocking the Severn is an extraordinary conservation and river-engagement initiative that holds immense significance. Its primary objective is to restore connectivity along the River Severn, consequently bestowing significant benefits upon its wildlife. The restoration efforts focus on enabling the migration of shad, a rare fish species found in the UK. In the past, hundreds of thousands of twaite shad undertook an annual migration up the River Severn to reach their natural spawning grounds. However, the installation of weirs in the mid-19th century obstructed this crucial migratory route. The Unlocking the Severn project aims to provide fish passage at six barriers located on the River Severn and its River Teme tributary, effectively restoring 158 miles of vital river habitat. The restoration efforts will not only benefit the twaite shad but also support other significant fish species such as salmon and eel. The project is a collaborative endeavor led by the Canal and River Trust, partnering with the Severn Rivers Trust, Environment Agency, and Natural England. It receives funding from various sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, EU LIFE Programme, The Waterloo Foundation, and the project's partner organizations.In addition to the conservation efforts, the construction of the weir and locks in the first half of the 19th century led to the creation of a strategic Farson streaming webcam. This webcam serves the purpose of monitoring water levels on Diglis Island. The establishment of the Severn Navigation involved the construction of four weirs between Worcester and Stourport in 1843-1845, with the addition of the Upper Lode weir at Tewkesbury in 1858. These weirs played a crucial role in stabilizing river levels, which often experienced significant fluctuations, with high levels in winter and potentially low levels in the summertime.Diglis Island, a manmade island, originated from a natural bend in the riverbank. To accommodate the construction of locks allowing boat navigation past Diglis Weir, a new channel was created, separating the land from the riverbank. Thus, in 1844, Diglis Island came into existence. It is one of the four lock islands located between Worcester and Stourport, each situated adjacent to a major weir. Diglis Island stands as a testament to the remarkable engineering achievements of the Victorian era, providing crucial support for navigation and transportation along the pre-car era's equivalent of a motorway in Britain. Due to its favorable geographical location, Diglis Island was a natural choice as the central hub for lock gate construction and the maintenance of locks and weirs in the Midlands.